By the end of last winter, G. destructans was found in 14 states and two Canadian provinces, and at least a million bats were dead. In August, a high-profile Science study gave computationally modeled meaning to all those dead-bat piles. The little brown bat, more common than any other in North America, the furred star of most every attic and open-window encounter, so numerous as to be considered pests, would be extinct in 20 years in the eastern United States. If by some unexpected miracle WNS mortality dropped from over 90 percent to 5 percent, they might make it to the centurys end.
Had to go there, didn't you.Get jediyoda to train them in brown nose syndrome.
That's too bad. Bats are cool little critters, and watching them fly around at night is about the only thing good about summer.
is it just in NA? if so can we please blame China for it?
Sundresses.That's too bad. Bats are cool little critters, and watching them fly around at night is about the only thing good about summer.
People don't like bats because of movies or they look weird or whatever. But the amount of bugs that bats eats is insane. If we didn't have them around we'd probably be overrun by bugs and mosquitoes.
I actually want to build bat boxes around my house. It's like having a personal bug barrier. Better and more natural than the zappers and those propane things.
People don't like bats because of movies or they look weird or whatever. But the amount of bugs that bats eats is insane. If we didn't have them around we'd probably be overrun by bugs and mosquitoes.
I actually want to build bat boxes around my house. It's like having a personal bug barrier. Better and more natural than the zappers and those propane things.
I'm only part way through the article, but it said the fungus is present in Europe, but it doesn't affect the bats there. They think there might have been an issue eons ago, and the bats evolved immunization against the effects of the fungus. If it's in Europe, I'd assume it's in China too, and they're known for fucking us over with biological pests, so I think it's safe to blame them. We should invade China :^D
Are they entertaining the idea of slowly introducing some of those European bats here? I know invasive species can be a problem but I don't want to swim through mosquitoes and bugs in the summer.
Are they entertaining the idea of slowly introducing some of those European bats here? I know invasive species can be a problem but I don't want to swim through mosquitoes and bugs in the summer.
Great idea, but then we'll have to genetically engineer a flying mongoose to deal with all the bats.
Not that I've read so far. Hopefully they're smart enough not to try it. Our record of importing foreign species to alleviate problems has so far been abysmal.
I saw one flitting about back in November during our warm spell. I was surprised it wasn't hibernating.This is not good. They play a big role in insect control.
Its really only an issue on colonies that must hibernate during the winter since that's what the syndrome is effecting. Hard to get food if waking up in winter.