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While Halloween shouldn't be the only day that we think of our fury flying friends, bats do shine on this scary holiday. But what's more scary is the dangers that bats are currently facing. From White Nose Syndrome to habitat destruction, bats are facing threats from every angle.
Threats to Bats and How You Can Help
White Nose Syndrome and Hibernation Disruption
It's called White Nose Syndrome and it causes bats to starve to death. The disease is caused by a fungus that forms a white covering on the bat's muzzles, wings, and other parts of their body. It is most prevalent when it is cold which is the most vulnerable time for bats because it is hibernation time. It's believed that their irritation disrupts the cycle of hibernation and forces bats to wake up far earlier than their energy reserves will allow them to. In turn, the bats starve or freeze to death. This isn't the only reason that bats are waking up early, it could also be a result of pesticides and a warming climate that is confusing and disrupting their hibernation.
What You Can Do:
The US Forest Service thinks that the spread of the disease could be connected with humans carrying the fungus on their clothing and shoes. In fact, Jaymi wrote that after 500,000 bat deaths, thousands of caves in 33 states were closed back in May to try and prevent the spread of an awful fungus. If the caves have a warning to stay out, listen up, it could save the lives of thousands of bats.
While this may seem a bit broad, these two problems are directly connected to the disruption of a bat's normal cycle. Rob Miles, the Northeast Director of the Organization of Bat Conservation said on the Early Show that the problem behind the disruption of the bat's hibernation was extremely complicated but it was also connected to both pesticide use and climate change. Since 1999, when the West Nile Virus came to the United States, non-agricultural pesticide use has increased dramatically. It's 'bioaccumulation.' So the bats could be building up this pesticide in their bodies disrupting hibernation patterns. Another thing could be global warming as bats could be confused by the winter coming on late, according to Miles. While we don't know exactly what as afflicting bats, we do know global warming isn't helping bats or anyone or anything else.
Bats and Wind Turbines
While wind turbines are a great source of renewable energy, they don't mix very well with bats, especially when the wind turbines are inadvertently placed on the bat's migratory route. It's a scary form of habitat destruction.
Brian wrote that according to the Scientific American, "If bats have a lungful of air as they fly through the air-pressure change, there's nowhere for the air to go. The small blood vessels around the lungs burst and fill the lungs with fluid and blood."
What You Can Do:
The key is to build wind turbines that aren't right in the middle of bat's migratory route (from Mexico to Canada). Using larger turbines with slower moving blades could also alleviate the issue caused by air-pressure. In short, Brian says to contact the American Wind Energy Association and let them know that you support finding ways to protect the bat's migratory route while still pushing forward with wind energy.
More on Bats:
Solar Powered Heaters May Save Bats
Bats and Wind Turbines Don't Mix - Researchers Look to Reduce Mysterious Deaths
Bats More At Risk From Wind Turbines Than Birds, Study Claims
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