Mom brings rabid bat to school - ParentDish <http://www.parentdish.com/2008/10/04/mom-brings-rabid-bat-to-school/?
This is obviously not a good situation. I suppose stories like this need to be told. I wish that writers would put things into context and really talk about the odds of getting rabies from all Mammals are. Generally pretty low and no I would not suggest that your ave. person handle a bat. Over the years I have been called MANY times by people to help them with a Bat in their house. Sadly they are not well understood and many are needlessley killed. If you have even the smallest crack, especially in an attic, etc., you will most likely have at least one roosting their over the winter. If you encounter one, my best advice is DON'T GET BIT. Ha. They, like many animals will gladly bite you. There is a low risk way to handle them. Also, if you really like Bats and I assumed mistakenly in the past that most Biology Educators do. This is no knock at the Profession, but have been shocked over time at how many Bio Teachers are afraid of Bats, Spiders, Scorpions, Snakes.....well, you get my point. You don't know how fast these thoughts are passed on to MOST of your Students. I have also seen the kid, who on the first day of school might pass out over a Snake, but by the end of the semester....you can't get the darn, harmless thing out of their hands during class and even after school. That is a very gratifying thing to see happen. Bat Conservation International in Texas is a great organization. You can buy Bat houses, etc. from them. Their Director or, at least the person who started the organization did one amazing video on Bats from Barro Colorado Island, located in the Panama Canal. This sp. of Bat feeds on Frogs, and is quite able to DISCRIMINATE between Frogs that are toxic and Frogs that are not. It is an amazing piece of footage, and was part of the collection that I sent to Patsye Peebles in Louisiana last week. Yes, our groups do go here and Guido Berguido, who was at last years STANYS convention (one of the finest Naturalist Guides in Central America) usually has a nice presentation from a local Researcher at the Smithsonian Research Station located here. It costs 75.00 pp for the day. I met Guido some years ago, and new at that point, we had something very special. I have an article published in Biotropica, much of which is about Guido's work in Panama's Darien. If you would like a copy, pls let me know. I know that Costa Rica is popular, not only for good reasons, but also HEAVY marketing. We have some very knowledgeable travelers that much prefer Panama. I can give you my 10 reasons why I would take a group to Panama FIRST and it really has little to do with Guido. Thanks for listening. Mike Nolan ---------- If we are on another line or away from the phone, please leave your number, best time to return your call and/or your e-mail address. After hours and weekend phone appointments are available upon request. Sincerely, J. Michael Nolan, Director Rainforest and Reef 501 (c)(3) non-profit ************************************************************************************************** "Outstanding-Affordable Field Courses in Rainforest & Marine Ecology" "Spanish/Cultural Immersion Programs: Spain, Mexico, Central and South America" Rainforest and Reef 501 (c)(3) non-profit 334 Ottawa St. Coopersville, MI 49404 Local/International Phone: 001.616.604.0546 Toll Free U.S. and Canada: 1.877.255.3721 Google Talk/MS IM/Skype: travelwithrandr Google Talk: AOL IM: buddythemacaw E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] and [EMAIL PROTECTED] *Note: Please send inquiries to both e-mail addresses Web: http://rainforestandreef.org **************************************************************************************************
