A catastrophic plague called white nose syndrome (WNS) has killed over a million bats in the U.S. and Canada. The condition was first discovered in upstate New York in 2006, but quickly spread across the northeast and into Canada. The plague leaves a distinct white fungus along the muzzles, wings and ears of bats it infects. According to studies conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey National Wildlife Health Center, WNS causes uncharacteristic behavior in bats during their hibernating winter months including flying outside during the daytime. That extra flying uses up the fat reserves bats need to survive hibernation.
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