Bat and Man

By: Shyan Chapman 04-01-2002

The Vampire bat is known to transmit rabies and other diseases to 'Man' through its' bite. Less than ½ of 1% of bats carry the rabies virus. In addition rabid bats are rarely aggressive. They only bite (attack) if threatened with bodily harmed. Fewer than 40 people in the United States have been known to have contracted rabies from bats, during the past 40 years.

'Man' has messed with nature, as always, by injecting Cows with anticoagulant substances, which are said not to harm the Cows, but is known to kill Vampire Bats by causing the feeding Bats to bleed internally.

Anticoagulants have also been laced on the Bats themselves, so that, upon returning to their roosting site other Bats in the colony - that groom them - will contract the fatal substance and ultimately die the same fate as the Bat which feeds on Cows. An anticoagulant from vampire bat saliva may soon be used to treat human Heart patients. Bat droppings, believe it or not, gives hundreds of people jobs.

Bat droppings in caves support whole ecosystems of unique organisms, including bacteria useful in detoxifying wastes, improving detergents, and producing gasohol and antibiotics. It helps our economy and brings in a lot of money.

~END~