Hello Alden & All, >are trying to tell us something and the bats (mammals) are joining the >chorus? As Aaron pointed out there are similarities between the bat die-off and the bee die-off. I am sure many watched the CBS evening news report today by Katie Curic. Tomorrow another story about the bee die-off. Bat die-off: Three possible hypothesis were presented by three researchers (and my comments) Researcher 1. because of weather the bats did not store enough food for hibernation. Also could be caused by the new neonicotinoids as reduced feeding is a known symptom of neonicotinoid poisoning. The important thing about the views of researcher 1 is he has pin pointed the fact the dead bats died above all else from starvation! He blames the weather but unlike the bee die off the current bat die off to my knowledge started over the last few years and is escalating. The weather seems a week hypothesis but possible as climate change effects many species. One other hypothesis: bats feeding on insects with levels of pesticides. Possible systemic. researcher 2. Fungus killed the bats. Could easily be a symptom rather than the actual cause of death. (the same with fungus and CCD) Fungus was at the top of the CCD cause list for a short while. Now ruled out as a serious factor. researcher 3. Pesticides. lethargic bats and bats simply flying out in dead of winter to die. Both symptoms the program indicated had not been seen before. Eerily similar to what many beekeepers are reporting this winter in cold areas. Hives with bees last warm spell . Then when checked a couple weeks later the hive is empty or only a small amount of bees. Not with heads in cells but dead on bottom board. Not found dead in front of the entrance. The only possible explanation is the bees simply flew out confused and could not make it back or simply flew out to die. I had a few of these hives myself and I can say I have NEVER seen the problem before the last few years. In the CCD information posted today about "What the EPA is doing" it is still in my opinion more of the same from the EPA. We are tired of the LD 50 reasoning. We want to know about sub lethal effects. bob -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. **************************************************** * General Information About BEE-L is available at: * * http://www.honeybeeworld.com/bee-l/default.htm * ****************************************************