Syracuse (WSYR-TV) - NewsChannel 9 viewer Kenra Wilson says she's used to seeing bats in the area pretty frequently, but this year she's seen close to none and wants to know why.
A wildlife specialist with Cornell Cooperative Extension says this has to do with
White-Nose Syndrome.
It's a fungus that causes severe infection and eventually leads to bats’ death. The disease was first found in our area six years ago and has wiped out as much as 90 percent of the population.
But there could be some good news. The latest survey released by the DEC shows the population is holding steady and even increased slightly for the first time in years.
Bats are considered to be important to our ecosystem because they destroy the bugs that eat our crops.
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