There are a lot of people who are scared silly by bats! I find this a bit ridiculous because bats are really, really cute! Some people think bats get into your hair. Maybe they do, but only because they are confused...they don't really like hair. They won't suck your blood or bother you in the least because they are kind of shy. It's a misconception that bats are flying "rodents". Rodents are mammals like rats, mice and squirrels. Bats don't build nests, or break into your house to torment you, they are just as scared of you as you are scared of them. The scariest thing about bats is that they might be going extinct...really fast. A deadly disease known as white-nose syndrome (WNS) is devastating hibernating bats across the country. First discovered back in 2006, WNS was named for the mysterious white fungus that appears on bats. WNS has killed more than 5.7 million bats in eastern North America. The fungus closes their breathing passages, disrupts their sleep and they awaken in winter when they should be sleeping. Confused, the infected bats fly out into the cold winter and freeze to death. Rather than being scary or dangerous, most bats perform an absolutely vital service for our ecosystem: The thousands of insects they eat each night save farmers millions of dollars on insect control and crop damage. Remember, if you see a sick bat, NEVER pick it up or touch it, tell an adult and let them help you call an agency that knows how to take care of bats. This is to prevent you from getting sick and getting help to the bat as quick as possible. Have a safe and happy Halloween and look for bats! Really! They are just super cute!
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Mrs. TaylorI love science! Everything about the world is interesting and never boring. I love to study plants, animals, insects, and people. My favorite subjects are my students who are the most unique organisms on the planet! Categories |