UPDATE:
I was hoping this might be contained, but it looks like the infected area is much larger than previously thought. 
Link.
"We've never seen anything like this before with our bats, much less any other mammals, with a very large regional die-off," said Susi von
Oettingen of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Bat advocates aren't the only ones worried about the plummeting population. Farmers and others will
likely miss the bats later this year since the disappearance of whole populations could mean a much larger number of insects. So far, the disease
has been found in Connecticut, New Hampshire, New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Vermont, though biologists say it could easily spread to
other regions.
Meanwhile, the Canadians are quickly surveying mines in Quebec. So far, nothing. 
|
UPDATE, AGAIN:
It looks like you can add Pennsylvania to the list.
Fungus could be spreading to bat caves in Pennsylvania
The problem is obviously growing...
And, more generally:
On a freefall toward
extinction
BATS have been dying by the thousands recently in the Northeastern United States. No one knows why, and it may be months, perhaps years, before the
cause is determined.
more stories like this
Meanwhile, scientists predict that this summer there will be a population explosion of insects, which bats normally eat in large quantities. Greater
numbers of beetles and moths could mean severe and costly losses for farmers and timber producers. There could also be bigger swarms of mosquitoes and
other biting bugs, which will mean more discomfort for all of us.
More...
[edit on 29-4-2008 by loam]
|
reply to post by loam
Could it be there is a connection between the facts that bats live in damp, dark caves, and a fungus that feeds on radioactivity was found in
abandoned nuclear facilities?
|
