Most people do not have a high opinion of bats. Bats often appear in movies and literature as terrifying creatures to be avoided. The animals have even been linked in popular culture to vampires, seeking to attack and drink the blood of human victims. In reality, bats are usually not a threat to people. Like other wild animals, some bats can carry the dangerous virus rabies. But bats can do good things for people and the environment. For example, bats eat a lot of different insects that can harm our environment. They can also pollinate plants and spread seeds. But a serious disease is currently threatening the bat population in many parts of the United States. The disease is a fungus called white-nose syndrome.