Our native bat species are encountering a fast-moving killer that may wipe them out (forever)

“These bats have been around for some 50 million years
and have been able to adapt very well to their natural conditions.
And in a very short span under our watch, they are disappearing from
our forests and ecosystems.” - Scott Darling, Vermont Wildlife Biologis

They are dying off in incredible numbers, and so far, it appears that a fungus (Myotis lucifugus) is behind the "white-nose syndrome"

The die-off may lead to extinction, and there are those in the scientific community who believe there may be a link to the honeybee colony collapse disorder, another "unnatural" process that is affecting pollinators all over the world.

The bat die-off began in 2007 and has spread rapidly from the New England States to Kentucky, affecting the bat populations in every state. What could be the mystery behind this unnatural progression?