Biologists say a winter survey of bats in New Hampshire shows that five of eight species have been affected by a fatal disease that has spread to bats in at least 11 states.
The survey of a Grafton County mine sealed in by ice showed 96 bats killed by white nose syndrome, and others showing signs of the disease.
In a smaller mine that was heavily flooded, the bat population had increased from 48 to 60, with very little sign of white nose syndrome. The Fish and Game Department says statewide, however, bat population numbers were down significantly, for an overall decline of 66 percent since last year.
White nose syndrome was first discovered in a New York cave in 2006.