Michigan’s Beneficial Bat Population Threatened By Disease

Bat population under threat:

Bats are often a misunderstood and unappreciated animal. Their prowess at feeding on night flying insects – particularly mosquitoes – is a great benefit to Michigan homeowners looking to keep their backyards free of pesky mosquitoes and other pests including beetles, wasps and moths.

Michigan’s bat population, however, is being threatened by a disease that could cause widespread death among the state’s most commonly found specie – the little brown bat.

First identified in New York State in 2006, white-nose syndrome impacts bats while they hibernate. The condition causes skin lesions to develop that lead bats to use vital fat reserves during the winter thus draining them of these required resources.

The disease causes bats to wake up every three or four days versus the normal 10 to 20 day interval, and arise hungry and dehydrated at a time when there is little food to consume. This causes damage to the bat’s connective tissues, muscles and skin, and leads to their demise.

White-nose syndrome has been identified in 27 states – including neighboring Minnesota – and several Canadian provinces, and has led to significant deaths among bat populations. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the disease has killed 5.7 million bats in the U.S. and Canada.

Researchers at Eastern Michigan University recently estimated that some 300,000 bats hibernate underground in caves and mines within the state – prime breeding grounds for this cold-loving fungus.

What is the potential impact of white-nose syndrome on Michigan homeowners and farmers? While the disease is not threatening to humans, the end-result is that a naturally occurring and highly effective pest management process is being placed at risk of being greatly diminished.

Without a healthy bat population, crops are placed at risk from invasive insects such as the gypsy moth and backyard populaces of mosquitoes can roam unabated. And when you consider bats are capable of consuming as many as 600 mosquitoes in one hour, their absence could be felt on decks and patios from Kalamazoo to Saginaw.

Aside from the annoying itch their bites cause, mosquitoes can spread dangerous diseases including West Nile virus, encephalitis, dengue fever and other mosquito-borne diseases. In 2013, Michigan had 36 reported cases of West Nile virus and two deaths.

With no known effective treatment for white-nose syndrome, state wildlife officials are left to block off caves and abandoned mines to prevent the disease from spreading.

What can homeowners and farmers do to encourage a viable bat presence in their backyards and fields? One solution is to provide bats with a suitable home to nest in – a home you won’t find listed in the real estate section of the paper but one you can build in your workshop.

Griffin Pest Solutions consulted with the experts at This Old House for a step-by-step guide to building the perfect bat house to place on the edges of your property and help keep mosquito and other destructive pests in check.

Bats are very particular about where they’ll live, and their houses have to be constructed in a specific way that encourages them to nest.

The inside of this house is painted black to keep it dark and warm, and the outside is a color that makes it blend in with the surroundings. The space where they go inside the house and roost is only about ¾ inch thick (with a small gap for air circulation). Still, dozens of bats will be able to live in this box and raise their pups.

To view the complete instructions for the 11-step plan to building a bat house, visit the This Old House website at http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/how-to/intro/0,,20165965,00.html. The following is a quick overview of the tools and materials needed, and the steps involved.

Tools Needed

• Measuring tape
• Straight edge
• Combination square
• Spring clamps
• Safety glasses
• Jigsaw
• French curve and circle templates
• Drill with ¼ inch drill bit
• Caulking gun and caulk
• Paint brush and paint

Materials List

• 2’ x 4’ section of ½-inch exterior-grade plywood
• One 6’ 1 x 2
• ½-inch deer netting
• Exterior latex paint (black and another dark color)
• Low-VOC adhesive caulk
• 1-inch deck screws
• ⅜-inch staples
• 3½-inch deck screws

The 11 Steps to Building A Bat House

Step 1 – Measure and cut plywood
Step 2 – Draw the bat design
Step 3 – Drill holes for the Jigsaw
Step 4 – Cut Out the Bat
Step 5 – Making the Sides
Step 6 – Attach the Sides
Step 7 – Paint the Parts
Step 8 – Attach the Netting
Step 9 – Attach the Front Piece
Step 10 – Put on the Bat Cutout
Step 11 – Hang it Up

Why we’re singing a different tune with some birds

 

In recent years, there have been a number of bird species, native to the European continent that have begun to flock towards North America. Over 200 native European birds have now been found in North America. The European Starling is one among many of these species. The European Starling is classified under the myna and starling family (Sturnidae). A full grown Starling can measure as long as eight or nine inches, with a total wing span anywhere between 12 and 16 inches. The appearance of the European Starling is subject to change, based on whether it is breeding season or not. One of the most fascinating traits of the European Starling is its uncanny ability to mimic sounds. It has even been known to successfully imitate human sounds.

The Starling is typically native to the European continent, but has also been found nesting in parts of Northwest Asia, and even North Africa, during winter season. Starlings are highly adaptable birds and have been known to thrive in a variety of habitats. However, they are most commonly observed in agricultural regions, large grassland territories and even urban spaces.

Impact

One of the key traits of Starlings is that they often migrate and travel in giant flocks. As a result, they consume large quantities of plant matter and small insects like invertebrates in the region where they flock. They are known to travel long distances in such large flocks between their nesting sites and feeding areas. As a consequence of this, they are widely acknowledged as the cause for the spread of invasive plants through massive seed dispersal. Since Starlings travel in large flocks, they have also been known to completely displace other birds in the area, forcing such species to evacuate their nests and native areas. They are generally considered to be extremely aggressive and competitive, attacking birds and nests in order to destroy eggs and lay claim to nesting areas.

Significance to Humans and Pets

Aviation

The European Starling species is one of the few bird species that are known to have caused significant human fatalities. The year of 1960 saw a large group of Starlings collide with an aircraft causing its engine to malfunction, and the plane to eventually crash. Since the 1960, there have been a number of aviation incidents caused by the massive migration of Starlings. BSC- USA reports indicate that Starlings have caused damages in excess of $6 million, as well as 219 human fatalities since the year 1988. Starlings pose a serious problem to aviation authorities, forcing a number of flights to be abandoned or canceled.

Urban Spaces
Since Starlings travel in such huge numbers, when they invade human spaces they can cause severe inconvenience to homeowners and residents. They tend to nest in dark, enclosed spaces like attics. The droppings of these birds is corrosive in nature, and has been known to cause significant damage to buildings and homes, in the same way that termites do.

Agriculture

Also, when Starlings travel to agricultural regions, they are known to completely destroy crops and food such as grapes. The presence of Starlings poses a clear and present threat to vineyards and small farms. Many farmers and wine-makers make a living of the crops and grapes they grow, and Starling invasions significantly affect their livelihoods, as well as the food economy.

Starlings also carry dangerous viruses and bacteria, like Salmonella. As a result, the waste material they leave behind when they evacuate agricultural regions can have huge health-related effects. They have been known to contaminate water supply for livestock, as well as ruin soil fertility.

Schools new headlice policy isn’t what you remember from your dear old golden school days

girl getting head lice inspectionWhy are head lice treated the way they are in schools?

The typical way to treat a child that is suffering from head lice was to immediately diagnose the problem and send the child back home to be treated by the parents and medical specialists. The problem is very easily treatable and there are a number of short procedures, gels and medications that can be used to rid individuals of the condition.

However, the general conception surrounding head lice can be extremely detrimental to the mental health of schoolchildren suffering from the condition. Head lice are considered to be ‘disgusting’ and schoolchildren and parents alike, automatically associate the condition with bad hygiene. However, head lice can be easily transferred from simple household items, and do not in any way display the level of hygiene an individual keeps.

The truth is that having head lice is an extremely common condition. Studies conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that approximately 6 to 12 million schoolchildren between the ages of 3 and 11 suffer from the condition every year. Despite the condition being unpleasant, it is widely understood that head lice do not spread any other disease, posing minimal health concerns.

The reason why head lice have been treated the way they were in schools is because of how easily transferable they are. While it is true that they do not pose a health hazard, schools are ideal places for head lice to travel from scalp to scalp. Schoolchildren often engage in physical activity, share items and generally live in proximity to each other. This makes it increasingly difficult for school authorities to contain a head lice condition when it is diagnosed.

The general policy for schoolchildren suffering from head lice was that they would be sent home until the condition had been treated. However, recently this policy has been changed in response to the fact that many schoolchildren with the condition suffer psychologically from this sort of quarantining.

Why has the policy changed?

The previous policy of ostracizing schoolchildren suffering from head lice has been changed because many schools have realized that children may be suffering from the condition long before it is actually brought to light. Schoolchildren may be suffering from the condition for periods of weeks and months before nurses actually diagnose the condition. This means that by the time authorities have discovered the condition, classmates of the child would have already been exposed themselves.

What are Lice?

Louse is a term used to categorize over 3000 species of tiny insects that typically infect the human scalp when exposed to certain conditions. Lice act on the human scalp by settling and eating away at human skin. Some species of lice also feed on blood. While lice are most commonly observed settling on animals, a special species of lice known as head lice is known to affect only humans. Head lice are dangerous in that they thrive by sucking up blood through the host’s scalp. Head lice multiply by laying tiny eggs at the bottom of a strand of hair known as nits. The onset of head lice is typically known as pediculosis capitis.

While there is generally a taboo around head lice created by schoolchildren and parents, it is important to understand that it is one of the most common diseases that affect children, second only to the common cold. There is a general misconception that having head lice is directly associated with poor hygiene, however, this is not the case. There are a number of ways through which pediculosis capitis can be contracted. Let us take a closer look at the causes of head lice.

What causes head lice?

Perhaps, the most important feature of head lice is the fact that they are wingless insects. This means that they cannot travel from the scalp of one person to another by flying or jumping. There has to be contact between the head of an individual suffering from head lice and another. Head to head contact is one of the most common ways through which head lice are transferred from one person to the next. However, this is not the only way for head lice to travel from person to person.

While these insects need to survive by sucking blood through a human’s scalp, they can live long enough without doing so on any household items. Sharing these items is also a common way to contract a head lice condition. Many schoolchildren have sleepovers during the weekends, where they tend to share the same bed. Head lice can be present on bedding like pillows and bed linen and can travel to different hosts when they come into contact with such items.

Brushes are another household item that is commonly shared between individuals. An individual suffering from head lice will inevitably transfer these insects from their scalps to their brushes over time. When hairbrushes are borrowed, this creates the perfect opportunity for head lice to find new hosts.

Another common way for head lice to infect an individual is through clothing. Schoolchildren often share clothing, increasing the risk of transferring head lice from one host to another. Head lice typically gather on the shoulders or collars of shirts and latch on to human hair when these items of clothing come into contact with the head. Other items that can gather head lice are towels, headphones, hats, hair bands and upholstery on furniture.

Are head lice dangerous?

Extensive research has been undertaken into the dangers of having head lice, and is typically understood that, while the condition is one that can spread extremely quickly, head lice themselves do not pose much of a health threat. The most common symptoms associated with head lice infestation is that of itching and scratching. This is a common symptom that comes about through the host’s allergic reaction to the saliva of head lice that is secreted when they begin sucking blood from the scalp.

Apart from the itching, there is a likelihood of redness and some swelling developing on the scalp. When head lice lay eggs, these eggs are white and are often mistaken for dandruff. However, dandruff does not attach itself to the base of hair strands. A common way to determine if an individual is suffering from nits is to run a brush through the affected area and see if the white particles are moved easily.

Mice – Prime Drivers of Asthma in Inner Cities

rat with cheese on a white backgroundAlthough it was long believed that cockroaches were the main driver of greater than average asthma occurrences in inner cities, it has recently been found that mouse allergens were the principal driver of severe asthma and other related outcomes. This has come to light after a recent study was conducted involving Baltimore children residing in urban areas.

The facts of the study

According to a study done by Elizabeth C. Matsui, MD,MHS and her colleagues of the John Hopkins Hospital, in the event of asthma affected children living in Baltimore being exposed to both critters, cockroach sensitization was associated with only broncho dilator reversibility and acute care visits. In contrast, mouse sensitization was connected with obstruction of the airways, inflammation of the airway, visits to the hospital for acute care, and broncho dilator reversibility. Matsui and her team have published the results in the October edition of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology magazine. The study states that the mouse allergen had no links with the cockroach allergen.

Matsui and her colleagues have cautioned, however, that this result may not be the same in all cities. Previous studies have shown that children are susceptible to mouse allergen more in New York, Chicago, and Boston. US cities with more cockroach allergens were New York and Chicago. Dust mites topped the list in Tucson and Seattle.

The team stated in the report that this study brings into prominence the importance of examining the applicable allergens for asthma related health at a community level. This is important because not all urban communities will possess identical allergen profiles as reported in various studies.

A different view

Dennis R. Ownby, MD, Georgia Regents University, Augusta has said that the study is provocative and urban communities are not the only ones who are susceptible to mice allergens. According to a national survey, allergy initiating mouse urine was detected in almost 82% of inner urban residences, with concentrations exceeding safe levels in about 35% of them.

A small study proved that a reduction of concentrations of mouse allergen also lessened the symptoms associated with asthma. Ownby also said that total eradication of mice can be very difficult. Mouse allergen deserves a better investigation for its role as one of the primary causes of asthma in urban residences. This should be done with the hope that better techniques of lessening allergen exposure to mice will be associated with reduced morbidity of asthma.

The researchers were united in the conclusion that their findings could assist interventions at the community level for localities with a greater than average asthma burden. In case of Baltimore, the metropolis would get the maximum benefit from targeting infestation of mice and also get extra benefit from targeting cockroaches as well.

Mouse Allergen and Asthma Cohort Study

The probable Mouse Allergen and Asthma Cohort Study included about 144 Baltimore City residents between 5 and 17 years of age. All of them had persistent asthma and clinical data available for the past 12 months. The demographic studied were mostly African-American, poorly educated and low income families. Many of them had asthma exacerbation in the past year. Simple skin prick examinations churned up positive results for mice in about 51% of the cases. Data for cockroaches and dust mites were 60% and 56% respectively.

For those sensitized, 41% were open to mouse allergen and the same percent were open to cockroach allergen. This figure rests on dust samples settled on the bedroom floor. After proper adjustment for serum total Immunoglobin-E (IgE) level, sex and age, exposure and sensitization to mouse allergen was involved with a higher incidence of acute care visits for greater levels of pulomonary inflammation and asthma. This was measured by a fraction of nitric oxide that is exhaled (P<0.01).

Sensitization and exposure to both the allergens were associated with more negative outcomes compared to either of them alone

New Medicine Developed to Protect Dwindling Bee Population from Disease

Bumble BeeTo help protect the swiftly dwindling bee population across the world, Swedish scientists and researchers recently developed a new method to protect the bees from diseases. Large populations of bees have been going missing in parts of Europe and the United States. Microbiologists at the Lund University have created a patented treatment made from stomach bacteria of healthy bees as well as lactic acid. Known as SymBeeotic, the team describes the medicine as a major boost to the immune system of bees and is hoping to reduce the rate of deaths. Working on the project, Dr Alejandra Vasquez commented that the product is an active protection from both European and American foulbrood diseases.

Being one of the most deadly diseases for bee population, SymBeeotic tackles the foulbrood bacteria by boosting immunity. The team also added saying that the medicine will be most effective if beekeepers provide their bee cultures with SymBeeotic instead of using antibiotics. The research and development of SymBeeotic has been ongoing for almost ten years and will soon be launched in an annual beekeeper conference in Russia. Co-researcher from Lund University, Dr Tobias Olofsson added that SymBeeotic was the only existing medicine that boosted the natural immunity of bees. Over time, the use of antibiotics often makes them resistant to the effects and more vulnerable to infections from foulbrood.

Why are the bees disappearing?

Honey bees are at a common threat from many sources, including fungal diseases, bacteria, and virus, parasites, pests as well as pesticides. It has been established that since 2006, beekeepers in North America have noted a loss of 30% to 90% in their colonies. The case is similar in many other parts of the world including South America, Central America, Asia, and Europe.

However recently, a new epidemic in bee population has severely affected its presence. CCD, also known as Colony Collapse Disorder results in large populations dying one after another. Some of the main reasons for this sudden change in bee populations include stress, malnutrition, and pollution. This increase in undesirable environments slowly weakened the immune system of bee populations around the global that made them more vulnerable to disease. Other speculated reasons for this sudden decrease in bee populations include man made devices, cell phone radiations, and the advent of genetically modified crops that are not deemed safe for bees.

Why do we need bees?

The impact of honey bees in human lives is far more extensive than imagined. Most crops and vegetation are maintained and furthered through pollination from bees. Without bees, these crops would remain as is and would fail to reproduce. Agricultural crops all over the world rely on bee populations as they facilitation pollination for well over one hundred varieties of fruits and vegetables. The limited growth as well as food supplies would cause global emergencies, leading to starvation. This decrease in bee population can cause a sudden imbalance in food production and cause failure of hundreds of species of nuts, fruits, and vegetables.

While scientists are doing their part in developing new medicines to prevent bacterial and viral diseases in bees, communities and neighborhoods can also make an impact. By taking a proactive stand and helping restore bee colonies, children and adults in the community can preserve and protect bees. Planting bee-attracting crops like vegetables and flowers, sponsoring researches and supporting local beekeepers are simple yet effective ways of making change. You can also join local associations and remain aware of how you can combat colony collapse disorder and protect honey bees. Slowly becoming a global epidemic, bee deaths are becoming alarmingly common all over the world and extensive measures taken immediately are the only way to preserve what is left of honey bee populations.

Bed Bug Travel Tips

commercial pest control hospitalityWith so many people traveling over the summer months, we thought if best to offer a few travel tips to help reduce your risk of getting bed bugs. Bed bugs are excellent hitchhikers and travel on your belongings. The more you can minimize your possible contact with them, the less likely it is that you will bring them home with you.

1) Do Your Research – Before you book your hotel, check out sites like www.bedbugregistry.com or www.tripadvisor.com to see if anyone has posted bed bug issues at your hotel. If they have, choose another hotel. Just because your hotel is not listed, does not mean they are without bed bugs. They may still have an issue, but no one has posted anything yet.

2) Pack a Flashlight – Our entire staff travels with flashlights. It’s your best tool in helping to determine if your hotel room has bed bugs. When you arrive at the hotel, if possible, leave your luggage in the car when you check in. Take your flashlight and inspect the mattress and bed. Remove the sheets and look for small rust dots (about the size of pencil eraser head). These will be blood stains. If you see nothing on the mattress, check behind the headboard. If you can take it off the wall, or shake it, go ahead. If you see the rust spots, insect skins or insects, inform the manager and check out!

3) Don’t Put Luggage on the Bed – No one from our office will put their luggage on the bed, furniture or luggage rack. Our suitcases go in the bath tub. I admit, it’s not very convenient, but better safe than sorry. My luggage never leaves the bathroom.

4) Pack Giant Zip Lock Bags – All of my clothes go into a giant zip lock bag before my trip home….even if I didn’t wear them. You can get a box at any grocery store for under $5. Don’t skimp…the bags must seal tight!

5) Don’t Bring Your Luggage in Your House – Once you get home, don’t bring your luggage in your house. You will need to remove everything from your luggage and vacuum thoroughly, inside and out. Vacuum, remove the vacuum bag, seal it tight in a plastic bag and throw it in your outside garbage. If you can make a stop at the car wash with a coin operated vacuum, on the way home, do it!

6) Dry Your Clothes – Take your zip lock bags and empty them directly into your dryer. Set on the hottest setting and leave clothes in there for at least 30 minutes. Don’t fill the dryer too full. You need the hot air to circulate. Shoes too if they can tolerate it (like sneakers). No need to wash clothes first. It will do no good.

This all may seem obsessive and extreme…but trust us; it is well worth the hassle. These simple steps could save you not only from red, itchy welts which can be caused by bed bug bites…but also save you thousands of dollars in bed bug extermination costs.