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Bats are frequently misunderstood as pests, yet many species provide substantial ecological benefits, including the nightly consumption of vast quantities of insects that would otherwise damage crops. Conservation efforts have been complicated by a fungal disease that spreads rapidly through hibernating bat colonies, causing them to wake repeatedly during winter and burn through fat reserves needed to survive until spring. Because bats often roost in dense colonies inside caves, the fungus can spread from one infected individual to thousands of others within a single hibernation season, making some caves unsuitable for colonies for years afterward. Researchers have found that colonies inhabiting caves with more stable, colder temperatures tend to suffer somewhat lower mortality, prompting some conservationists to experiment with artificially cooling cave entrances as a protective measure.