The bat report
Hi, all! I've been hanging around the LJ communities since Torchwood began, but I've only just found this one. And considering the amount of squeeage around here (which I've been happily joining in with), I thought you might like this article.
Unexpected drop in UK bat population
Bats found dead in residential areas
At a time when most bats are hibernating, unexpected numbers are dropping dead.
Expert analysis shows that these particular bats are not dropping dead from cold, hunger or exhaustion - the three main cases of winter deaths among bats.
Instead, they seem to have suffered navigation failure.
Bat hearing
Bats hunt by producing ultrasonic squeaks, and steer by the returning echoes. In this case, it appears that an ultrasonic sound at the same frequency as their calls has been interfering with their ability to navigate. It has confused them enough that they have crashed into walls, trees and the occasional power line.
Bat expert Dr. Bruce Wayne, of the Bat Conservation Trust, said: "A drop in population at this point in the year is very unusual. At this time of year, the population usually stays fairly static as most bats are hibernating. It is possible that global warming and the general increase in temperature in the UK is responsible for them flying at night during the winter months."
He also added: "There seems to be a pattern in many of the deaths I have studied. The majority of them occurred between 22:40 and 23:20 on Sunday the 3rd of December. Others have occurred in the same time frame on Sunday, 19th November. All deaths have occurred in residential areas."
Experts claim that aboveground power lines can produce frequencies similar to that needed to confuse the bats, as can satellite television emissions. Conservation groups are clamouring to reduce electrical 'noise' and save the bats, many of which are currently endangered species.
There are also reports of similar effects occurring in the United States.
Unexpected drop in UK bat population
Bats found dead in residential areas
At a time when most bats are hibernating, unexpected numbers are dropping dead.
Expert analysis shows that these particular bats are not dropping dead from cold, hunger or exhaustion - the three main cases of winter deaths among bats.
Instead, they seem to have suffered navigation failure.
Bat hearing
Bats hunt by producing ultrasonic squeaks, and steer by the returning echoes. In this case, it appears that an ultrasonic sound at the same frequency as their calls has been interfering with their ability to navigate. It has confused them enough that they have crashed into walls, trees and the occasional power line.
Bat expert Dr. Bruce Wayne, of the Bat Conservation Trust, said: "A drop in population at this point in the year is very unusual. At this time of year, the population usually stays fairly static as most bats are hibernating. It is possible that global warming and the general increase in temperature in the UK is responsible for them flying at night during the winter months."
He also added: "There seems to be a pattern in many of the deaths I have studied. The majority of them occurred between 22:40 and 23:20 on Sunday the 3rd of December. Others have occurred in the same time frame on Sunday, 19th November. All deaths have occurred in residential areas."
Experts claim that aboveground power lines can produce frequencies similar to that needed to confuse the bats, as can satellite television emissions. Conservation groups are clamouring to reduce electrical 'noise' and save the bats, many of which are currently endangered species.
There are also reports of similar effects occurring in the United States.