White Nose Syndrome in Alabama

Authorities have confirmed the presence of white nose syndrome in Alabama. The Russell Cave complex has confirmed the presence of white nose syndrome in its bats. The Russell Cave complex is home to the largest hibernating population of the endangered Large Gray bat.

White nose syndrome has now been confirmed in 17 states, and four Canadian provinces. The US Fish and Wildlife Service estimates that up to 6.7 million bats have died from white nose syndrome since it was first discovered in the US Northeast in 2006.  Every year insectivorous bats save the US agricultural industry at least $3 billion; approximately $74 per acre for the average farmer. 

Source:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/16/bats-white-nose-syndrome_n_1350306.html

Interested in teaching your students more about ecology? Check out SSR's Vol 41 DVD, episode Ecology – Bats: Creatures of the Night.  If your school would like to receive this free resource, visit http://www.ssrvideo.com/nhcmsp.html.   

Interested in speaking to students about ecology? E-mail Fallon@ssrvideo.com

White Nose Syndrome Found in Ohio

Naturalists are warning that bats in Northeast Ohio maybe wiped out within three years time. The disease known as white nose syndrome has spread to parts of Ohio. Currently 7,000,000 bats throughout the US, particularly in the Northeast, have died of white nose syndrome.

The announcement was made after biologists discovered the presence of white nose syndrome in bats hibernating in caves in the West Woods area of Russell and Newbury Ohio.  Currently there is no cure for white nose syndrome, and the mortality rate is hundred percent.

Source:

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2012/02/deadly_white-nose_syndrome_fou_1.html

Interested in teaching your students more about ecology? Check out SSR's Vol 41 DVD, episode Ecology – Bats: Creatures of the Night.  If your school would like to receive this free resource, visit http://www.ssrvideo.com/nhcmsp.html.   

Interested in speaking to students about ecology? E-mail Fallon@ssrvideo.com

Rabies Cases Down for Bats in IL

While once leading state in rabies cases for bats, McHenry County, IL has noticed an 86% decline in cases of rabid bats.   In 2010, McHenry County had 22 of the 117 rabid bat cases in the year.  This year, McHenry County has had only three of the 44 total rabid bat cases for the year (now that bat hibernation season has begun). 

McHenry County celebrated rabies awareness on World Rabies Day on September 28^th.  They recommend “bat-proofing” homes, keeping pets current on rabies vaccinations, and avoiding wild animals.  Contrary to popular believe, one cannot determine whether or not a wild animal has rabies by simply looking at the animal.  Any wild mammal can transmit rabies to other mammals, including humans.    

Interested in teaching your students more about Ecology? Check out SSR's Vol 41 DVD, episode Ecology – Bats: Creatures of the Night.  If your school would like to receive this free resource, visit http://www.ssrvideo.com/nhcmsp.html.   

Interested in speaking to students about Ecology? E-mail Fallon@ssrvideo.com

Source:

http://algonquin.patch.com/articles/rabid-bats-in-mchenry-county-down-86

Spook-tacular Garden Critters

Helpful garden critters, such as owls, spiders, toads, snakes, and bats get a bad reputation for being “spooky” around the Halloween season.  However, the National Wildlife Federation is working to give these animals the good reputation they deserve, by highlighting their usefulness for people.    

Owls provide rodent control by eating small rodent, such as mice.  Spiders provide insect control by eating insects that land in their webs.  Toads are beneficial because they eat up to 10,000 insects over the course a summer.   Snakes, which tend to hide in cool dark places, feed on insects such as slugs, and small rodents.  Bats are useful for insect population control, and even pollination of plants.

Interested in teaching your students more about Ecology? Check out SSR's Vol 41 DVD, Ecology – Bats: Creatures of the Night. If your school would like to receive this free resource, visit http://www.ssrvideo.com/nhcmsp.html.

Source:

http://blog.nwf.org/wildlifepromise/2011/10/5-spook-tacular-animals-to-welcome-to-your-garden-this-halloween/

University of Florida's Bat Houses

This Halloween many will decorate their homes, workspace, and schools with “spooky” images, to include bats.  But the University of Florida has the real deal, and they’re letting you share in the observation.  Monday, October 24^th, UF began streaming 24 hour videos of their campus bat colony. 

What is so special about bats at UF?   UF has the world’s largest continuously occupied bat houses.  Three bat-cams, located in and around the bat houses, feature zoom, tilt, and pan features, operated remotely by UF museum technicians.  The footage can be viewed at www.flmnh.ufl.edu/bats. 

Interested in teaching your students more about Ecology? Check out SSR's Vol 41 DVD, Ecology – Bats: Creatures of the Night.  If your school would like to receive this free resource, visit http://www.ssrvideo.com/nhcmsp.html.   

Interested in speaking to students about Ecology? E-mail Fallon@ssrvideo.com

Source:

http://news.ufl.edu/2011/10/24/bat-cam/