Bats are an important part of the world’s ecosystem, particularly because 70% of bat species are insectivores, which are necessary to balance out the insect population. However, millions of insect-eating bats in North America are dying out due to a fungus that grows on them while they hibernate during the winter seasons. The fungal infection, named white nose syndrome, could induce the extinction of North America’s insect-eating bats; this would be catastrophic to our ecosystem. White nose syndrome not only causes extreme loss of body fat, but also causes bats to awaken too early from hibernation, and thus they die, either due to starvation or complications associated with the syndrome, such as destruction of the bats’ wing membranes.
These beautiful insectivores consume 2,000-6,000 insects per night, which implies that if millions of them became extinct, then not even Batman could save us from a seemingly infinite influx of insects that would permeate North America. Bats have a lifespan that reaches 20 years, but if they become extinct, then 20 years of nonexistent insect consumption would contribute to a massive growth in the insect population. White nose syndrome, which originated in Europe, currently affects 50% of bats in North America and some parts of Canada.
Please visit the Save Bats site to read about how you could possibly take personal action (e.g. build a Bat House) to help assist the bat population during its time of dire straits, and additionally, you can donate funds to the cause of saving the bats.
Also, check out the attached video, which features Ben Affleck, Zack Snyder, Amy Adams, and others in a brief and informative video about the bat population and its current predicament. Cheers.
Sources: Save Bats, Warner Bros. Pictures YouTube