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Rare Bats Appear on Central Florida River
Kississimmee River, Florida — Groups of rare and endangered bonneted bats have appeared along the Kissimmee River, far from its known range.
Experts said they recently heard the bat's deep, distinctive echolocation calls on a bat detector, which translates sonographs into a sound that bat experts can hear.
“This bat is definitely distinctive,” said Cyndi Marks, executive director of the Florida Bat Conservancy, a nonprofit organization.
The bats are considered the rarest in the region. Marks' group, under contract with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, identified the bats while gathering data about bat species in southwest Florida.
She heard the rare bonneted bats while surveying for bats earlier this year on South Florida Water Management District lands that are part of the Kissimmee River restoration.
The state lists the bats as an endangered species. They are proposed for listing as endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
They haven't been federally listed because they were previously believed to be a subspecies of bats found in Cuba. But a 2004 study found bonneted bats in Florida are a separate, distinct species, Florida Today reported.
From the 1950s to 1970s, the bat was always thought to be only around the Miami area, mostly in Coral Gables.
Then in 1979, one was found near Punta Gorda, in a tree cut down to build Interstate 75. In 2000, Marks and her husband recorded one in the Ten Thousand Islands. The recent discovery documented the bats well north of Lake Okeechobee, on the Kissimmee River Public Use Area and Kissimmee Island Cattle Co. properties. The find of Florida bonneted bats (Eumops floridanus) in the Kissimmee region is a major discovery, according to the Florida Bat Conservancy, because the nearest previously known location is more than 50 miles southwest.
The Florida bonneted bat is distinguished by its large size: from 4.9 to 6.5 inches long, with a wingspan of almost 20 inches. Unusually large broad ears slant forward over the eyes, like a bonnet. Kississimmee River, Florida — Groups of rare and endangered bonneted bats have appeared along the Kissimmee River, far from its known ... more -
Wind Turbines Give Bats the "Bends," Study Finds
Wind turbines can kill bats without touching them by causing a bends-like condition due to rapidly dropping air pressure, new research suggests.
Scientists aren't sure why, but bats are attracted to the turbines, which often stand 300 feet (90 meters) high and sport 200-foot (60-meter) blades.
The mammals' curiosity can result in lethal blows by the rotors, which spin at a rate of about 160 miles (260 kilometers) per hour.
But scientist Erin Baerwald and colleagues report that only about half of the bat corpses they found near Alberta, Canada, turbine bases showed any physical evidence of being hit by a blade.
A surprising 90 percent showed signs of internal hemorrhaging—evidence of a drop in air pressure near the blades that causes fatal damage to the bats' lungs with a condition called barotrauma. Wind turbines can kill bats without touching them by causing a bends-like condition due to rapidly dropping air pressure, new research... more -
Wind Turbines responsible for bat deaths
A research team from the University of Calgary has found that a large percentage of bat fatalities at wind turbine sites are caused by a sudden drop in air pressure around the turbine blades, the BBC reports.
The Calgary team now says that while bats can use their echolocation to pinpoint the blades, they "cannot detect the sharp pressure changes around the turbine".
If a bat enters this zone, it can suffer "barotrauma" - internal haemorrhaging provoked by sudden expansion of the lungs* which puts pressure on surrounding tissue and bursts capillaries. Birds, which have more "rigid and robust" lungs, are less susceptible to the condition.
Save the Bats! A research team from the University of Calgary has found that a large percentage of bat fatalities at wind turbine sites are caused by... more -
Wind farms put pressure on bats
Bats are at risk from wind turbines, researchers have found, because the rotating blades produce a change in air pressure that can kill the mammals.
Canadian scientists examined bats found dead at a wind farm, and concluded that most had internal injuries consistent with sudden loss of air pressure.
Bats use echo-location to avoid hitting the blades but cannot detect the sharp pressure changes around the turbine.
The scientists say wind farms are more of an issue for bats than for birds.
"An atmospheric pressure drop at wind turbine blades is an undetectable - and potentially unforseeable - hazard for bats, thus partially explaining the large number of bat fatalities at these specific structures," said Erin Baerwald, who led the research team at the University of Calgary.
Route cause
Bat deaths around wind farms have been widely documented across Europe and North America.
Two years ago, EU nations formally agreed to make developers aware of the risks, and find ways of monitoring bat migration routes.
Earlier this year, a bid to build a wind farm near Bideford in north Devon was turned down because of the potential impact on the mammals.
A pipistrelle bat (Pic: Martin Hind)
Research is underway to find ways of scaring bats from wind farms
But among all this, understanding of how turbines affect bats has been lacking.
The Calgary team collected carcasses of hoary and silver-haired bats killed at a wind farm in south-western Alberta.
Examinations showed that fewer than half had external injuries that could have been caused by collision.
But about 90% had internal haemorrhaging, most notably in the chest cavity, a condition that puts pressure on the lung and can be fatal.
The idea is that the pressure around a rotating turbine blade is lower than in the surrounding air. A bat flying into the low-pressure zone finds its lungs suddenly expanding, bursting capillaries in the surrounding tissue which then becomes flooded with blood.
Birds, which have more rigid and robust lungs, do not undergo the same trauma from a sudden drop in pressure.
"Given that bats are far more susceptible to barotrauma than birds, and that bat fatalities at wind turbines far outnumber bird fatalities at most sites, wildlife fatalities at wind turbines are now a bat issue, not a bird issue," said Ms Baerwald.
Some research groups are investigating ways to keep bats away from wind farms, and a University of Aberdeen group recently suggested radar emissions might act as a "bat-scarer". Bats are at risk from wind turbines, researchers have found, because the rotating blades produce a change in air pressure that can kil... more -
Oklahoma going batty
The Mexican free-tailed bat migrates to Oklahoma each year. These bats are providing a huge economic benefit to local farmers and ranchers and tourist can even watch their impressive evening flights. The Mexican free-tailed bat migrates to Oklahoma each year. These bats are providing a huge economic benefit to local farmers and ran... more
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'Vampires' kill 38 people in Venezuela
38 people died after being bitten by 'vampire' bats. It is believed the bats may have had rabies.
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Bats Attack!
Artist and film-maker, Ty Marshal, humorously and educationally portrays the removal of a bat that invades the living room...presented in a "reality tv" styled - digital video format.
Synopsis:
Arriving home one night from doing the laundry, Ty, Derek, Madeline and Harvey stumble upon a furry flying friend who takes up residence in their home...what do two fellas do when they find a bat in their house at 11pm? Watch to find out!
Warning:
This video cannot be considered for broadcast on TV, but hopefully it makes you smile...and relays some unique info in the process!
If you find a bat in your home, do your own research as to how to safely remove the creature. THIS IS NOT A "HOW TO" VIDEO, and should not be considered as such.
The makers of this video are not experts at bat removal or the removal of anything for that matter.
No animals, human or otherwise, were harmed during the making of this movie. Artist and film-maker, Ty Marshal, humorously and educationally portrays the removal of a bat that invades the living room...presented... more -
Bats are dying
Is there no end to the horror? Now bats are dying in record numbers.
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Thai bat eaters
This Thai village has a tradition of eating those flying creatures.
The youth, are not that into it though.
Would you eat a bat? This Thai village has a tradition of eating those flying creatures. The youth, are not that into it though. ... more -
Thai farmers look to bats as free, flying food
While movie fans the world over rave about the new Batman film, the only stir bats are causing in this poor farming village is in a cooking pot.
The farmers say the meat is delicious, and, with a big smile, they claim it also gives them sexual powers. While movie fans the world over rave about the new Batman film, the only stir bats are causing in this poor farming village is in a co... more -
Bats In Hell? Deadly Bat Illness Baffles Researchers
DORSET, Vt. - The little brown bat careened out of Aeolus Cave into the bright March afternoon. Crashing into a snow bank, it clawed up the icy mound, wings flailing wildly. Spent and starving, it fell still.
Dozens of furry bats, many shivering uncontrollably, littered the snow around the cave's mossy entrance. Others in various stages of dying were tucked into rock crevices nearby - deeply bizarre behavior for animals that avoid light and so despise winter they can hibernate until early May.
A wildlife biologist breathing through a respirator gingerly picked up the still creature - one more critical clue to a mysterious illness that is killing the bats of the Northeast. DORSET, Vt. - The little brown bat careened out of Aeolus Cave into the bright March afternoon. Crashing into a snow bank, it clawed u... more -
White Noise Syndrome is killing all the bats
Seriously creepy-- a mysterious illness has killed of hundreds of thousands of bats in the northeast-- and it's spreading. Conservationists are threatening to sue the government for not taking action to save the bats. Seriously creepy-- a mysterious illness has killed of hundreds of thousands of bats in the northeast-- and it's spreading. Conser... more
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Thousands of bats dying in New York and Vermont
Bats in New York and Vermont are mysteriously dying off by the thousands, often with a white ring of fungus around their noses, and scientists in hazmat suits are crawling into dank caves to find out why.
This is sad and very frightening. Bats in New York and Vermont are mysteriously dying off by the thousands, often with a white ring of fungus around their noses, and sc... more -
Bat Birth Factory
Before Little League. Before the World Series. Even before the rule of three strikes and you're out, Louisville Slugger was there perfecting the bats that would write the history of the game. Watch how these bats are made and learn how Louisville Slugger has dominated the game since there's been a game. Before Little League. Before the World Series. Even before the rule of three strikes and you're out, Louisville Slugger was there... more
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