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Thanks, Andrew! from Jim et al. ---------- From: Andrew Hebda <HEBDAAJ@gov.ns.ca> Date: Thu, 09 Aug 2007 11:10:00 -0300 To: Jim Wolford <jimwolford@eastlink.ca> Cc: Hugh Broders <hugh.broders@SMU.CA> Subject: Re: FW: [NatureNS] bats and deck table umbrellas Hi Jim Heat is good. Bats drop their temperatures fairly substantially while both sleeping and hibernating. In hibernation, these temps are at or about the ambient levels in the hibernaculum. This means that whenever they wake (from sleep or hibernation), they have to use energy to raise the body temperature up to normal, operating mammalian levels. So, if you, as a bat have a good , safe day roost, it is more energy-efficient to choose a warm or hot spot, making more energy available for the neat things in life like growing, flying and mating (an retaining adequate reserves for overwintering). A see-through umbrella sounds like a good compromise (assuming that there is some reduction in sunlight penetration in the heat of the day... has anyone reported bats in such folded umbrellas? Bat fecal material will contain the usual suite of microflora that any such droppings from insect eating animals would have. So washing away from eating and working surfaces is a good idea. However, there are issues associated with bat (and pigeon) droppings that should also be considered. In areas where you get an accumulation of bat droppings that are maintained wet (leaking attics or damp caves) you may get the incidence of a specific fungus that can cause serious human heath problems (Histoplasma capsulatum - resulting in Histoplasmosis - not uncommon in cavers in the past). Most pigeon dropping contain such spores, so this is always a potential problem Andrew A Hebda Curator of Zoology Nova Scotia Museum >>> Jim Wolford <jimwolford@eastlink.ca> 8/8/2007 8:20 PM >>> Andrew or Fred or Hughie, What could a bacteriologist or virologist learn from the bat feces re what the bat might be infected with?? Cheers from Jim ---------- From: Jean Timpa <jtimpa@ns.sympatico.ca> Reply-To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca Date: Wed, 08 Aug 2007 19:28:12 -0300 To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca Subject: [NatureNS] bats and deck table umbrellas I have heard several authentic stories of bats taking refuge in the umbrellas which shade the tables of outside table/chair sets. Unfortunately bats do seem to be quite attracted to their shape and protection. You'd think they would be much too hot and stuffy inside them to find them desireable. It is probably not a good idea to have their droppings on the table, but what an easy and interesting way for a bacteriologist to collect samples without having to go to caves which is a big no-no now to see what they might or might not be carrying. Can you get clear umbrellas for such tables? It would make such an interesting observatory. Years ago now we had little brown bats come in behind crudely built window shutters at the farmhouse in Bear River. Every morning I was able to watch them grooming between the pane of glass and myself and the bats, one per window, before they settled down to nap for a few hours. They would leave about 3 or 4 pm, when it was still bright, hot and sunny. We did not see them flying at that time of day, so I don't know where they went. Perhaps it did get too hot behind the shutters, as it was on the south and west sides of the house. It truly was a neat experience. JET
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