More than 200 birds and mosquitoes with West Nile Virus have been
found in Pennsylvania this summer. While West Nile is hardly the most
dangerous disease carried by mosquitoes, the virus has caused many
Americans to look more closely at the tiny bloodsuckers. Brad Linder
has more.
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Pest vs. Pest Control
While it's hard to find anyone who'll say anything good about the
lowly mosquito; it's principle adversary the bat, is gaining respect.
August 21, 2002
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By Dan Simon
Sometimes it helps to know who your friends are.
Bats, those occasionally miscast villains of old horror movies truly
are a nightmare — provided you're a mosquito. These flying acrobats
are each capable of eating as many as 600 mosquitoes an hour, better
than a bug zapper and certainly quieter.
While the misunderstood mammal has gotten an unfair reputation in
the past, interest in nature's insect terminator has been growing,
particularly as organic gardeners have learned their value as pest
control allies.
The Peace Valley Nature Center recently had to turn away would-be
participants in a "Bat Bonanza," designed to help teach
kids more about what is one of the most populous species of mammals
in the world.
Gail Hill leads a group through the Peace Valley Nature
Center during a "Bat Bonanza." The small black box
in her left hand is a microphone she uses to amplify the clicking
sound bats make to navigate. © GreenWorks Photo by Dan
Simon
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The program combined information with bat role-play games that had
participants navigating blindfolded while others used clickers to
simulate bat communications and lead their blindfolded counterparts
to candy-insect treats.
An informal survey of the participants revealed little squeamishness
about the creatures.
"I think they're fascinating," one 14-year-old boy said.
With the help of a sensitive microphone/amplifier, participants were
able to hear the clicking sounds bats use to navigate and locate their
prey. Quick-eyed visitors were even able to spot the fast-moving creatures
as they raced across the night sky.
Gail Hill, the Peace Valley Nature Center's director of environmental
education, said that re-educating the public to get over the "creepy"
factor, was getting easier.
"There's still some need to dispel the Halloween image,"
she said. "But perceptions, especially amongst youngsters, seem
to be changing."
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