Congress Approves White Nose Syndrome Funding

While white-nose syndrome's symptom of fungus on the white nose of an affected bat is well-known, it's cause is not. In fact, it's currently unknown if the disease is a side-effect or symptom of some other illness.

Researchers of white-nose syndrome have noted that bats are waking in the middle of winter and ,being unable to find sufficient food, die of starvation. However, other factors have been found at play. Bats with white-nose syndrome have been found to have lesser stores of fat, as well, even prior to waking.

Some have theorized that white nose syndrome is a result of global warming. Others have theorized it has something to do with pesticides or chemicals. The only thing all agree on is that white nose syndrome is killing bats, in percentages in infected caves as high as 90%.

To those who wonder about "who cares about bats?," they're not thinking clearly. Bats eat tons of insects, ones that carry diseases like West Nile Virus and eat crops. Unknown to many, they also pollinate plants and spread seeds. Unchecked, white nose syndrome could devastate parts of the U.S. economy and farming industry.

However, the funding, while decent, is far short of what scientists requested. Scientists had asked for $15 million; $1.9 million is hardly enough to combat white nose syndrome, but at least it is a start.