Mysterious Bat Disease Is Spreading

The mysterious illness that is killing bats in New York and Vermont has spread to Massachusetts, according to the Berkshire Eagle, heightening the possibility that Northeast bat populations will crash, possibly leading to the extinction of the Indiana bat.

The Indiana bat, an endangered species whose strongholds are under threat by the disease, is among the species affected by so-called "white nose syndrome."

The disease is named for the white ring of fungus left on the dead bats' noses, but scientists don't know if that's what is killing the creatures, or if it's just a symptom, or coincidence. Like "colony collapse disorder" killing off the nation's bees, white nose syndrome is a mystery. But unlike the honey bee affliction, fewer resources are being devoted to understanding the crisis among bats.

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