White Nose Syndrome

[skip]

The biospeleological society sent this link to a cbs news video on white nose syndrome. it's not very informative, but summarizes the problem. you do have to get through 30 secs of commercials first (tv news) before the video starts.

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=4920589n%3fsource=search_video

It's not cave diving, but it may raise issues that could affect cave diving. And it's already closed many caves for sump diving.

-skip

[FW]

We need to worry about this, because if the federal governmant stops all caving, they may not exclude underwater caves.

[sskasser]

And if the bat population is decimated, the Florida state bird (the mosquito!) will take over, and we'll all be sucked dry...

[Benthic]

So what if we went out of our way to help the bat population? Perhaps by building community bat houses in places like Peacock. Bats could move in and have a place to live and in return they would feast on all the mosquitoes around there that are usually feasting on us!

It was just a thought, and maybe not a very good one. I'm not particularly knowledgeable about bats so I don't know where they would or wouldn't want to live.

Brian

[runawaylobster]

So what if we went out of our way to help the bat population? Perhaps by building community bat houses in places like Peacock. Bats could move in and have a place to live and in return they would feast on all the mosquitoes around there that are usually feasting on us!

It was just a thought, and maybe not a very good one. I'm not particularly knowledgeable about bats so I don't know where they would or wouldn't want to live.

Brian

They used to live in my Mom's roof so i'm sure a bat house would be OK!!

[RN]

Florida Caverns State Park has bat houses all over the place. They even have instructions on how to build them. They aren't difficult. Does Peacock have bats in the area?

[Squirrel Girl]

Florida Caverns State Park has bat houses all over the place. They even have instructions on how to build them. They aren't difficult. Does Peacock have bats in the area?

I think almost everywhere has bats (not the arctic, but you get my meaning). Or used to before WNS.

[Squirrel Girl]

Here are some links:


Over on the NSS Website, there is this information page:
http://www.caves.org/WNS/WNS%20Info.htm

Then, there is a whole subforum dedicated to WNS:
http://forums.caves.org/viewforum.ph...f66ce222d7b194

To me, it is sad. I figure, better safe than sorry, and for the time being, we shouldn't go in airfilled caves, just in case, until we know more. But a lot of cavers say, "It can't be *us* and we want to go caving anyway." As with any group of people, there are many different opinions, but I wish more people didn't come across as so selfish.

And, finally, here's a place to donate to help WNS research. If we actually figure out how this disease works, maybe we can find a cure or containment. The sooner, the better!
http://www.caves.org/WNS/index.shtml

[FW]

Bat houses are a nice idea, but if WNS kills all the bats, they won't be very useful

[sskasser]

So what if we went out of our way to help the bat population? Perhaps by building community bat houses in places like Peacock. Bats could move in and have a place to live and in return they would feast on all the mosquitoes around there that are usually feasting on us!

It was just a thought, and maybe not a very good one. I'm not particularly knowledgeable about bats so I don't know where they would or wouldn't want to live.

Brian

Great idea, the more "safe" places for them, the better.