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From: dlp@ih1ap.ATT.COM (Random @ rebmA)
Newsgroups: sci.bio,rec.gardens
Subject: Re: Re: rabies-infected bats (was Re: Re: Bug zappers)
Message-ID: <1024@ih1ap.ATT.COM>
Date: 14 Jun 88 18:07:32 GMT
References: <261@sortac.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories - Naperville, Illinois
Lines: 20

> 
> Conditions around bat houses would be different than in caves, but not
> different enough for me - which I think is academic, anyway. I can't
> see anybody building a house that bats could be enticed to live in to
> the point of making a noticeable reduction in the local bug population.
> 

The diagram that Mother Earth News ran was quite small (1' x 1' x 6")
considering that they stated it would hold 30-60 bats. The bats
were enticed into moving in by painting the inside with commercially
available bat guano (shit). I personally would place a catch basin
under the nest to catch droppings for use in the garden. There is a
danger of a certain fungus infection (which I've forgotten) that infects
the respiratory tract, but I had understood that rabies had to be 
transmitted by contact (that is, I didn't realize it was airborne).

As far as making a 'noticeable' dent in the bug population, I probably
wouldn't notice it if HALF of them suddenly died.

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