Bats who hibernate together are better at surviving illness

Bats who hibernate together are better at surviving illness Today’s Video of the Day comes thanks to the US Geological Survey and features a thermal imagery clip of bats hibernating together. According to the new study, bats who hibernate together are better at fighting off white nose syndrome, a disease caused by cold-loving fungus that has been decimating bat populations.

During the winter months, little brown bats will use caves and abandoned mines for hibernation but are known to live in houses during other seasons. Big brown bats are hearty enough to survive winter inside houses and hibernate in walls and attics to stay comfortable and safe.These winter bat calls are usually for bats in basements or other strange places. These bats are active in the dead of winter when they re supposed to be hibernating. Sometimes these bats are only active within the house and other times they re leaving the house at night and flying. Bats who hibernate together are better at surviving illness because it keeps them close for more thermal heat.

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By Rory Arnold, Earth.com

Credit: Paul Cryan, USGS. Public domain