Bat populations across the Northeast have been decimated by a fungal infection called white nose syndrome, which affects the animal’s respiratory system.
Researchers are experimenting with ultra violet light to see if they can kill the fungus before it wipes out the flying insect controllers in the Upper Midwest. Watch
More here.
“White Nose Syndrome”
Myotis Sheenus. Or Martin Sheen
Honestly, our bat population in central VA is down too.
Years ago I built and erected a bat rocket, a multi chambered bat house on a tall pole. I watched one dusk and 60+ bats came out. But now it’s next to nothing.
Mosquitoes are back.
This is a very bad thing.
I couldn’t sleep without a white noise generator which is what I thought it said.
Going on 40 years now.
Never met anyone who liked bats 🦇 I assume creepy people like them though.
Bats eat tons of mosquitoes.
When I first moved to this house they lived in the louvres over the patio, shitting all over it. Not good.
Built the bat rock rocket and erected it 120 feet away. Then screened the louvres. They moved right in.
That makes me an environmental steward and we happily coexist.
Remember the immortal words of Peter and Gordon.
I don’t care what they say I can’t live in a world without bats. 🦇
Blew the Peter & Gordon line.
I don’t care what they say I won’t STAY in a world without bats.
@I’m not PC – I LOVE bats and assure you I am not a creepy person.
When I was a kid and street lights were installed in the neighborhood, everyone came out at dark to marvel at the bats swooping in to grab the moths.
Fast forward – going into the Hato Caves in Curacao was magical
Fast forward one more time – I was sitting on the deck at dusk as hubby was putting down a mosquito repellant. As the mosquitoes flew into the air to escape the repellant, approximately 80 bats came swooping into the yard to eat the nasties. The feeding frenzy lasted about 20 minutes.
Bats are truly beautiful and beneficial creatures.
Hope this works. Bats are pretty cool and this fungus could end up ending them.
@I’m not PC – I, too, love bats. Had a bat house in the yard (Like PHenry, except just two chambers) at my house in MN. When I get a new one here in MI, I’ll put up another one.
Growing up, we lived in an older house that bats loved to nest in. Many times, they’d get inside at night instead of outside. I was the designated bat catcher. My brother, who was almost a foot taller than me, used to cower in his room until the house was bat free.
Put up several bat boxes on twelve acres. Love ’em.
I’d lay on the side of a hill watching the aerobatic flight.
They would swoop withing a few inches of me. Loved it.
Never had mosquitoes, Voracious eaters.
Yay for bats! I love them. I want a bat house.
https://batworld.org
Bat rocket
https://www.gbbr.ca/download/Species%20at%20Risk/RocketBoxPlans.pdf
Thanks PHenry!