Time article on WNS

[JR-Orion]

Read it here-

http://ecocentric.blogs.time.com/2011/0 ... ts/?hpt=T2

I think the article did a good job of getting across the importance of bats, but this seemed odd-

"But it's still a mystery how WNS spread."

I thought it was fairly well know that bats spread it to other bats? And that cavers might be able to spread it.

And do you guys think there is any truth to bats being killed by wind turbines?

[LukeM]

Thanks for posting this JR. It is indeed weird that they mention the spread of WNS being a mystery. They also mentioned fatalities at some winter colonies being as high as 70%. More like 99% if they're looking for the upper end.

About the wind turbines, I don't think it's disputed at this point that many thousands of bats have been killed by them. Some solutions have already been put forward. I read somewhere that if you limit the speed of the turbines at night to a certain level you can prevent bat deaths with a minimal power loss. Hopefully those suggestions are being taken seriously.

[BrianC]

Fairly well written article. I have yet to see increase in pesticide use in the northeast since bats have declined. Bats in other parts of the world do have an un-common pollination requirement for food supply, but not here in the wns stricken part of the country.

[BrianC]

Thanks for posting this JR. It is indeed weird that they mention the spread of WNS being a mystery.

Facts are weird sometimes, but they did not surmise as others have. A+ in my book. Why cant others follow this truth?

[JR-Orion]

A similar, but even more detailed article on WNS on Wired-

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/04/bat-value/