How is that better?

[Dennis McClung]

We took the kids to a lecture on nocturnal animals last night and they loved it. I enjoyed it too, but was a bit confused by the section on bat conservation. The statement was made: "The idea that bats suck blood is a complete myth that needs to be corrected. No species of bats suck blood. They use their teeth to make an incision in an animal's skin, then spit into the incision with anticoagulant rich saliva. Then they lap up the blood as it runs out".
So why is that better than sucking blood?

[Ian Gentles]

Brother you got me on that one! Whatever the bat does, I would prefer it dosent do it to me! :(

[Sharon Isley]

The difference is volume and speed. Mosquitos suck blood, but they are tiny can can't hold much. If a bat was able to suck blood, they would take out quite a bit at a time.

I agree with Ian - either way, I don't want them doing it to me!

[Bruce Carriker]

Well, not to worry. The "vampire bats" are in South America and their targets are usually cattle. The most common bat in North America is - honestly, this is the "scientific" name - the little brown bat. These bats eat bugs. They eat LOTS AND LOTS of bugs. If you build a bathouse in your back yard and get a small colony started, you won't ever have to worry about mosquitos in the summer.

[Sharon Isley]

We had bats in our former church in Lacona. They would fly around in the services, and completey terrify the poor people. I'd tell them that they were harmless, and ate the mosquitos. I'd rather have those bats than the bugs any day! But the people were never convinced! Ah well....I can't fault them for being afraid of bats. I was a wildlife biologist before becoming a pastor, but I was always irrationally terrified of insects. Go figure...

[Billy Cox]

You can learn the difference by watching 'Interview with a Vampire'. To 'suck' blood requires a mouth-sized incision, which is alot bigger that two teeth holes.

[Bruce Carriker]

You can learn the difference by watching 'Interview with a Vampire'. To 'suck' blood requires a mouth-sized incision, which is alot bigger that two teeth holes.

:basic05 :basic05 :basic05

Very well said!

[Cindi Hammons]

Can't one get histoplasmosis from the bat guano in the building? I would be more worried about that than getting bitten by a bat and turning into Count Dracula.

Cindi H.

P.S. Welcome to the NazNet!

[Sharon Isley]

I'm not sure if histoplasmosis is carried by bats or not. I do know it is carried by birds. (I was an ornithologist - or a bird scientist.)

[Doug Kitchen]

The difference is volume and speed. Mosquitos suck blood, but they are tiny can can't hold much. If a bat was able to suck blood, they would take out quite a bit at a time.

I agree with Ian - either way, I don't want them doing it to me!

My daughter was asking me about the picture which I've enclosed - I hadn't noticed but she did immediately - the red stomach is apparently human blood. (the picture graced my latest issue of chemical and engineering news)

Let all the people say eewwwww!

Sharon I don't think your fear of insects is irrational at all. Oh and by the way welcome to naznet.

Doug

[BobHunt]

If you go to a place called Linesville, Pa and stay overnight, be sure and go outside at dusk. But I warn you, wear a hardhat! They are there by the thousands, they are inside the walls of the homes, you can hear them scratching like a mouse. I knew of a resident who remodeled and he carried them out of his house walls by the basket full.

[Ian Gentles]

Once on missions had problems with Mosquito bites, old missionary taught me the cure...we used a scrubbing brush, hard bristles. coated in , old carbolic soap, scubbing ever inch of bites...it worked wonders. :)

[Gina Stevenson]

... used to cover my head up with a scarf, tho' it was really too warm for one in summer, if out walking at night. There are [or at least were] gobs of bats around there. 'Just the tho't of what a bat could do, ewwwwww !! It was scary seeing one flying by, even, tho' I knew they eat the dreaded mosquitoes. They're not so cool themselves!!

Too bad we can't get rid of mosquitoes without having bats around to do it.
:fun16

[Dana Grant]

:eek: You know, this is such a delightful conversation to wake up to this morning! I'm so thankful and blessed that I decided to click on it first thing!


*puke*



LOL


Dana in AZ :fav16

[Bruce Carriker]

Didn't Histo Plasmosis play 2nd base for the Indians back in the 50's?

[Doug Kitchen]

:eek: You know, this is such a delightful conversation to wake up to this morning! I'm so thankful and blessed that I decided to click on it first thing!


*puke*



LOL


Dana in AZ :fav16

Dana,

This is the best feature of the new software. The latest and therefore by definition, the most significant posts are easily found. In the old system, posts about blood-slurping bats too easily slipped to the bottom of the board.

I'm sure you can count on everyone at naznet to continue to bring these uplifting and timely posts every day.

Doug