New Hampshire wildlife officials are raising money to find out if a deadly disease has reached the state’s bat population.
"White-nose syndrome" is named for a white fungus that is often found on the muzzle of infected bats. It was first found in New York two winters ago and has since been identified in Vermont, Massachusetts and Connecticut. In some caves in New York and Vermont, up to 97 percent of bats have died from the disease.
The New Hampshire Fish and Game department set up a fund to study the problem. Officials say the disease is a serious problem — even if it isn’t detected in the state — because many New Hampshire bats fly to caves or mines in other states to hibernate.