A man from northern New South Wales has died after contracting the state’s first recorded case of Australian bat lyssavirus, a close relative of the rabies virus. The man, in his 50s, was bitten by a bat “several” months ago and received treatment at the time, NSW Health said. On Thursday, the department confirmed the […]
Tag: bats
Trump officials plan to destroy a critical government program they probably know nothing about
Nearly two decades ago, scientists made an alarming discovery in upstate New York: Bats, the world’s only flying mammal, were becoming infected with a new, deadly fungal disease that, in some cases, could wipe out an entire colony in a matter of months. Since then, the disease — later called white-nose syndrome — has spread […]
Petition: Stop Wind Turbine Bat Deaths in Australia – A Simple Fix Can Save Thousands
Every year, tens of thousands of bats fall victim to wind turbines across Australia – but it doesn’t have to be this way. We can easily protect both the environment and these special animals, with just one simple change. Recent studies have shown that just increasing the wind speed that turbines use when they start […]
Country diary: Watching bats until it’s too dark to see
We’ve sneaked back to the office after hours. My partner has been working late here recently and has promised me that if I sit by the window as the sun sets, I’ll see something special. Our office rental is on the top floor of an old Midlands shoe factory. From our window, we can see […]
Rabies cases spike among Arizona wildlife
The Arizona Game and Fish Department is reminding pet owners to stay current on vaccinations after a spike in wildlife rabies cases statewide. Why it matters: Rabies is a fatal disease that is transmitted from animals to humans. It is preventable in vaccinated animals and treatable in humans if addressed before the virus reaches the […]
A deadly disease is killing millions of bats. Now Trump funding cuts threaten a promising Canadian treatment
Researchers Cori Lausen and Maleen Mund step out of the warm spring sun and into a dimly lit workshop. The only light streams in through the doorway behind them and a few dusty windows. It’s been a cool start to the season in the Lower Mainland, but some bats have already emerged from their winter […]
Lures that attract seed-dispersing bats could aid tropical reforestation
Attracting seed-dispersing bats to degraded landscapes and aiding in tropical forest restoration efforts has long been an alluring prospect for conservationists: potentially a cheaper, less labor-intensive technique than media-hyped plantings of millions of trees. Researchers have experimented with a variety of seed disperser lures for decades, but a recent project in Costa Rica may show […]
Australia’s flying foxes are ‘curious, gentle and intelligent’ – and often misunderstood
One of the most spectacular sights at Adelaide’s Womadelaide music festival is not on the official lineup. As dusk approaches, thousands of grey-headed flying foxes begin chattering and stretching their wings as they prepare to ascend from their roosts in Botanic Park and set out in search of food. “It’s an amazing sight,” says associate […]