Bat research should trump pop culture.

A mysterious disease is killing bats in New England in alarming numbers and appears to be spreading rapidly.  It threatens to wipe out numerous species including some that are critically endangered. 

Drawing attention to this emerging issue is commendable and timely, but the approach taken by the Boston Globe is light on science and heavy on pop culture. The article surmises that public perception about bats is responsible for low public interest in the emerging problem. 

This may be true, but lack of awareness about the new disease is likely an even bigger factor -- one that this article will hopefully begin to correct. 

Unfortunately, the article focuses heavily on the question of whether or not bats are "cute." The reporter does little to tell us how scientists are working on the problem. In that respect, the article misses an important opportunity to educate the public on the disease, what is being tried to stop its spread and how the loss of bats may impact people.

The overall story is likely a complex and possibly devastating tale of species loss in America.  Unfortunately, the reporter missed a critical opportunity to educate the public about the possible factors contributing to the disease.  More information about how a decline in bat populations might affect other species or whole ecosystems would also have been helpful to inform readers. 

All-in-all, though, the Boston Globe takes a first step by drawing attention to a rapidly emerging issue that could have potentially devastating consequestions for bat populations nationwide.