The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is reclassifying the Northern Long-eared Bat from a threatened to an endangered species.
The bat, found in New York and Vermont, faces extinction due to white nose syndrome, a disease caused by the growth of a fungus that looks like white fuzz on their muzzles and wings. It infects bats during hibernation, causing them to wake up, leading to dehydration and starvation.
The Fish and Wildlife Service says bats are critical to the ecosystem and contribute $3 billion annually to the U.S. agriculture sector through pest control and pollination.
The reclassification is effective January 30th.
