|
|
White Nose Bat Syndrome- Does This Mean Possible Extinction of Bats "The condition in bats known as 'white-nose syndrome' (WNS) was first noted among dead and hibernating bats found in caves near Albany, New York, by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation beginning in February 2007. Affected bats appeared to have a white substance on their heads and wings. In early 2008, white-nosed bats were once again seen in hibernaculae. Since March 2008, biologists and cavers have documented thousands of dead and dying bats at over 25 caves and mines in New York, Vermont, Massachusetts and Connecticut."-Excerpt From USGS Site The symposium recorded here is a credit to Craig Coon, Adirondack Dundee , a fellow nuisance wildlife control operator in Saratoga Springs, New York; and the cooperation of the USFWS, NYDEC and some other 50 federal and state agencies, universities and private corporations, The Wildlife Operators Forum , and The Wildlife Pro Network . To select the individual movies click the word Playlist and see all of them. http://www.wildlifepro.net/video/white-nose-symposium-may-5 Rabies Also known as hydrophobia is a viral zoonotic neuroinvasive disease that causes acute encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) in mammals. It is most commonly caused by a bite from an infected animal, but occasionally by other forms of contact. If left untreated in humans it is usually fatal. In some countries it is a significant killer of livestock. The rabies virus makes its way to the brain by following the peripheral nerves. The incubation period of the disease depends on how far the virus must travel to reach the central nervous system, usually taking a few months. Once the infection reaches the central nervous system and symptoms begin to show, the untreated infection is usually fatal within days. In the beginning stages of rabies, the symptoms are malaise, headache, and fever, while in later stages it includes acute pain, violent movements, uncontrolled excitements, depressions, and the inability to swallow water (hence the name hydrophobia). In the final stages, the patient begins to have periods of mania and lethargy, and coma. Death generally occurs due to respiratory insufficiency. For More on Info on Rabies http://www.cdc.gov/rabies/docs/brochure-bats_and_rabies-full.pdf Histoplasmosis This is also known as Darling's disease,is a disease caused by the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum. Symptoms of this infection vary greatly, but the disease primarily affects the lungs. Occasionally, other organs are affected; this is called disseminated histoplasmosis, and it can be fatal if untreated. Histoplasmosis is common among AIDS patients because of their lowered immune system. For More on this please visit the link below from the Center for Disease Control http://www.cdc.gov/nczved/dfbmd/disease_listing/histoplasmosis_gi.html#3 |
This is an excerpt from the July 3, 2009 podcast done with the author of UNSEEN HAZARDS That Threaten Hunters, Campers, and Hikers. His book can be purchased through amazon.com by searching the name "Unseen Hazards". The purchase of his book would be useful to any one in the wildlife control industry, campers, hunters,trappers and hikers.-Robb Russell |