Bats
A small bat with fuzzy white fungus on its muzzle clings to a rock surface.

No good news when it comes to white-nose syndrome and 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.

Bat-Killing White-Nose Syndrome Spreads In Illinois

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. 

Encore: White Nose Syndrome Found in Illinois

Do you drink tequila? Eat chocolate? Thank a bat. This hour on Focus, we’ll listen back to a conversation we had earlier this year about how these notorious flying mammals and the role they play in our eco-system.

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