On June 3, the United States Fish & Wildlife Service（USFWS）announced that it would protect the tricolored bats. The animal would be listed under the Endangered Species Act. This follows a similar announcement, made in March, to protect the endangered northern long-eared bats. The two kinds of bats are in danger, mainly because of an illness called white-nose syndrome（综合症）.
6月3日，美国鱼类和野生动物管理局宣布将保护三色蝙蝠。这种动物将被列入《濒危物种法》清单。此前，三月份也发布了类似的公告，以保护濒临灭绝的北方长耳蝙蝠。这两种蝙蝠处于危险之中，主要是因为一种名为白鼻综合征的疾病。

"Bats play such an important role in keeping a healthy ecosystem." USFWS director Martha Williams said. "But white-nose syndrome is destroying bats." she added.
“蝙蝠在保持生态系统健康方面发挥着如此重要的作用，”美国鱼类和野生动物局局长玛莎·威廉姆斯补充道，“但白鼻综合症正在摧毁蝙蝠。”

White-nose syndrome is caused by a fungus. It is known to influence only bats, showing up on the animal's nose and wings. The fungus grows in places that are cold, dark, and wet, like caves. As it hurts a bat's skin, the animal's behavior starts to change. The bat becomes more active than normal, wasting the energy it needs to live.
白鼻综合征由真菌引起。众所周知，它只会影响蝙蝠，出现在蝙蝠的鼻子和翅膀上。这种真菌生长在寒冷、黑暗和潮湿的地方，比如洞穴。当它伤害蝙蝠的皮肤时，蝙蝠的行为开始改变。蝙蝠变得比平时更活跃，浪费了它生存所需的能量。

Worldwide, there are more than 1, 400 kinds of bats. Most bats are insectivores, which means they eat insects. In a single night, bats can eat insects of "up to half their weight." This is good news for farmers, since bats eat insects that harm crops. According to the USFWS, the animals help U.S. farmers save more than $3 billion a year in insect control.
全世界有1400多种蝙蝠。大多数蝙蝠是食虫动物，这意味着它们以昆虫为食。在一个晚上，蝙蝠可以吃掉“高达其体重一半”的昆虫。这对农民来说是个好消息，因为蝙蝠吃的昆虫会危害作物。根据美国鱼类和野生动物管理局的数据，这些动物每年帮助美国农民在昆虫控制方面节省30多亿美元。

Nowadays there is no treatment for white-nose syndrome. But scientists are developing ways to help bats. A 2018 study found that a special light can kill the fungus. Researchers are also testing a fungus-fighting thing that can be placed around areas where bats live. And they're working on a vaccine. Local villagers also provide suggestions. One example: set bat boxes. The USFWs says it will announce a decision about how to list the tricolored bats by late 2023. A decision about the northern long-eared bats is expected next month.
现在没有治疗白鼻综合征的方法。但科学家们正在开发帮助蝙蝠的方法。2018年的一项研究发现，一种特殊的光线可以杀死这种真菌。研究人员还在测试一种可以放置在蝙蝠生活区周围的对抗真菌的东西。他们正在研制疫苗。当地村民也提出了建议。比如：设置蝙蝠箱。美国鱼类和野生动物局表示，将在2023年底前宣布如何将三色蝙蝠列入名单的决定。预计下个月将对北方长耳蝙蝠做出决定。