well,,it was the bat's fault, you saw the way it was dressed

[Guest guest]

Why are Bats Dying?

 

 

Just as news of the massive bee die off is fading from the news (although not

actually ending), news of mass bat deaths are just starting to hit the

headlines. The loss of bats could be an environmental catastrophe, as they are

the world's greatest insect eaters -- devouring up to half their weight in

insects every day.

 

The epicenter of the bat die-off is New York. Reports started with hikers

noticing dead and dying bats littered outside the caves where they hibernate.

 

The loss of bats is now at the point where researchers are expressing fear that

an extinction is underway. The ultimate cause is unknown, although the condition

has been named White Nose Syndrome, due to the presence of fungus growths on the

bats’ noses and faces. The fungus is believed, however, to be only a symptom

rather than the underlying problem.

 

Theories for what is causing the bats to die include:

 

Virus and bacterial infections

Pesticides, either due to the toxins themselves or because they’ve killed off

bats’ major food source, mosquitoes and other insects

Bat die-off could have a major impact on humanity, including outbreaks of

mosquitoes (and their related diseases like West Nile Fever, malaria, and

Eastern Equine Encephalitis) and destruction of crops (which could be overtaken

by crop-destructive insects).

Sources:

Natural News April 11, 2008

 

 

 

 

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

Something is terribly wrong here.

 

Three of the world’s greatest pollinators -- the creatures that are actually

responsible for spreading pollen so plants can grow -- are slowly disappearing

right before your eyes. First it was the bees. Then the birds. Now the bats.

 

What’s next?

 

The current bat die-off is already being called the most serious threat to North

American bats since the beginning of recorded history. In New York, up to 90

percent of the bats hibernating in four caves and mines have died since last

winter, and more bats are thought to have died at 15 other New York sites, and

also in Massachusetts and Vermont.

 

Biologists believe that up to half a million bats could ultimately be lost,

which would have a major impact on the upcoming growing season.

 

Bats are Necessary for Crops to Thrive

 

The common image of bats acting as pests, flying in your hair or trying to suck

your blood are, of course, just myths. One of the biggest fears many have about

bats -- rabies -- is also completely unfounded, as bat rabies cause just one

human death per year in the United States, according to Bat Conservation

International.

 

In reality, bats are a great friend to the environment, helping to pollinate

wild plants, disperse fruit seeds, and keep insect populations under control.

 

Bats are also used strategically by organic farmers as a natural means for pest

control, as one small bat can eat up to 2,000 mosquitoes in one night. So you

can imagine how mosquitoes and other bugs will multiply without bats to keep

them in check.

 

Other Pollinators are Also Disappearing

 

As I said earlier, the problem of disappearing bats is magnified because other

North American pollinators, namely birds and bees, are also on the decline.

 

According to a report by the National Audubon Society, for instance, the numbers

of some species of birds have plummeted by 60 percent to 80 percent. And as of

April 2007, 25 percent of all bee colonies in 27 U.S. states had died.

 

The growing absence of these necessary creatures is signaling a silent alarm

bell about the state of our ecosystem. Even the U.S. Department of Agriculture

is calling it an “impending pollination crisis.â€

 

Something is throwing things off balance, and, little by little, nature is

dying. Eventually, it will no longer be a gradual occurrence, but rather like

when you put a stick into a turning bicycle wheel, everything will abruptly come

to a halt, and likely fall.

 

What’s Killing Off the Bees, Birds and Bats?

 

Nobody knows for sure. And my guess is that it is not one thing but rather an

accumulation of things such as:

 

Pesticides and other environmental toxins

 

Cell phones and information-carrying radio waves

 

Genetically modified crops

In the case of bats, new pesticides that are designed specifically to fight West

Nile Virus are also likely culprits. These pesticides kill mosquitoes, and bats

need mosquitoes to survive. As a telling sign, bats that have been found dead

appeared to have died from starvation, as their fat stores were largely

depleted.

 

There is also a sign that something is altering their behavior, as bats have

been found flying during the winter and during the day, while they should have

been hibernating.

 

Can Life Go on Without the Birds and the Bees (and the Bats)?

 

Not for long, no. One-third of the U.S. food supply is dependent on the

pollination from bees alone, and without bats or birds, the food supply as you

know it would be long gone.

 

Is there anything you can do?

 

Well, on a local level, yes. I would suggest contacting your town’s city

officials to protest spraying the area with pesticides to combat West Nile

Virus. Next, if you have a backyard, consider putting up a couple of bat houses,

a bird feeder, and a bird bath, then planting some flowers that attract bees,

such as:

 

Basil, rosemary, sage and thyme

Lavender

Geraniums

Sunflowers

Verbena

Zinnias

Bee balm

Cosmos

These are small steps, but no contribution is too small when it comes to our one

and only environment.

 

 

 

What gets us into trouble is not what we don't know, it's what we know for sure

that just ain't so.

- Mark Twain

[Guest guest]

One might ask how much disease do they spread maybe natures fighting back --- On Thu, 5/1/08, fraggle <EBbrewpunx wrote:

fraggle <EBbrewpunx well,,it was the bat's fault, you saw the way it was dressed"doomerism (AT) googl (DOT) com" <doomerism (AT) googl (DOT) com>, "TFHB" <TFHB >, "vegan chat" Thursday, May 1, 2008, 4:04 PM

 

 

Why are Bats Dying? Just as news of the massive bee die off is fading from the news (although not actually ending), news of mass bat deaths are just starting to hit the headlines. The loss of bats could be an environmental catastrophe, as they are the world's greatest insect eaters -- devouring up to half their weight in insects every day.The epicenter of the bat die-off is New York. Reports started with hikers noticing dead and dying bats littered outside the caves where they hibernate.The loss of bats is now at the point where researchers are expressing fear that an extinction is underway. The ultimate cause is unknown, although the condition has been named White Nose Syndrome, due to the presence of fungus growths on the bats’ noses and faces. The fungus is believed, however, to be only a symptom rather than the underlying problem.Theories for what is causing the bats to die include:Virus and bacterial

infections Pesticides, either due to the toxins themselves or because they’ve killed off bats’ major food source, mosquitoes and other insectsBat die-off could have a major impact on humanity, including outbreaks of mosquitoes (and their related diseases like West Nile Fever, malaria, and Eastern Equine Encephalitis) and destruction of crops (which could be overtaken by crop-destructive insects). Sources:Natural News April 11, 2008Dr. Mercola's Comments: Something is terribly wrong here.Three of the world’s greatest pollinators -- the creatures that are actually responsible for spreading pollen so plants can grow -- are slowly disappearing right before your eyes. First it was the bees. Then the birds. Now the bats. What’s next?The current bat die-off is already being called the most serious threat to North American bats since the beginning of recorded history. In New York, up to 90 percent of

the bats hibernating in four caves and mines have died since last winter, and more bats are thought to have died at 15 other New York sites, and also in Massachusetts and Vermont.Biologists believe that up to half a million bats could ultimately be lost, which would have a major impact on the upcoming growing season.Bats are Necessary for Crops to ThriveThe common image of bats acting as pests, flying in your hair or trying to suck your blood are, of course, just myths. One of the biggest fears many have about bats -- rabies -- is also completely unfounded, as bat rabies cause just one human death per year in the United States, according to Bat Conservation International. In reality, bats are a great friend to the environment, helping to pollinate wild plants, disperse fruit seeds, and keep insect populations under control.Bats are also used strategically by organic farmers as a natural means for pest control, as

one small bat can eat up to 2,000 mosquitoes in one night. So you can imagine how mosquitoes and other bugs will multiply without bats to keep them in check.Other Pollinators are Also DisappearingAs I said earlier, the problem of disappearing bats is magnified because other North American pollinators, namely birds and bees, are also on the decline.According to a report by the National Audubon Society, for instance, the numbers of some species of birds have plummeted by 60 percent to 80 percent. And as of April 2007, 25 percent of all bee colonies in 27 U.S. states had died. The growing absence of these necessary creatures is signaling a silent alarm bell about the state of our ecosystem. Even the U.S. Department of Agriculture is calling it an “impending pollination crisis.â€Something is throwing things off balance, and, little by little, nature is dying. Eventually, it will no longer be a gradual occurrence,

but rather like when you put a stick into a turning bicycle wheel, everything will abruptly come to a halt, and likely fall.What’s Killing Off the Bees, Birds and Bats?Nobody knows for sure. And my guess is that it is not one thing but rather an accumulation of things such as:Pesticides and other environmental toxins Cell phones and information- carrying radio waves Genetically modified crops In the case of bats, new pesticides that are designed specifically to fight West Nile Virus are also likely culprits. These pesticides kill mosquitoes, and bats need mosquitoes to survive. As a telling sign, bats that have been found dead appeared to have died from starvation, as their fat stores were largely depleted.There is also a sign that something is altering their behavior, as bats have been found flying during the winter and during the day, while they should have been hibernating.Can Life Go on

Without the Birds and the Bees (and the Bats)?Not for long, no. One-third of the U.S. food supply is dependent on the pollination from bees alone, and without bats or birds, the food supply as you know it would be long gone.Is there anything you can do?Well, on a local level, yes. I would suggest contacting your town’s city officials to protest spraying the area with pesticides to combat West Nile Virus. Next, if you have a backyard, consider putting up a couple of bat houses, a bird feeder, and a bird bath, then planting some flowers that attract bees, such as:Basil, rosemary, sage and thyme Lavender Geraniums Sunflowers Verbena Zinnias Bee balm CosmosThese are small steps, but no contribution is too small when it comes to our one and only environment. What gets us into trouble is not what we don't know, it's what we know for sure that just ain't so.- Mark

Twain