The Times-Unions' Brian Nearing writes about the bat plague "White Nose Syndrome." Since first appearing five years ago near Albany, the disease has swept through the eastern U.S. and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates its killed 6.7 million bats. "White nose" seems to be a cave-dwelling fungus causing bats to wake up early from winter hibernation and go outside and either freeze or starve in a futile search for food. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe told the paper, "Bats provide tremendous value to the U.S. economy as natural pest control for American farms and forests every year, while playing an essential role in helping to control insects that can spread disease to people." The first cases of the disease were documented in 2006 at Howe's Cave in Schoharie County. IT has since spread tothe disease has spread to 16 states and four Canadian provinces. According to the article, many hibernating bat colonies in New York and elsewhere have been completely wiped out. Researchers speculate that the fungus, which gives infected bats a distinctive fuzzy white patch around their noses and mouths, was unintentionally brought into caves by human explorers. There is no know cure or treatment for the illness, although recent research suggests a small proportion of bats survive after being infected. Read the full story in the Albany Times-Union.