White-nose syndrome (WNS) is a disease caused by Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd), a fungus that thrives in cold and moist conditions such as those found in caves occupied by hibernating bats. The fungus grows on the bats, especially their faces and wings, and causes disruption in their hibernation period by irritating and waking them up, leading to bat death after they use up their critical energy reserves for hibernation. The disease gets its name from white fuzzy appearance Pd has when growing on the faces of bats. 

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The disease was first identified in North America in 2006 on bats in a cave in Albany, New York and has since killed nearly 7 million cave bats. Because Pd can live on in the environment without a bat host, it is able to rapidly spread unchecked. 

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Six out of the nine species of bat in Connecticut are cave species being heavily impacted by white-nose syndrome. Three Connecticut species - the little brown bat, the northern long-eared bat, and the tri-colored bat - are considered to be the three species hardest hit by the disease. The northern long-eared bat in particular has seen a 95% decline in Connecticut; the Mine Hill Preserve in Roxbury which used to house more than 3000 bats annually most recently has seen only a dozen. 

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Because no cure currently exists for WNS, it is critical that conservation efforts are taken to combat its spread and protect vulnerable species. 

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