Bat Deaths Baffling Researchers

While scientists are still puzzling over the disappearance of bees, large numbers of bats have begun dying out no less mysteriously

By Matt Ransford Posted 03.26.2008 at 9:18 am 4 Comments

Bat longhorndave

We’ve by now all seen the news that bees are dying in huge numbers. Scientists have labeled the phenomenon Colony Collapse Disorder, or CCD. Dead bees mean less crop pollination, which means less food at higher prices. What’s causing the problem is still anyone’s guess. Now, strangely, bats in the eastern U.S. are experiencing a similar plague which biologists have dubbed White Nose Syndrome (WNS) for the white fungus that appears on their bodies at the height of infection. Scientists are already calling it the worst disaster for bat populations in the United States, estimating the death of half a million animals this year alone.

As with CCD, biologists worry that WNS is a conflation of more than one factor and that the white fungus is merely a secondary infection. While signs point to a disruption in the bats’ food source—perhaps the recently introduced pesticides to combat mosquitoes that may carry West Nile virus—it is unclear whether WNS is caused by a toxin or simply a food shortage. In addition to (or because of) the infections, bats aren’t gaining enough weight before they hibernate and are either dying in situ or are waking up in the dead of winter and flying out into the cold to certain death.

There is concern that if the cause is contagious, it will spread rapidly. While humans are not vectors for infection, visitors to caves could be taking it out of caves on their clothes and gear. Bats themselves could do the job as well, migrating hundreds of miles in the summer to roost and give birth. While the economic impact of CCD is immediately apparent, the same may more subtly apply to WNS. Bats are known to consume large quantities of insect pests which would otherwise affect crop yields. How severely this may play out at this year’s harvests remains to be seen.

Via NY Times

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4 Comments

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Cdin

02/27/09 at 6:32 pm

This breaks my heart. The bees are diminishing, amphibians are dying off, 90% of large fish species decimated.

It's very sad and I wish, pray, hope that we all work on this.

Could it be genetic modification (gmo) and highly toxic pesticides? Could it be chemical contamination that reduces immunity?

I think so... at least, just an intuition.

There HAS to be some sort of price for so blithely inundating our environment with toxins, pollutants and contaminants and playing around with genomes helter skelter.

The flowers and plants are sprayed... the bees eat the pollen, the bats eat the bugs that eat the plants... the amphibians live in the waters that are awash with polluted rain water and runoff.

We only have this one paradise planet. That i know of!

I think we should all take better care of it. When I'm older, will there still be a beautiful world with these amazing, beautiful and breathtaking animals?

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7Seth9

04/06/09 at 12:46 pm

Being as I am spiritually minded, I see it as the obvious manifestation of prophesy; however, being a strong believer in conspiracies,perhaps, it is population management and control. Quantum physics, String theory, and less "scientific explanation such as sacred geometry, Kabbalah, and the occult all have theories of intelligent design. If there is a Creator who wishes to bestow good, there must be a creator designed to receive. Unfortunately, egotism seldom desires to be like the Creator and thereby becomes a consume. Government see people as something to be managed. Whether it is sound frequencies, cell towers, toxins, chem trails or fulfillment of prophecy, I personally believe that mankind has devastated the planet to the point where in months or years, not decades, we will have past the point of no return.

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THE BALD EAGLE

07/02/09 at 6:02 pm

**** LOOK AT HMM,"IMIDACLOPRID" 800 MILLION IN SALES =THIS IS "BANNED BY THE ITALIAN GOVERNMENT"= KILLED 50% OF THE BEES THERE IN ONE YEAR."BANNED IN FRANCE AND GERMANY AND SLOVENIA" HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM THANKS A LOT "BAYER". WHERE IS THE USA USA USA USA USA USA *******88***

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kilgoretrout

11/11/09 at 12:59 pm

..could the emergence of cell towers be linked to this?
Could microwaves be causing auto immune response?
This could trigger the virus? Just a thought.