A Radical Idea to Save Americas Bats
Nashville, TN (Vocus) November 22, 2010
The bats that eat millions of mosquitoes in American backyards every summer could be driven to extinction by a mysterious illness thats spreading across the country, and Nature Conservancy cave expert Cory Holliday hopes he can help save them by building a better bat cave.
Holliday and The Nature Conservancy in Tennessee are in the running for a $ 250,000 grant from Pepsi Refresh, an online competition that invites people to vote for the best new ideas for improving the world, with a proposal to build an artificial bat cave in which bats will hibernate naturally while researchers test new treatments on them for white-nose syndrome, an ailment thats decimating bat populations. Anyone can vote for the idea through Nov. 30 at http://www.refresheverything.com/saveamericasbats.
White-nose syndrome is a devastating disease that is hitting bats fast and hard, said Cory Holliday, cave and karst program director for The Nature Conservancy in Tennessee. Our idea has been endorsed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, our state wildlife agency and bat experts as having real potential to make a difference in this epidemic.
White-nose syndrome started appearing in Eastern U.S. bat caves in 2006. Since then, ill bats have been verified in at least 12 states and two Canadian provinces, including the first reports of WNS in Tennessee last winter.
Nationwide, more than a million bats have died, and the mortality rate over a single year in some caves exceeds 90 percent. Scientists still lack definitive answers about the syndromes cause, but have discovered that affected bats tend to grow a powdery white fungus on their faces, hence the name white-nose syndrome. Without an answer soon, several species, including the federally endangered gray bat, could be lost forever, Holliday said.
Bats suffering from white-nose syndrome awaken from their winter hibernation, fly out searching for food that simply isnt available during the dormant season a single small bat can easily eat 1,200 insects in one night and ultimately, die of starvation. A bat thats flying in the winter, particularly during daylight hours, is likely ill and should be reported to local wildlife officials or to federal researchers at WhiteNoseBats(at)fws(dot)gov.
Several antifungal substances have promise as WNS treatments, but transporting ill bats to a lab is difficult, and treating bats in a natural setting poses risk to other cave dwelling species and local water supplies, explained Gary McCracken, a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.
An artificial cave would be the best of all possible worlds, McCracken said. It would give us a field situation similar to a natural cave, but where we could control all of the variables, as you would in a lab. Theres nothing like an experiment in a natural setting to learn what does and doesnt work.
The experimental cave in Tennessee could serve as a model for other bat populations at risk from WNS, and the strategies developed there could be applied elsewhere to save millions of bats throughout the Eastern United States, Holliday said.
This is the first idea we’ve come upon that offers bats a real chance at survival without killing the other organisms that call caves home, he said.
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Categories: Bats And Mice Tags: Americas, Bat Cave, Bat Caves, Bat Populations, bats, Canadian Provinces, Definitive Answers, Fish And Wildlife, Fish And Wildlife Service, Gray Bat, Holliday, Idea, Mortality Rate, Mysterious Illness, Nashville Tn, Nature Conservancy, Radical, Radical Idea, Save, Several Species, State Wildlife Agency, U S Fish And Wildlife Service, Vocus, White Fungus, Wns
The Fireplace And The Fireplace Screen
There are three kinds of fireplace: the electric, the gas and the wood burning fireplace. Having these beautiful pieces that keep you warm means that you have to take care of them. Taking good care of them means keeping them clean and in excellent condition. Otherwise, it may deteriorate. To restrain the dust or burning coals from going to areas they aren’t supposed to be, a fireplace screen is efficient in keeping your rugs or flooring ash-free.
A fireplace screen also wards off bats and other pests from going down your chimney and shocking everybody who could be sitting around the fireplace. And of course, to keep your children from reaching rather close to the fire, a screen is necessary to keep them out of harm’s way. But what about maintenance? Every type of fireplace needs different kinds of cleaning and upkeep.
To get going, let’s talk about electric fireplace. This type of fireplace is very cost-efficient and less fussy. You do not have to have any firewood; you do not have to make sure the kindling are blazing, as well as to see that they are all died out before sleeping. You do not need to dust off grime, creosote, and remains. All the same, you also still have to check the electric wires and the firebox. Make sure to dust them to ensure they can keep their excellent shape. Always bear in mind never to apply abrasive solutions for cleaning your electric fireplace to avoid deterioration on its surface.
The kind of fireplace on the other hand that needs the most caution and nursing is the gas fireplace. They also demand delicate usage as they are most likely to generate fire. The first security check you should always do is the ventilation. If the ventilation is clogged and is left as is, it could explode or fire up if you still keep on using it. Bear in mind that although gas fireplace are easy to operate when they are running smoothly, they can be deadly when left unrepaired. All the more, they are still more cost-effective than the wood burning fireplace.
And last of all is the wood burning fireplace-the mother of all hearths. Many houses we all know choose to have them as there is nothing more genuine than a crackling wood while everyone gathers around and heat up themselves. It also creates a homey ambiance. Although of course, it requires the most attention and maintenance. The number one problem is the creosote that builds up on the roof and the sides of the vent. So make sure to rub the deposit twice or thrice a year as they are extremely combustible–the leading source of chimney fire.
To avoid burns-keep your fireplace screen at bay. To be able to do this, you need to clean the fireplace all the time and make sure that it is safe. In this way we can prevent chimney fires. In order to make sure you and your family can enjoy the afterglow from your fireside in the chilly nights, keep your fireplace well kept and in excellent working condition.
A hearth is the center of attraction especially when it has a fire burning. This is why you need <a rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackPageview', '/outgoing/article_exit_link/4255837']);” href=”http://www.fireplacescreensetc.com/”>decorative fireplace screen</a> to keep the fire burning and highlight its appearance. Or just <a rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackPageview', '/outgoing/article_exit_link/4255837']);” href=”http://www.fireplacescreensetc.com/”>click here</a> for more information.
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Fruit Bats – When U Love Somebody
Figures that they can turn only four simple lines into an incredible song like this.
Video Rating: 4 / 5
Categories: Bats And Mice Tags: bats, Fruit, Fruit Bats, Love, Love Somebody, Somebody
Bat Baby
This summer’s hottest blockbuster hit! The diapered duo of Bat Baby and robin take off in the bat stroller to fight off evil criminals!
Categories: Bats And Mice Tags: Baby, Bat, Blockbuster, Criminals, Stroller
Fruit Bats – The Ruminant Band
The Fruit Bats on Sub Pop www.subpop.com FREE download of the song “The Ruminant Band” assets4.subpop.com The Ruminant Band on subpop.com: www.subpop.com
Part of Shelter Video Compilation
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Meat Loaf – Bat Out of Hell
Meat Loaf – Bat Out of Hell
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Categories: Bats And Mice Tags: Bat Out Of Hell, Hell, Loaf, Meat, Meat Loaf Bat Out Of Hell, Price Usd
Syfy; Ronald D. Moore, executive producer, Battlestar Galactica – Battlestar Galactica
Syfy; Ronald D. Moore, executive producer, Battlestar Galactica – Battlestar Galactica
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