Bad News for Minnesota Bats

The DNR informed us today that they have found the fungus responsible for white nose syndrome in two bat caves in Minnesota - Tower Soudan Mine in northern Minnesota and Forestville in the south. This is bad -very bad.

Hibernating bats have a body temperature around 40F. They make wake up a few times during the hibernation period, but this takes a great deal of energy. Why white nose syndrome is so bad is that it affects bats during their hibernation. The fungus grows best at - that's right - 40F. And bats infected with the fungus wake up frequently. This drains the energy and fat reserves the bats have and causes them to weaken until they die. Research has shown that a bat infected with white nose syndrome will not survive. 100% certain death.

What can we do? Well, first of all, don't go from bat cave to bat cave. You might transfer the fungus. You can also provide financial support to organizations researching this problem. Keep you fingers crossed and shoes clean.

Back in Business

Technology keeps us on our toes. So, I haven't posted anything for a couple of weeks because I couldn't type anything - no cursor. Did a little research and found I needed a different browser. So, now - YEAH! I can post to the blog again.

Fuzzy and Cute, but Dangerous, too

During an class on insects yesterday, the kids spotted this fuzzy caterpillar. Looks kind of cute, huh? None of us could identify it, so after class and a quick Google search (fuzzy yellow caterpillar), we learned that this critter is the larval form of the American Dagger Moth. It likes to eat leaves from boxelders (where it is in the picture), maples, ashes, willows, birches, etc. - in other words, just about any deciduous tree. The moth is a mottled gray color - nothing too showy. The caterpillar is where its life is interesting - see those black hairs? Those contain a toxin. And if the caterpillar is handled roughly, the hairs break and release the toxin. Bad enough for a bird or woodland mammal, but it's obnoxious for humans, too. Yet another reason to follow the rule: Look with your eyes, not your hands