Ever wondered about Illinois' bat population? Or perhaps you recently dealt with trying to get a bat out of your home?

The 21st Show took the opportunity to catch up on the state of bat populations across the 21st state, and how you can safely get rid of one that might find comfort in your home and when to respond to health-related concerns following exposure to bats. 

Before white-nose syndrome arrived, which was only a decade ago, I enjoyed explaining why bats are so amazing in hopes that listeners would come to love, or at least appreciate them. Today, I can only present the grim news of white-nose syndrome’s progress.

On the 21st: Insurance rates are expected to rise for many Affordable Care Act plans. We dug into why this is happening, how people are coping, and what this means for the future of Obamacare. Plus, we learned what you should do if you discover a bat in your home.

The white-nose syndrome gets its name from a fungus that grows on affected bats' noses. Scientists say infected bats often show odd behavior - like taking daytime flights - when they're supposed to be hibernating. It's suspected that depletes their fat reserves, and causes the bats to become emaciated, and eventually die.