00:00Why are there not more people talking about white-nose syndrome?
00:03It's wiping out millions of bats, and yet it's still under the radar.
00:08Deep inside caves across North America, a deadly disease called white-nose syndrome is silently killing millions of bats.
00:16Caused by a cold-loving fungus, this disease covers bats' muzzles and wings with a white, fuzzy growth.
00:22It forces bats to wake up repeatedly during hibernation, burning through their fat reserves.
00:28Starving and dehydrated, many bats don't survive the winter.
00:32Since 2006, over 6 million bats have died.
00:35Species like the little brown bat and the northern long-eared bat are now at risk of extinction.
00:41And without bats, farmers face bigger pest outbreaks, costing billions in crop damage.
00:46Scientists are racing to save them, testing treatments and protecting caves.
00:51Some bats are showing signs of resistance, but the fight is far from over.
00:55Protecting bats means protecting balance in nature.
00:59And with help, there's still hope for their survival.
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