Thomas Kunz, director of the Center for Ecology and Conservation Biology at Boston University, presented a request for funding to Congress to study "white nose syndrome" in bats.
Most people would think just another government throw away of money. Not so this time.
In Vermont and New York bats are dying en masse in the caves they favor as homes.
A mysterious white fungus is causing the bats to die but scientists do not know why and do not have the resources to research the cause. The disease could be nationwide in two years.
Bats eat their body weight in insects daily.
The result of no bats is increased disease in humans due to more mosquitoes and flies to carry the diseases, decreased farm production due to insect carnage, and increased live stock deaths due to insect borne disease.
It's a question of pay ten to twenty million now or pay several billion in two years. The consumer will be paying in increased prices for food and increased medical bills.
Never thought bats were so important did you.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h-WwzBhNA4BID341ex3fe7ZA7IXgD98K03SO3
http://blogs.nature.com/news/thegreatbeyond/2009/06/bat_disease_threatens_humans.html
http://www.nwanews.com/adg/News/260184/
http://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/2009/jun/05/bc-nm-carlsbad-bat-fungus/?features
http://www.norwichbulletin.com/news/environment/x862900049/Scientists-worry-fungus-could-wipe-out-bats-hope-to-stop-spread
Comments
This follows on the heels of reports that virtually all of the bats in Connecticut are already dead from the results of this fungus (See my article about this on the Birmingham Examiner from March 21, 2009).
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