CHARLOTTETOWN - A fungal infection that has decimated bat populations in eastern North America has spread to P.E.I.

Tests on sick bats on the Island have confirmed they had white-nose syndrome.

The Atlantic Veterinary College in Charlottetown says the finding amounts to more bad news for the dwindling bat population.

Since the infection was first discovered in the U.S. 2006, white-nose syndrome has killed more than six million bats in eastern North America — and the disease continues to spread.

Provincial biologist Rosemary Curley says little can be done to protect bats from the disease.

The infection causes bats to wake up during hibernation, which leads to starvation because the bats have nothing to eat in the winter months.

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