"Distressing" disease spreading throughout U.S. and Canada, expert says. One of North America's most common bats will go extinct in the northeastern U.S. within two decades if a deadly disease continues to spread unchecked, scientists warn in a new study.5 Aug 2010
Will bats become extinct?
Sadly, many bat species around the world are vulnerable or endangered due to factors ranging from loss and fragmentation of habitat, diminished food supply, destruction of roosts, disease and hunting or killing of bats. In the UK, bat populations have declined considerably over the last century.
What happens if all bats go extinct?
This could lead to the loss of habitat for other animals, and the slow decrease of rainforest trees. Other forests around the world would start to disappear too. Without these important animals, fruits would be damaged, and without bats to pollinate them, fruits may even disappear from grocery stores.
Do we really need bats?
Bats, which live on all continents except Antarctica, are essential members of many types of ecosystems, ranging from rain forests to deserts. By fulfilling their ecological roles, bats promote biodiversity and support the health of their ecosystems.
Why bats are dying?
Across the United States, bats face many threats. The devastating disease called white-nose syndrome, windmill turbines, habitat loss, and climate change have caused large numbers of bats to die. Watch the video below to learn more about white-nose syndrome, a fungal disease that is often fatal to hibernating bats.
Are bat populations recovering?
Surveys of bat maternity roosts in barns and attics around Rhode Island suggests that populations of little brown bats, which had declined by 95-98 percent across the Northeast as a result of a deadly fungus, are beginning to recover.
What animal kills bats?
Mammals. A variety of mammals eat bats when they can. Animals such as weasels, minks and raccoons climb into areas where bats roost and eat them while they sleep during the day. These mammals also lie in wait just outside a bat roosting area to pounce on bats as they enter and exit the roost.
Can humans live without bats?
Lonely Planet One in five mammals on this planet is a bat. To lose bats would be to lose 20 percent of the global mammal population. Biodiversity is important for several reasons. Primarily, it is because species diversity ensures natural sustainability for all life forms.
Do bats have a purpose?
Bats play an essential role in pest control, pollinating plants and dispersing seeds. Recent studies estimate that bats eat enough pests to save more than $1 billion per year in crop damage and pesticide costs in the United States corn industry alone.
How long does a bat live?
Although most bats live less than 20 years in the wild, scientists have documented six species that life more than 30 years. In 2006, a tiny bat from Siberia set the world record at 41 years. The Townsend's big-eared bat's average lifespan is 16 years. Photo by Ann Froschauer, USFWS.