All articles tagged with #bats
Nighttime bats circling yards indicate abundant insects and provide natural pest control through echolocation; urban bats help reduce crop damage and pesticide use, with Brazilian studies citing about $390–$391 million in annual savings, while rabies risk remains under 1% and bat houses support conservation.
Lab studies show mosquitoes carrying Nipah or rabies vaccines can inoculate bats (and mice), triggering neutralizing antibodies and protection in some models; researchers also explored saline drinking stations to deliver vaccines to fruit bats. While results are promising, experts caution about ethical, ecological, and logistical hurdles before real-world use.
Two Nipah virus cases in West Bengal, India have triggered cautious monitoring: Nipah is a deadly zoonotic virus carried by fruit bats and can spread to people via contaminated products or close contact, but the WHO currently sees low national/global risk; there is no approved vaccine yet, though vaccines and antibody trials are underway; outbreaks are seasonal and linked to bat behavior and habitat loss, and prevention emphasizes avoiding bat exposure, boiling raw date palm sap, and strict biosecurity and PPE, with the current cases contained through rapid tracing and isolation.
Researchers tracking a Brazilian free-tailed bat in Texas found it can reach up to 100 mph in level flight, making it the fastest flying mammal and faster than swift or albatross in straight-line flight. Using a radio tag and a Cessna following the bat, they observed wind-driven speed adjustments and pauses that indicate occasional gliding, challenging the view that bats are aerodynamically inferior.
Health officials in middle Tennessee report at least 36 histoplasmosis cases since last fall, with a possible related death; the source hasn’t been identified. Histoplasmosis is caused by inhaling Histoplasma spores found in soil rich with bird or bat droppings, and it’s not transmitted person-to-person. The cluster has prompted warnings for clinicians to consider histoplasmosis in patients with unexplained fever or respiratory illness, with past outbreaks linked to bat caves and bat guano use; investigators are continuing to search for the source.
Researchers tracked brain activity of Egyptian fruit bats on a remote island to understand how head-direction cells form an internal compass. Using implanted microwires and wireless recording, the team found that, as the bats learned the island, their head-direction cells stabilized to precise directions anchored to landmarks, supporting a global compass model tied to the environment rather than magnetic or celestial cues. The work highlights the value of wild, real-world studies for navigation research and suggests humans may share a similar directional system.
Cindy Blaney, a senior ranger and bat expert in Highgate Wood, North London, shares her passion for bats through night walks and surveys, highlighting their often-misunderstood role in the ecosystem and her efforts to study and protect them.
A study reveals that artificial city lights cause bats to take longer, energy-expensive detours to avoid illuminated areas, highlighting the negative impact of light pollution on nocturnal wildlife and emphasizing the need for reducing artificial lighting in urban planning.
Health officials in Riverside County warn residents about an increase in rabid bats, urging caution, vaccination of pets, and immediate medical attention if bitten, as rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms appear.
A study from the University of Georgia found that several North American bat species naturally glow green under UV light, a trait likely inherited from a common ancestor, though its current function remains unknown.
Scientists captured a rare recording of Europe's largest bat species, the greater noctule, hunting, killing, and eating a robin mid-flight at high altitude, revealing a previously underestimated predatory behavior in bats. The study highlights the bat's stealth approach and ability to consume prey during flight, contributing to understanding of bat-bird interactions and natural predation.
Scientists have documented for the first time a bat, specifically the greater noctule bat in Europe, catching and eating a bird in midair during migration, revealing an unexpected predator of high-altitude migrating birds.
Scientists used tiny backpacks with microphones and sensors to confirm that Europe's largest bat, the greater noctule, hunts and eats songbirds mid-flight, revealing a fighter jet-like pursuit behavior and providing insights into their feeding habits and conservation needs.
The article explores animals with exceptional hearing capabilities, highlighting bats and wax moths for high-frequency detection, barn owls for precise prey localization, dolphins and bats for echolocation, and pinnipeds for hearing both above and below water, emphasizing the diversity and specialization of animal auditory systems.
A colony of bats near Libby Dam in Montana tested positive for white-nose syndrome, a deadly fungal disease that has killed millions of bats across North America. While no symptoms were observed yet, the detection raises concerns about the disease's spread and impact on local ecosystems and agriculture. Efforts including monitoring, research, and vaccination are underway to contain the disease and protect bat populations.