News
New Jersey's BATMAN
October 26, 2006, 12:0AM MT
By T V
Always associated with Halloween, bats are quite mysterious and intimidating because of their unique look and elusiveness.
Always associated with Halloween, bats are quite mysterious and intimidating because of their unique look and elusiveness. Although the mere thought of bats can frighten some, the truth is that they are shy creatures and are significant in our society.
Joseph D’Angeli, lecturer/curator of Exotic Wildlife Conservation Programs in Little Ferry, N.J. (http://www.njbatman.com), has been an expert in the field of chiroptology (the study of bats or bat biology) since 1991. He teaches about them and debunks many of the spooky bat myths that people fear. The first mystery solved is: “You do not turn into a vampire if a bat bites you,” chuckles D’Angeli.
Bats are mammals belonging to the order of chiropter (Greek for webbed hands). They can carry rabies, but are one of the least likely mammals to contract rabies and transmit it to humans.
“Less than half of one percent of bats carry rabies,” says D’Angeli. “We can have up to 10 different species in the [New York/New Jersey] area. They are mainly myotis species, which are known as little brown bats and big brown bats. We also have hoary bats, Indiana bats and silver-haired bats.”
In Central and South America, three species of “vampire bats” exist, and they do suck blood.
“They do survive on animal blood, but do not kill animals to get the blood. They feed on only several tablespoons of blood at a time and fly away, usually never waking their host,” explains D’Angeli.
Bats have been used in heart-related research for humans for 10 years or more. “Because of the vampire bats’ highly concentrated and intricate anti-coagulative properties in their saliva, the U.S. medical community is using vampire bat saliva and synthesized vampire bat saliva…. to treat people with clogged arteries, heart problems and stroke victims,” shares D’Angeli.
Bats, despite popular belief, are not blind.
“The old saying ‘blind as a bat’ just makes people think that,” D’Angeli says. “All bats can see. They also use echolocation to find their way through the dark.”
Echolocation is a sonar used by mammals such as bats, dolphins and whales to help them navigate while hunting, foraging, etc.
Quick Bat Facts:
• Bats are illegal to buy as pets. They are wild animals and not domesticated.
• There are estimated to be about 1,100 species of bats worldwide.
• Bats are not rodents.
• Bats in the wild can live up to 20 years. In captivity, they can live 30-plus years.
• The largest bat known is the Malaysian flying fox fruit bat. It has a wingspan of six feet, is a
fruit eater and is harmless to man.
• Bats are not specifically dangerous to humans. “Bats usually bite in self-defense or when someone tries to handle or pick one up. However, they will come very close to people when
they are hunting their favorite food, which is insects, especially mosquitoes,” says D’Angeli.
By eating mosquitos, which could carry West Nile Virus, bats actually do a service for humans.
See D’Angeli and his bats at the Chiller Theatre Toy, Model and Film Expo this Oct. 27-29 at the Crown Plaza in Secuacus, N.J. For more info, log on to www.chillertheatre.com
By Alicyn Leigh