US bats fall victim to mystery illness

[flashl]

A mystery illness that has scientists baffled is wiping out tens of thousands of bats across the north-east of the US.

White nose syndrome, as it is known, cannot even be categorised as a disease.

...

What is known is that the syndrome leaves small, white, fungal spots around the nose and mouth of the tiny nocturnal animals.

...

BBC News joined several local scientists and conservationists in an area of disused mines and caves, close to the border with New York State, where bats are in abundance - including the endangered Indiana bat.

For years, state and federal wildlife officers have nurtured the population, but the apparent spread of the syndrome could undo all that in a matter of months.

BBC

Is this a problem?

[havocmom]

1. Consider how many diseases are carried by the flying insects bats eat.

Yeah, could be a problem!

[IowaGirl]

2. This upsets me as I love bats because I hate mosquitoes. A single bat can eat two or three thousand

mosquitoes in one evening.

[Warpy]

3. Me too

Bats never creeped me out. They're fuzzy and have comical ears. They stay out of our way and sleep hanging down from the rafters in a barn during the day when we're active. They eat millions of bugs with a special fondness for the highly nutritious blood sucking insects like mosquitoes at night.

This is not good news for the northeast. Expect to see an increase in mosquito borne diseases in livestock and humans this year.