Texas Parks & Wildlife biologists are out testing bats for a fungus that causes White Nose Syndrome, a disease that's killing millions of bats around North America over the past few years.
Biologists go into bat dens where the critters are just now coming out of hibernation. Using a probe that looks like a Q-tip, they swab their wings, mouth and nose and test for traces of the fungus.
While many find them creepy and off-putting, bats are a vital part of life. For one thing, they eat insects that can infest crops and cost farmers millions of dollars every year. They are especially known for eating mosquitoes. But some have other jobs like pollinating the Agave cactus in Mexico. So, if you like Tequila, thank a bat.
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