Bats dying in in droves in the northeast

[Van]

Mysterious Illness Killing American Bats

Mysterious illness is killing bats -- Page 1 -- Times Union - Albany NY

MYSTERIOUS ILLNESS KILLING BATS IN NORTHEAST PROMPTS PRECAUTIONS

Came across this on msnbc a bit ago, while I've never been a fan of the little bugger I do think they are an important part of he ecosystem and a big helper in us enjoying our summer evenings I'd hate to see them die off due to a new disease.

 

[Charise]

I'd heard of this before, so for you to find three stories now, it must be getting much worse.

Bats eat lots of my least favorite critters--mosquitoes. I hope they figure out what's killing the bats and are able to stop it.

 

[Van]

Do a google and theres alot more stories on the subject in the north east, it seems to have become a pretty big issue up there.

 

[Stargazer]

Global warming is going to increase the mosquito population. Not having bats and birds eat the mosquitos and bugs either is going to cause the insect population to increase quite a bit.

 

[Van]

In all my life I have never went a summer where I didnt see mosquito's but last year was the exception except for two while on vacation in the islands around Savanha. All summer there was not a single bugger to be found here at all even with the fact that not more than a quarter mile from me is a large woodland lake with a marshy cove. Bugs were mostly limited to spiders and even the earwig was hard to find.

If our drought here is a direct effect of global warming then it is killing off insect life that is dependant on a sub tropical enviroment to live in and in turn it is killing off species that eat those bugs.

Now what I do think is that a warmer enviroment will be effected if its wetter or drier, in the situation with these bats I bet that they will find that this fungus is one of those thats always been present but with milder winters and increased precipitation it has become stronger and gained a foothold. They'll probably also find that its spread on the insects that the bats are eating hence that the fungus is in a ring around their face.

 

[Bob Haller]

bees dying too, nationwide. can hurt farms but much food is now imported

 

[Van]

Im sure the bee's are dying all over the world and not just here.

 

[Stargazer]

We rely on other countries for oil, now food. Another way for them to gouge us (they already are) but it will get worse.