PHOTO PROVIDED BY FWC

Florida bats may soon be threatened by a deadly disease known as white-nose syndrome. The disease has yet to be detected in Florida, but nfected bats have been discovered in north Georgia and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials worry cavers could bring the disease back to Florida with contaminated equipment. The disease could then spread from bat to bat endangering local populations of bats that are in instrumental in reducing agricultural pests and controlling disease-carrying mosquitoes. Above, a group of bats are shown leaving a maternity caver where they rear their young

PHOTO PROVIDED BY FWC

Florida bats could soon be threatened by a deadly disease known as white-nose syndrome. The disease has yet to be detected in Florida, but infected bats have been discovered in north Georgia. Wildlife officials worry cavers could bring the disease back to Florida with contaminated equipment. These bats are shown leaving a maternity cave where they rear their young.