Bats provide a service worth an estimated $1.33 billion globally by controlling pests on corn crops. Yet, bat populations are under pressure as a result of habitat loss and the spread of diseases. One disease, the white-nose syndrome cause visible symptom of white fungus on the animal’s nose, but it can also appear on its wings, ears or tail. Since 2007, the disease has killed millions of bats and continues to spread. In the north-east, populations have declined by about 80% since the first reported cases of bat fatalities as a result of the disease. Bats are among the most endangered of the world’s creatures, primarily because much of their habitat has been eliminated by human development or because they are victimized.
