Bat Deaths in Northeast
Thousands of bat deaths are occurring in the United States Northeast. Scientists have been struggling to find out the reason why. Last year, thousands of dead bats were found in 4 separate caves that were 7 miles apart from each other.
This year, at least 25 caves and mines spread across 135 miles were found to have sick or dying bats. Homeowners from Hanover, N.H., to East Canaan in northwest Connecticut have reported dead bats on lawns, decks, and roofs, a sign the animals might be affected in an even wider area. But so far, no one has found an infectious agent or any other cause.
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Some people and scientists are worried that the die off might be similar to the mysterious honeybee die off.
Bats are now migrating as far as 250 miles to their summer roosts, where they will mix with bats from other far-off caves and mines. By fall, they will travel back to their hibernation site to mingle and mate with still other bats. If the sickness is contagious, bat deaths in the Northeast could be in the millions as more of the mammals around the country could be at risk next year.
Scientists are also worried that the die off might be attributed to a changing natural world. If millions of bats do die off, then it would seriously affect a chain the ecosystem in unforeseen ways. Bats consume thousands of pounds of insects per year. If those balances are thrown off, the insect population could put a further hamper on crops and also could spread more diseases among humans.
Now, dozens of pathologists, immunologists, toxicologists, wildlife biologists, and other researchers in more than 15 government, university, and private labs are methodically working to unravel the bat mystery. Government grants are being written to fund more in-depth work. Scientists are using cutting-edge technology, from heat-detecting cameras in muddy bat caves to DNA analysis in sterile labs. Even a Columbia University molecular epidemiologist who discovered a possible contributor to the bee colony collapse has joined the sleuthing.
Scientists have called this sickness "white nose syndrome" because most of the bats that died or are sick have white noses as a symptom. Please spread the word about the bats in Northeast to create awareness so that more funding can go towards solving this serious issue. Thanks.
Thoughts, Comments, Questions...
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3 COMMENTS, ADD YOURS HERE:
Simply awful, bats are horribly misunderstood. Lovely little helpful creatures.
Totally related to the bees. Wait until the birds start falling from the skies.
ya know, the irony of it all is that I had a dream about three years ago that I remember to this day that had bats in it that were being experimented on for some unknown reason...could it be related...who knows, I just want them to stop dying.
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