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Topic
Started By: L. Pacer				Oct 29, 09 13:58
Bat Web Chat 10/29/2009 This is the transcript of the questions that our class asked National Park Ranger Avelina. Questions asked by Alden students are highlighted in yellow. Ranger Avelina's replies are highlighted in orange. [13:08:23] RangerAvelina: The largest bat is the Flying Fox. [13:08:32] RangerAvelina: He weighs about 3 pounds. [13:08:36] adhley: are bats safe to have as pets [13:09:04] RangerAvelina: Good question Adhley. Bats are not safe to have as pets because they are wild animals. [13:09:10] Mrs. Zupko's Class: How high can bats fly? [13:09:34] RangerAvelina: Would you believe bats have been seen as high as 10,000 feet. [13:09:50] RangerAvelina: (That's about 2 miles high) [13:09:52] tcs has logged out [13:09:57] ZaHarRi: Do bats use echolocation to communicate as well as for locating prey or objects? [13:10:21] RangerAvelina: No, bats do not use echolocation to communicate. They use other sounds. [13:10:46] Mrs. Zupko's Class: How far can bats fly without stopping? [13:11:07] RangerAvelina: The Mexican free-tailed bats can fly up to 30 miles without stopping. [13:11:29] Greenfield Middle School: How rare are albino bats? [13:11:48] Greenfield Middle School: Are there bats that have become extinct? [13:11:50] RangerAvelina: Albino bats--bats with no pigmentation or color are very rare. [13:12:54] RangerAvelina: Yes, there are bats that have become extinct. We have the bones of ones of those types of bats here at Carlsbad. [13:12:53] ZaHarRi: How was it discovered that bats use echolocation and by who? [13:14:04] RangerAvelina: Bat skeletons have been discovered that showed no echolocation ability. We don't know who discovered echolocation! [13:14:15] cave: HOw well can bats see in the dark? [13:14:22] RangerAvelina: Bats don't see very well in the dark. [13:14:34] Mrs. Zupko's Class: How do they find a mate? [13:14:49] RangerAvelina: Bats use their sense of smell to find each other! [13:14:56] mjstorm: Can bats be prey to other animals? [13:15:13] RangerAvelina: Yes!! Hawks and owls think bats are pretty tastey. [13:15:24] Siera: Does the bat pick up disease from the mosquitoes it eats? [13:15:36] RangerAvelina: Great question. probably not. [13:15:38] Greenfield Middle School: Are there bats that are naturally colored white? [13:15:51] RangerAvelina: Yes there are bats that are naturally white. [13:15:59] Greenfield Middle School: Do bats mate for life? [13:16:07] RangerAvelina: No, bats do not mate for life. [13:16:34] tcs: From Francesca: How many vampire bats are in the world? [13:17:15] RangerAvelina: There are three species of vampire bats. [13:17:25] tcs: Howdoes the echolocation machine pick up the bat sounds? Question from Genevieve. [13:17:35] RangerAvelina: (By the way, pallid bats are the white ones) [13:17:48] RangerAvelina: It detects the bat's frequency. [13:17:52] hb117135: How any types of bats are there/ [13:18:06] RangerAvelina: There are more than 1,000 different species of bats in the world! [13:18:15] Mrs. Zupko's Class: How far do their echolocation sounds go? [13:18:31] RangerAvelina: The distance varies from species to species. [13:18:33] d money: do bats bite [13:18:49] RangerAvelina: Yes, if bats are provoked, they will bit. [13:18:50] Greenfield Middle School: What is the gestation period? [13:19:00] RangerAvelina: The gestation period is about 3 months. [13:19:10] ZaHarRi: Is there anything special about bats hearts that allow them to hang upside-down, comfortably? [13:19:49] RangerAvelina: Bats have a special tendon in their foot that allows them to hang easily. [13:20:08] Greenfield Middle School: How can you tell one bat from another if you are doing a survey? [13:20:37] RangerAvelina: To tell one bat from another, we look for bats that "hang out" together. Usually, they are the same species. [13:20:45] Mr. Shively: Hi Ranger Avelina, what is the best way to get rid of a bat in my house? [13:21:13] tcs: From Maddy: What's your favorite type of bat? [13:21:18] RangerAvelina: Wait until it leaves for the night and then try to find the hole it came in by. Seal the hole!! [13:21:32] RangerAvelina: The Mexican free-tailed bat is my favorite. [13:21:32] myanna: can bat's be hopeful to farm's [13:21:46] RangerAvelina: Bats help pollinate flowers and they eat LOTS of bugs! [13:22:00] myanna: how many bats are in this state [13:22:25] RangerAvelina: We're checking on that number. We'll be back with an answer! [13:22:27] Greenfield Middle School: Are there identifying marks that let you tell one bat from another in the same species? [13:22:40] RangerAvelina: There can be subtle differences in facial structure--we look at that. [13:22:44] Sam C.: Hi Ranger Avelina, do bats attack kids? [13:23:03] RangerAvelina: Only if the bats are provoked. It's best to keep your distance from a bat. [13:23:03] tcs: From Liz: What is the rarest bat? [13:23:20] RangerAvelina: The rarest bat is the bumblebee bat. It's an endangered species (and very tiny!). [13:23:59] RangerAvelina: For the question earlier, there are 27 species of bats in New Mexico. [13:23:57] Mrs. Zupko's Class: I really like the heart question. When we hang upside down, the blood rushes to our heads. Do bats have any special features about their bodies that allows them to hang upside down? [13:24:15] RangerAvelina: Bat blood pools in their abdomen, so it doesn't rush to their head. [13:24:14] d money: do bats cry [13:24:25] RangerAvelina: Yes!! The have tear ducts, so they really can cry. [13:24:27] tcs: From Emily: How long have you been working with bats? [13:24:45] RangerAvelina: We've been working with bats for about 6 months. [13:24:45] Claire: Hi Ranger Avelina, when did bats first appear on Earth? [13:24:58] RangerAvelina: Bats first appeared about 50 MILLION years ago!! [13:25:06] RangerAvelina: Eocene (era) [13:25:12] ZaHarRi: What is Whitenose disease? [13:25:38] RangerAvelina: White-nose disease is a fungal disease found on hibernating bats. It's worrisome to scientists right now. [13:25:41] Mrs. Zupko's Class: What type of education do you need to become a "bat" ranger? [13:25:52] RangerAvelina: Lots of biology! [13:26:01] Greenfield Middle School: How do you tell the gender of a bat? [13:26:16] RangerAvelina: That can be tricky. It's the same way you tell for any other mammal. [13:26:22] Julius: Do all species of bats hibernatate? [13:26:27] RangerAvelina: No, not all of them. [13:26:37] RangerAvelina: Some are tropical and don't need to. [13:26:45] cameron: do bats suck cows blud for real. [13:27:08] RangerAvelina: Well, they bite the cow to draw blood (only the vampire bats). And then they lick it. [13:27:11] tcs: From Tyler: How long do bats live? [13:27:32] RangerAvelina: The typical lifespan is about 10 to 12 years. The oldest bat we know of lived to be about 42. [13:27:35] Mrs. Zupko's Class: How many muscles do bats have? [13:27:45] RangerAvelina: We think bats have a lot of muscles! [13:28:02] Erica: Ranger Avelina, how many times a day do bats eat? [13:28:16] RangerAvelina: Bats generally feed several hours every night. [13:28:22] Mrs. Zupko's Class: How many bones does a bat have in its body? [13:28:33] RangerAvelina: The bats have the same number of bones as a human....... 206! [13:28:42] tcs: LIz: Can humans die from a bat bite? [13:28:56] RangerAvelina: It is unlikey a human will die from a bat bite, unless the bat has rabies. [13:29:02] RangerAvelina: A very small % of bats have rabies. [13:29:03] Mrs. Rutan: Why do bats sleep upside down unlike all other mammals and birds? [13:29:42] RangerAvelina: Because their hands are modified as wings--so they can't really use their hands. It's more comfortable for them to use their feet. [13:29:50] Greenfield Middle School: Can the bat use its thumb the same way a human can? [13:30:02] RangerAvelina: No, because a bats fingers are too long. [13:30:18] Mrs. Zupko's Class: What is the density of their fur? The chinchilla, the beaver, and the otter have very dense fur. How does the bat compare? [13:30:31] RangerAvelina: Bats have less dense fur than the ones you mention. [13:30:35] Greenfield Middle School: How does a bat get rabies? [13:30:47] RangerAvelina: Most likely by being bitten by another rabid bat. [13:30:54] tcs: Why is the foxbat called the foxbat? [13:31:05] RangerAvelina: This bat looks like a fox! It's about the same size. [13:31:26] ZaHarRi: Do you do any bat rehabilitation at Carlsbad Caverns for injured bats? [13:31:45] RangerAvelina: No we don't. We let nature take its course. [13:31:50] Maxxim: Hi how can you make a bat house [13:32:11] RangerAvelina: There are plans on the Bat Conservation International website. You can look there and find plans. [13:32:16] Greenfield Middle School: How large is the brain of a bat? [13:32:29] RangerAvelina: The brain is very small. About the size of your thumbnail, and maybe smaller. [13:32:46] moderator: WOW....you are doing great on these questions! You have the experts working hard! [13:32:55] moderator: Keep 'em coming!!! [13:33:04] Erica: RangerAvelina, do vampire bats have babies ones? [13:33:09] RangerAvelina: Yes they do. [13:33:29] RangerAvelina: You're welcome! Glad you could participate! [13:33:32] Allison: Are bats mean or nice? [13:33:59] Nicole: how long can bats be upsidedown [13:34:04] RangerAvelina: We have to remember that bats are wild animals. If you leave them alone, they will leave you alone :-) [13:34:25] RangerAvelina: A long time. Since bats hibernate for several months, they are hanging all that time upside down. [13:34:31] Greenfield Middle School: Do bats shed their fur? [13:34:52] RangerAvelina: No, they just lose strands of hair over time, just like we do. [13:35:02] Mrs. Rutan: What are the benefits of having bats around your home? [13:35:19] RangerAvelina: They eat insects and help keep that population in check. [13:35:31] Julius: Hi! Ranger! How many things do bats eat? [13:35:51] RangerAvelina: Many bats eat insects. Some can eat fish. [13:35:57] Autumn: how many babbys can a bat have? [13:36:13] RangerAvelina: Most species have one baby, called a pup, per year. [13:36:19] RangerAvelina: Some species can have more than one. [13:37:14] Taylor: How can you save bats? [13:37:25] RangerAvelina: Great question. One thing you can do is to build a bat box. [13:37:41] RangerAvelina: Another thing is not using a lot of pesticides. [13:37:45] ZaHarRi: How many mosquitoes can a bat eat in a night? [13:37:51] Hannah Crawford has entered the room "www.efieldtrips.org Room" [13:38:13] RangerAvelina: A bat can eat HALF of its body weight in mosquitoes. [13:38:19] Erica: Hi Ranger Avelina, do you know if bats live in cities, like New York City? [13:38:42] RangerAvelina: Yes. In fact one of the largest colonies of bats lives under a bridge in Austin, Texas. [13:38:46] ZaHarRi: What was the thing that surprised you most about bats? [13:39:04] RangerAvelina: That bats can fly up to 10,000 feet. That's pretty high. [13:39:10] tcs: Jenna: What is the name of the bat that eats fish? [13:39:25] RangerAvelina: The bat that eats fish is called.... the Fishing Bulldog Bat. It's in South America. [13:39:31] Greenfield Middle School: Which is the hariest bat? [13:39:45] RangerAvelina: Many species have lots of hair or fur, so that's a tough question to answer. [13:39:48] Allison: How long can bats live [13:40:02] RangerAvelina: Bats live about 10-12 years on average. One bat has lived 42 years. [13:40:07] tcs: Jenna: Do bats live in colonies, families, or communities? [13:40:31] RangerAvelina: Many species live in colonies, but some live individually. Excellent question! [13:40:45] Claire: How many bats live in the unide stats [13:41:02] RangerAvelina: There are 46 different species of bats in the US [13:41:05] tcs: Genevieve: When did you start liking bats? [13:41:19] RangerAvelina: When we were young... like in second grade!! [13:41:32] Allison: Hi Ranger Avelina, Did bats evolve from another species? Who are bats related to? [13:42:00] RangerAvelina: Bats are mammals that are related to all mammals like humans. They evolved from something called a shrew, which is now extinct. [13:42:05] moderator: super questions folks!!! [13:42:20] Greenfield Middle School: How do you know the age of the bat that has lived 42 years? [13:42:29] RangerAvelina: This particular bat was in captivity. [13:42:37] tcs: Francesca: Is it true that a bat's wing feels like your eyelid? [13:42:48] RangerAvelina: The wing is very thin and leathery feeling. [13:43:08] Hannah Crawford: Katie: What is the most common bat in the world? [13:43:17] RangerAvelina: The Mexican free-tailed bat is the most common. [13:43:16] Mckenzie: hi Ranger , Wow!!! You sure know a lot! [13:43:26] RangerAvelina: Thanks ;-o) [13:43:30] bradW: Hi Ranger Avelina, have you ever been in the caves when the bats came flying out? Was it scary? [13:43:48] RangerAvelina: I've been in the cave when the bats fly out. It's not scarey, in fact, it's very cool !! [13:43:52] cave: How does a bat use his tail? [13:44:04] Jenna: Bats are very fascinating creatures! It is interesting how many people are scared of them. [13:44:17] RangerAvelina: The tail is used for navigation. It's more for stability. [13:44:21] tcs: Emma: Are bats born live or in eggs? [13:44:26] Sarah: you are very smet [13:44:35] RangerAvelina: Bats are born live--just like you. Remember they are mammals. [13:44:33] Nicole: wow you rille know allot [13:44:46] Taylor: Does a bat have fathers? [13:44:50] RangerAvelina: Thank you. We really like talking to students. [13:44:56] RangerAvelina: Yes they do. [13:45:02] Hannah Crawford: What kind of fruit does a fruit bat eat? [13:45:13] RangerAvelina: Mango is a popular fruit for them to eat. [13:45:20] tcs: Jenna: Which species of bat is the smallest in size? [13:45:41] Sam C.: Hi Ranger Avelina, where do bats lay their eggs? [13:45:54] RangerAvelina: The bumblebee bat is the smallest. It's much smaller than your hand. [13:46:05] RangerAvelina: it's really the size of a bumblebee, literally. [13:46:20] RangerAvelina: They don't lay eggs. [13:46:19] Hannah Crawford: Jonathan: What is the loudest bat? [13:46:40] RangerAvelina: The Greater Bulldog Bat is the loudest bat. [13:46:47] Jenna: Are there posionous bats? [13:46:53] RangerAvelina: No, there are no poisonous bats. [13:47:01] ZaHarRi: Are the bats at Carlsbad Cavern getting enough insects to eat? [13:47:15] RangerAvelina: Yes, they do get enough, especially between April and October. [13:47:19] tcs: Jake: Can bats get fevers or other illnesses? [13:47:23] RangerAvelina: Yes they do. [13:47:30] RangerAvelina: Any mammal can get a fever. [13:47:32] Nicole: What kined of bugs do bats eat [13:47:43] RangerAvelina: Moths and mosquitoes. [13:48:10] Anna: Hi Ranger Avelina, is it against the law to hunt a bat? [13:48:19] RangerAvelina: Yes, it is against the law. And even so, we hope you wouldn't hunt them! [13:48:24] Hannah Crawford: Kaia: How many different kinds of bats were there when the dinosaurs were alive? [13:48:45] cameron: you are smart.you shar no alot about bats. [13:48:49] RangerAvelina: No bat fossil has been found (yet) that is as old as a dinosaur fossil, so we really don't know. [13:48:51] Hannah Crawford: Why do some bats fly during the day? [13:49:11] RangerAvelina: They fly during the day if they have to get somewhere or if they have to eat. [13:49:19] tcs: Maddy: How many fingers does a bat have? [13:49:26] RangerAvelina: 4 fingers and one thumb, like a human. [13:49:42] tcs: Brian: How do bats cooperate with eachother? [13:49:54] RangerAvelina: They live in harmony with one another. [13:49:59] Claire: When was the frist bat you saw? [13:50:13] RangerAvelina: I saw my first bat last year !! ( a live one, that is) [13:50:28] Hannah Crawford: Noah: What is the strongest bat? [13:50:35] RangerAvelina: The strongest bat is probably the Flying Fox. [13:50:47] tcs: Jake: If you see a bat that has rabies, what is the best to avoid it before Animal Control arrives? [13:51:00] RangerAvelina: Just stay away from it. The bat won't chase you. [13:51:03] Jenna: Is it true that bats will fly close to your head on a hot, summer night? [13:51:15] RangerAvelina: The answer is no. [13:51:36] RangerAvelina: If they do, it's because an insect is very close to you and they want to eat it :-) [13:51:35] Autumn: what eats a bat? [13:51:47] RangerAvelina: Owls and hawks are primary predators of bats. [13:51:56] Hannah Crawford: Yzzy: Which bat looks the funniest? [13:52:08] RangerAvelina: The funniest looking bat is the Townsend's big-eared bat. [13:52:13] RangerAvelina: It really does have big ears!! [13:52:18] Erica: Hi RangerAvelina,is it good to bother bats? [13:52:42] RangerAvelina: No, it's not good to bother bats. It's best to leave wild animals alone. Then they leave us alone. [13:52:43] cameron: you are cool.can you teal us more abot bats. [13:52:53] RangerAvelina: Thanks Cameron! [13:53:24] tcs: Emily: How many bats live in Delaware? [13:53:33] Hannah Crawford: Carter: How many different kinds of bats live in Arizona? [13:53:47] Greenfield Middle School: Approximately how many bats are living at one time in the world? [13:53:52] Autumn: Hi Ranger Avelina, what state has the most bats? [13:54:14] Julius: You are really smart.I wish I could stay here on the computer all day learning about bats. [13:54:30] RangerAvelina: Because bats are constantly on the move, it's hard to know how many are in any one state at the same time. You can contact Bat Conservation International (they have a nice website) to get precise statistics for your state. You can also contact your state wildlife agency. [13:54:32] ZaHarRi: When do the bats get ready to hibernate? [13:54:47] RangerAvelina: They get ready when the weather gets colder, usually around October. [13:54:54] Hannah Crawford: Alex: What is the smelliest bat? [13:55:04] RangerAvelina: They each have a unique "musky" odor, so it's hard to answer. [13:55:24] bradW: hi rangeravelina do bats hrt pepole [13:55:55] RangerAvelina: Bats almost never hurt people. That's why it's good to leave them alone. (Does that sound familiar?? ;-) ) [13:56:04] ZaHarRi: Do any bats from Canada travel to Carlsbad Caverns? [13:56:19] RangerAvelina: We think it's possible to migrate that far, but we don't know for sure. [13:56:39] RangerAvelina: You all have such great questions!! [13:56:49] Autumn: what is the bats best frind [13:56:53] RangerAvelina: Another bat. A bat buddy! [13:57:00] Allison: Are bats fat or skiney? [13:57:21] RangerAvelina: Bats can store fat like we do. It depends on how much the bat eats. [13:57:30] Allison: Hi Ranger Avelina, did any peple eat bats? [13:57:50] RangerAvelina: Yes. In parts of Indonesia, people eat bats. They make them into a big stew. YUMMY! [13:57:49] Greenfield Middle School: Thank you for the opportunity to take part in the live chat. We have learned a lot about bats. [13:58:03] RangerAvelina: Great Greenfield. Thanks for being here. [13:58:21] tcs: Liz: If you shine a light in a bat's face, will it go insane? [13:58:35] RangerAvelina: They will respond to the light. They might wiggle, but they won't go insane. [13:59:15] ZaHarRi: Thank you very much, Ranger Avelina, moderators, and crew. We have learned very much about bats from this. Hope you do it again soon. :-D [13:59:29] Hannah Crawford: Alex: Do bats eat flowers? [13:59:35] RangerAvelina: You're welcome! [13:59:51] RangerAvelina: There are bats that eat the nectar from the flower, but they don't eat the whole flower. [14:00:00] moderator: wow....you all have been fantastic!!! [14:00:23] moderator: We are going to take a couple more questions and then we will be at the end of our chat [14:00:50] cave: Do bats have claws? [14:01:01] RangerAvelina: Yes, they have claws. [14:01:24] Julius: Why are people scard of bats? [14:01:29] RangerAvelina: People are afraid of bats because of what they see on TV or in the movies. Also, people are afraid of what they don't understand. You are learning a lot about bats from this session, so I hope you will not be afraid of bats. [14:02:17] RangerAvelina: We are going to stop now [14:02:44] RangerAvelina: I hope you will keep learning about bats, and share what you learned with others. [14:03:12] RangerAvelina: Thanks to all of the schools who participated. You did a great job. [14:03:31] RangerAvelina: We hope to see you at Carlsbad some day! [14:03:35] RangerAvelina: Good bye ¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶
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