[NatureNS] FW: more on bats and deck table umbrellas

Date: Fri, 10 Aug 2007 11:04:44 -0300
From: Jim Wolford <jimwolford@eastlink.ca>
To: Hugh Broders <hugh.broders@SMU.CA>,
Cc: NatureNS <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>
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Andrew, I know of one instance, at a house along Evangeline Beach (Grand
Pre) where at least one bat roosted in a closed-up outdoor table umbrella.
And I found one at my home in Wolfville roosting under an open deck
umbrella.  Jim
----------
From: Jim Wolford <jimwolford@eastlink.ca>
Reply-To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
Date: Thu, 09 Aug 2007 20:13:11 -0300
To: NatureNS <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>, Tom Herman <tom.herman@acadiau.ca>,
Fred Scott <fwscott@eastlink.ca>
Subject: FW: [NatureNS] bats and deck table umbrellas

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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