When you only come out at night and people think you might transform into a blood-sucking vampire at any moment, it’s tough to give anyone the warm fuzzies.
That’s a hard truth bats have been dealing with for generations. But their public image took the biggest hit yet last year, after research indicated that COVID-19 may have originated in bats before mutating to infect humans.
“Bats have always had a bad reputation,” said Sarah Strew, lead of Nature Camp and Adult Programs at the Vermont Institute of Natural Science. “I think people are more fearful of them than other wild animals.”
Once-in-a-century outbreaks and alleged transmogrification aside, these creatures of the night are actually a vital part of the ecosystem that do a lot of good for us day-walking humans, and they could use our help.
To teach the public more about the threats facing bats, VINS will hold two virtual bat talks in April. The first, titled “Bat Conservation in the Time of COVID-19” will take place from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday (April 1) and the second, “Rehabbing Bats in the Time of COVID-19,” is from 5:30-6:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 15. People can register for both programs at vinsweb.org; a $10 donation is requested.
“That was a big part of why we thought it was good timing for this type of event, because there’s been so much misinformation and fear,” Strew said.
The panelists include Alyssa Bennett, of the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department; Barry Genzlinger, president of the Vermont Bat Center; Bill Kilpatrick, a professor of biology and the curator of vertebrates emeritus at the University of Vermont; and Meg Lout, vice president and present-elect of the Northeast Bat Working Group and president of the Vermont Bat Working Group will participate in the first talk. Genzlinger will be part of both.
“Our goal with this is to start kind of with a global perspective and get a good framework and sense of understanding of the COVID virus … but then really bring it home to Vermont and what is happening locally,” Strew said.
Bats in Vermont have faced many challenges over the years, including white-nose syndrome, which impacts the six species of cave-dwelling bats in the state. SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, can also be spread among animals, and scientists have been studying the impact it can have on them, as well as how humans and animals can spread it to each other.
“Basically, the more we encroach on wildlife habitat and come in contact with them more, the greater likelihood that viruses that wild animals of any kind carry could transfer to us,” Strew said.
Liz Sauchelli can be reached at esauchelli@vnews.com or 603-727-3221.
