HARRISBURG (TNS) — The northern long-eared bat, which occurs sporadically across Pennsylvania, has been listed as endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act.

Noting that the bat “faces extinction due to the range wide impacts of white-nose syndrome,” the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Tuesday reclassified it as endangered, from a listing as threatened since 2015.

“This listing is an alarm bell and a call to action,” said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Martha Williams. “White-nose syndrome is decimating cave-dwelling bat species like the northern long-eared bat at unprecedented rates.”

According to the USFWS, bats are critical to healthy, functioning natural areas and contribute at least $3 billion annually to the U.S. agriculture economy through pest control and pollination.

The northern long-eared bat is found in 37 states in the eastern and northcentral U.S. and all Canadian provinces as far west as southern Northwest Territories and eastern British Columbia.

The bats mostly spend the winter hibernating in caves and abandoned mines.

In summer, they roost alone or in small colonies underneath bark or in cavities or crevices of trees. They emerge at dusk to fly primarily through the understory of forested areas, feeding on insects.

White-nose syndrome, the disease driving their decline, is caused by a fungus that sometimes looks like white fuzz on bats’ muzzles and wings. It thrives in cold, dark, damp places and infects bats during hibernation.

Infected bats wake up more frequently, which often results in dehydration and starvation before spring arrives.

Bats are the only species of wildlife known to be affected by white-nose syndrome, which has been confirmed in 38 states, including Pennsylvania, and eight Canadian provinces.

White-nose syndrome has spread across nearly 80 percent of the long-eared bat’s range and is expected to affect 100 percent by the end of the decade.

According to the USFWS, the reclassification as endangered comes after an in-depth review found that the northern long-eared bat continues to decline and now meets the definition of an endangered species under the ESA.

Data indicate white-nose syndrome has caused estimated declines of 97% to 100% in affected northern long-eared bat populations.

The reclassification will take effect Jan. 30.