Bat Box Locations

One of the areas I am learning is GIS. I created this map in ArcGIS on line that shows bat box locations in the Franklin County, Ohio area. It can be a helpful tool locating boxes or bat roosts to monitor. I will continue to update map as I locate more boxes.

Direct Link :Bat Box Locations

Bats Are Not The Threat That Many Believe

Halloween is a time of year when many of the rumors about bats hit their peak. They are labeled as blood sucking vampires out to spread rabies. Due to these rumors, they rely on us to set the facts straight.

With over 1300 bat species around the globe, only three species are vampire bats. But that does not make them blood sucking predators on the loose. All three species are found in Central and South America and lap (not suck) blood from cattle and poultry and it is rare for them to drink the blood of humans. But society tends to throw all bat species together in the same category of blood sucking creatures of the night.

There are many reasons the public fears and connects bats to vampires. Years ago most of this fear came from movies and comic books about Dracula or vampires. Today we also have the internet to blame for much of these damaging myths. It is impossible to stop the media from spreading this nonsense but we do have the right to boycott sites that promote it. We need to obtain our facts from credible websites and avoid social media or media websites. We need to also stop sharing this information on social media just because it is cute or part of folklore. They are part of the problem and are hurting bats!

Bats are a mammal and as with any mammal, they can have rabies. Every day new articles are posted about bats found with rabies. Most of these sites are from the media operated websites such as newspapers, television or other unreliable sites.  When we click on the link to read an article or open a web page, it is recorded in the statistics for that page. The media monitors these clicks or hits and they use it to determine what people are reading. They continue to print the popular or most visited articles. We can educate people on the truth without sharing these sites.

Society is concerned about bats with rabies so the internet continues to saturate it with articles after articles. This flood of articles about bats with rabies over other animals with rabies makes it sound like bats are nothing but rabies infected animals. As mentioned above, bats can carry rabies just like any other mammal but the surplus of articles does not truly represent the health status of bats.

According to the World Health Organization, domestic dogs are responsible for more rabies transmissions to humans in about 99% of the cases.

I have read on numerous websites that the CDC claims only 0.5% of bats have been reported to have rabies. I searched the CDC website repeatedly for this information but had no success locating it. I was able to locate information claiming 6% of bats have been reported with rabies. This is still a small number but I wanted to make sure I was getting the facts straight so I dropped an email to the CDC to clarify the numbers. I received this reply from the Poxvirus and Rabies Branch, Division of High Consequence Pathogens and Pathology.

“Thank you for your inquiry. The true rate of rabies in bats is highly variable and dependent on numerous ecological factors. The variation in numbers you have pointed out below is also highly influenced by the method of surveillance used to detect rabies. The largest surveillance activity in the United States is referred to as “Passive Public Health Surveillance”. Under this system, only bats that have exposed a human or pet are eligible for testing. Each year around 25,000 bats are tested under this system, of which about 5 – 7% are positive. These are bats that have a much higher probability of having rabies due to their abnormally-acting behavior. It is an important population to test for the public’s health, but it is a very biased sample when compared to the full population of bats (normally and abnormally acting). There are several studies that have looked at rates of rabies in randomly sampled bat populations (healthy and abnormally acting) and these studies tend to find around 0.1% - 0.001% rates of rabies (so it is very uncommon in a random sample). The higher rates of rabies in bats that you mentioned are typically only seen when an outbreak has occurred in a colony. These events are very rarely detected through surveillance programs and are not representative of the “normal state” of a bat colony.

There is no universal truth to the rate of rabies in bats. It is highly variable based on numerous ecological factors and surveillance factors and rates change over time, even within a single colony. In general, the risk of rabies in a normal, healthy bat is quite low (but not 0), while the risk of rabies in an abnormally acting bat is quite high relative to the deadly nature of rabies. For this reason, persons should always avoid direct contact with bats unless using appropriate personal protective equipment; this is safest for the person and will prevent the unnecessary euthanasia and testing of that bat. "

Let's relax and enjoy all the benefits we have from bats as that truly outweighs all this propaganda we read on the internet.

Bat Appreciation Day

Bat Appreciation Day, held on April 17, is when we celebrate the importance of bats around the globe. I would like to share some interesting facts about bats and hope you see how valuable bats are to our ecosystem, economy and the health of our planet. Though today is bat appreciation day, we really should be thankful for bats every day and do what we can to preserve their future. Plus they are just cool little animals!

Bats are the only flying mammal and make up about 20% of all mammal species. They are the second largest order of mammals (second to rodents).

Bats are not rodents or birds. They belong to their own order called "Chiroptera."

Some bats eat more than 70% of their body weight insects in a single night and a pregnant bat can consume 100% of their body weight in insects. This could be 5000 insects in a night from a single bat. They are nature's ultimate insect control. This has many advantages. It reduces crop destroying insects which saves billions of dollars in the agriculture industry. This saving flows over to reduce cost for the consumer. Bats consume thousands of mosquitoes each night which helps reduce the spread of malaria.

Fruit and nectar feeding bats pollinate many plants, including an estimated 450 commercial plants

used by us. Foods such as bananas, peaches, guavas, mangoes, avocado, figs, dates, papaya, almonds, cashew nuts, vanilla and other products such as tequila (from the agave plant), carob and many more.

Bats help control diseases such as malaria by consuming many of the insects that spread such diseases.

De Hoop cave is the largest known roost in South Africa with an estimated 300,000 bats. This large numbers of bats is estimated to eat 100 tons every year and saving farmers thousands of rands on insecticides every year.

Studies have shown that bats save the corn industry more than $1 billion annually from the corn earworm which is destructive to corn crops.

Less than half a percent (0.5%) of bats carry rabies. As with any wild animal, you should leave them alone and do not touch them. Most animals are more scared of you than you are of them. Leave them alone and they will leave you alone.

Bats could care less about your hair. This goes back to the insects. When you are outside on a warm night, what is flying around your head? Insects! The bats are after the insects, not your hair. So you should thank them for helping you out.

Bats are actually very clean and will groom their self like a cat.

They are important pollinators and seed dispensers and are critical for tropical reforestation. Bats help pollinate fruit which is necessary and they also spread seeds which helps bring new fruit trees. Some fruit that they help are bananas and agave. Do you like tequila? Well, you need to thank bats because without bats there would be no agave and therefore, no tequila.

Bats have been found (fossils and live) on all continents except the poles and a few islands. Their habitat ranges from tree lines in the north to tree line in the south. The only exclusion are the permanent snow covered areas and extreme deserts.

Most sounds from bats are too high a frequency for humans to hear. Those who study bats use

ultrasound detectors (bat detectors) to pick up these sounds.

Bracken Cave (Texas) has the largest bat population in the world with over 20 million Mexican Free-tailed Bats. In one night they consume several tons of insects that destroy agriculture crops or carry malaria. Just in south central Texas, it is estimated to save farmers $741,000 a year in pest control in the cotton production.

There are only three species of bats that drink blood and they are located in Central and South America. It is a myth about bats drinking your blood. As for those who live in the area of vampire bats, the bats prefer to drink blood from animals such as cattle and poultry (birds). So you are safe from encountering blood sucking bats as they do not exist.

So I hope these facts about bats provided you with a new insight about bats and created new and positive thoughts about bats. The next time you see a bat, enjoy what you are watching and understand that bat is helping make your life better.

Are Ohio Bats in Danger of Extinction?

Ohio has 11 species of bats and the July 2018 endangered and threatened species list has all 11

Ohio bats listed at some level of threat toward their future. This should be a concern to us because it is a red flag that bats could become a thing of the past if we do not take action today. All Ohio bats are insectivores which means they eat insects. One bat can consume over 1000 insects such as mosquitoes, moths and beetles a night. They are natures form of insect control. If the bats did not exist than we would have a serious economical problem. The insects would cause serious devastation to crops which means the cost of our food would increase dramatically. Farmers would be forced to use more pesticides on crops and we all know how pesticides negatively affect the environment. Human diseases would also increase as many insects transmit diseases to humans. With no bats to control the insects, more humans will now be affected by insect bites.

See complete list on Division of Wildlife website

OHIO ENDANGERED SPECIES

• Indiana myotis - Myotis sodalis (Also on U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service endangered list)

OHIO THREATENED SPECIES

• Northern long-eared bat - Myotis septentrionalis (Also on U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service threatened list)

OHIO SPECIES OF CONCERN

• Eastern small-footed bat - Myotis leibii
• Rafinesque’s big-eared bat - Corynorhinus rafinesquii
• Little brown bat - Myotis lucifugus
• Big brown bat - Eptesicus fuscus
• Tri-colored bat - Perimyotis subflavus
• Silver-haired bat - Lasionycteris noctivagans
• Red bat - Lasiurus borealis
• Hoary bat - Lasiurus cinereus

OHIO SPECIAL INTERESTS

• Evening bat - Nycticeius humeralis

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Bat numbers are decreasing around the country for several reasons such as white nose syndrome ( a fungus affecting cave dwelling bats), habitat destruction and senseless killing of bats to just name a few.

First, bats are not a threat to humans. Only 3 bat species drink blood and they live in Central and South America. Less than half of 1% bats carry rabies. You actually have a higher chance of a rabies bite from a dog than from bats.

Provide a habitat for bats in your area. You can build/purchase a bat house to install in your yard. Do not place these on trees as bats are open to predators on trees. Place on poles or side of a structure at least 15 feet above ground and a minimum of 6 hours sunlight. Do not get discouraged if bats do not take up residence right away. It can take a few years before bats take up residence in the new home.  Read more.

If you have cats or dogs, make sure they do not disturb the bats on your property. If you find an injured bat, contact your local wildlife rehab center for help.

If you have bats in your attic, do not close them in. Let them leave before closing up their entrance. It is better to call a humane wildlife control agent and let them remove the bats humanely. Also, make sure to provide them with an alternative home before closing up your attic such as a bat house. Read more.

Get involved and learn more about bats. Contact your local department of natural resources, division of wildlife or wildlife rehab centers. Many could use your help and you can learn as you help protect the future of our bats.

Bats do not like disturbances. Human activity can cause them to leave or reject new homes. So make sure they have very little disturbances from humans, pets and wildlife. 

The most important tool we can have to protect our bats is to EDUCATE! Learn what you can about bats and pass your knowledge on to others.  Below are some valuable sites to learn more about bats. Donations are also needed to help continue research and protection.

Bat Conservation International
Bat World Sanctuary
Bat Conservation and Management
Bat Conservation Trust
Merlin Tuttle's Bat Conservation

The purchase of bat products also help

Bat Goods



DEFINITIONS

ENDANGERED: A native species or subspecies threatened with extirpation from the state. The danger may result from one or more causes, such as habitat loss, pollution, predation, interspecific competition, or disease.

THREATENED: A species or subspecies whose survival in Ohio is not in immediate jeopardy, but to which a threat exists. Continued or increased stress will result in its becoming endangered.

SPECIES OF CONCERN: A species or subspecies which might become threatened in Ohio under continued or increased stress. Also, a species or subspecies for which there is some concern but for which information is insufficient to permit an adequate status evaluation. This category may contain species designated as a furbearer or game species but whose statewide population is dependent on the quality and/or quantity of habitat and is not adversely impacted by regulated harvest.

SPECIAL INTEREST: A species that occurs periodically and is capable of breeding in Ohio. It is at the edge of a larger, contiguous range with viable population(s) within the core of its range. These species have no federal endangered or threatened status, are at low breeding densities in the state, and have not been recently released to enhance Ohio’s wildlife diversity. With the exception of efforts to conserve occupied areas, minimal management efforts will be directed for these species because it is unlikely to result in significant increases in their populations within the state.

Large Flying Fox - Pteropus vampyrus

The flying foxes are fruit bats known as the mega bats of the old world. The name flying fox comes from their fox or dog looking face with pointed ears

As with most species of animals, the best way to determine a species is by their scientific name as in the Large Flying Fox that would be Pteropus vampyrus. The reason is because there can be numerous common names. The Large Flying Fox is also known as the Greater Flying Fox and the Malayan Flying Fox just as a start.

The Large Flying Fox is from the family, Pteropodidae, lives in forests, coconut groves, mixed fruit orchards and other habitats of Southeast Asia.

Though it is not the largest flying fox, that title goes to the Golden Crown, Acerodon jubatu, it does have a wing span around 5 feet with a weight around 2.5 pounds.

The IUCN recently listed this species as Near Threatened due to habitat destruction, hunting and senseless killing as some see them as pests.

My video shows the Large Flying Foxes at the Columbus Zoo in Ohio. You can see them move about the wire ceiling with ease. The bones in their wings are similar to humans. They have all five digits like humans. They can use their legs and their thumb in the wing to hang and move about the ceiling.

Insectary at Ohio State University

I had the opportunity to tour the Insectary at Ohio State University and found it to be very educational. I was able to see insects from around the globe and learn about some of their unique characteristics and habitats. Below are some of the photos I took during my tour.

Click on images to enlarge.

Northern Walkingstick - Diapheromera femorata

The Northern Walkingstick lives in deciduous forest of Canada and the United States including Ohio. This gentle insect can be found with colors from brown to green which helps them hide in the foliage of trees and shrubs. They can grow to about 3-4 inches in length and the male is usually smaller than the female.


Australian Stick Insect - Extatosoma tiaratum

The Australian Stick Insect, also known as the Giant Prickly Stick Insect, can be found in Australia and New Guinea. The larger female has small flightless wings, spines on her body and large lobes on her legs. The smaller male can have smaller spines but is able to fly due to large wings as seen in the fourth photo below. Though they are harmless, the female can resemble a scorpion as she can curl up her tail to ward off predators..


Peruvian Black Velvet Stick Insect - Peruphasma schultei

The Peruvian Black Velvet Stick Insect is named due to their velvety appearance. They live in a very small area in the mountains of Peru. They possess a defense where they can spray a strong smelling substance from a gland at the rear of their head.  Though the spray is harmless, it can cause irritation to the eyes.


Blonde Tarantula - Aphonopelma chalcodes

The Blonde Tarantula can be found in the southwestern United States. Their temperament can vary between individual species though they are mostly a docile tarantula. They can be found living in burrows under rocks or deserted rodent homes. They will eat insects such as beetles, crickets, cicadas and certain lizards. When the tarantula molts, they lie on the back and work their way out of their outer skin which stays in one piece. During molting, the tarantula must be left alone as it may result in death.


Chilean Rose-hair Tarantula - Grammostola rosea

The Chilean Rose-hair Tarantula is from the northern Atacama Desert region in Chile which is a very hot and dry habitat. They hunt at night on insects such as grasshoppers, crickets and locusts. They are a docile spider that can grow to about 5” across and have been found to have a few different color forms.


Vietnamese Orange-legged Centipede - Scolopendra dehaani

The brightly colored Vietnamese Orange-legged Centipede can be found in Vietnam and through-out Southern Asia and can grow up to 8 inches in length. They are a hardy centipede but can be aggressive and deliver a painful bite. A bite can be similar to a bee sting as it can affect people differently but there is no substantiated proof of death from this centipede.

After starting video, click at lower right to enlarge it 
Cameroon Black Train Millipede - Mardonius parilis acuticonus

The shiny, black Cameroon Black Train Millipede loves to climb and can grow to about 9 inches in length. They like to eat fruits and vegetables such as cucumbers, oranges and bananas. Millipedes have two sets of legs per segment (centipedes only have one set per segment) and the male has gonopods on the seventh segment instead of legs.


Leach's Millipede - Euryurus leachii

The Leach's Millipede, native to North America, can be found around decaying hardwood logs and stumps near water. They are a species of the flat-backed millipede which means there body segments have wide lateral keels known as paranota. They glow a green/blue fluorescent color under UV light due to a chemical in their exoskeleton.


Emperor or Lobster-Claw Scorpion - Pandinus imperator

The Emperor Scorpion is the largest (not the longest) of the scorpions that range in color from dark blue/green to black. They have sensory hairs on the pincers and tail to help them detect prey through air and ground vibrations which is needed since they have poor eye sight. They eat insects, other arachnids, small rodents and lizards. Scorpions can glow a green/blue color under a UV light (black light) or natural moonlight which comes from a substance in the hyaline layer which is part of the exoskeleton called the cuticle.  It is not fully understood why they do this.


Striped Bark Scorpion - Centuroides vittatus

The Striped Bark Scorpion is the most common scorpion in the United States and found in the crevices of rocky areas, forests and human structures. They will climb and can be found in the attic of homes. It can inflict a painful sting but the venom is not as potent as other scorpions. It can grow up to around 3 inches in length.


Whip Scorpion - Mastigoproctus giganteus

The only whip scorpion found in the United States is also known as vinegaroon or grampus. They do not have the venom stinger found in most scorpions or the venom bite found in most spiders, but they have a long, thin caudal appendage which gives them the name, whip scorpion. The name, vinegaroon, comes from their ability to spray acetic acid from base of whip like tail. They can be found in grasslands, pine forests, scrub and barrier islands.

After starting video, click at lower right to enlarge it


Tailless Whip Scorpion - Damon diadema

Tailless Whip Scorpion, from east coast of Africa, live near cave entrances in large groups. They can grow through-out their life but molt more at a younger age. After molting they will have a white appearance and quickly turn a greenish color after a few hours. It is during these times when they are highly vulnerable. After a few days they return to their normal appearance and lifestyle. 


Madagascar Hissing Cockroach - Gromphadorhina portentosa

One of the largest species or roaches, the Madagascar Hissing Cockroach is found on the forest floors of Madagascar. They do not have wings but are able to climb smooth surfaces due to pads and hooks on their feet. The males have large bumps behind their head which are smaller on the female. These are known as pronatal humps.


Large or Greater Milkweed Bug - Oncopeltus fasciatus

The Large or Greater Milkweed Bug is found through-out the United States in fields with milkweed or dogbane and feed off the seeds, stems and leaves of the milkweed. The adult males have a black band on the ventral side of the fourth abdominal segment and the adult female has two black spots in that location


Eastern Subterranean Termite - Reticulitermes flavipes

The Eastern Subterranean Termite is the most common termite in North America and considered a pest due to the amount of wood it destroys. A colony can range from 20,000 to 5 million workers which can cause an economical disaster. Termites use pheromones to communicate with each other. A chemical in ink mimics these pheromones. The termites are attracted to the pheromones and start to follow the ink trail but what they are actually doing is following the “false” pheromones trail.

After starting video, click at lower right to enlarge it


Flesh Fly - Sarcophaga bullata

We tend to think of flies as an insect with no purpose and the planet would be better without them. Flies do eat decaying matter and use it to lay their eggs. But flies are also food for other animals. The Flesh Fly has been used in forensic entomology as the maggots in decaying bodies can be used to determine time of death of a person.

Networking Tips and Advice

Networking is a great tool on building friends and connections within your industry. It is not hard to network but it does require time.

• Create a professional email that will be used exclusively for correspondence. If you have a URL, most packagers also offer the ability to set up emails under your URL. If not, you may create one with Google. Make sure it is professional and does not resemble spam emails. Create a professional signature in your email. Along with your name, include one link to a professional page about you such as your blog or LinkedIn profile.

• You should have business cards to hand out  at events, meetings or when you are just out. I recommend Vista Print as I have used them many times and the cards are high quality and look professional.

• Attend events! Attend events! Attend events! My interest is with the environment so I look for any and all environmental related events. Speak to people at these events and get contact names. Those names do you no good if you do not follow up with them later. Do not wait too long to follow up. You need to follow up while they still remember you - send them your blog or LinkedIn link when you contact them.

• A few ways to find events are signing up for newsletters on field related websites and by doing Google searches. Many events will also have information on other upcoming events. You will also learn about events as you talk to other people.

• Conduct informational interviews. Contact people in your field asking for informational interviews. I actually contact them by email so that I have a record. If you do not know who to contact, call and ask. If you email them, include links to your blog or LinkedIn profile so they can read about you before the interview. Dress professionally at the interview as you would for a job interview. Remember, this is an informational interview so do not ask for a job. Before you leave, ask them if they can provide you with another person you may talk to. Always leave with another lead. Very Important!

• Volunteer with companies or causes within your field of interest. Be active and get noticed. Do not go out with an ego but do make your self stand out. Check out websites of related companies as some may offer volunteer opportunities. If in question, contact the company.

• Join social networks such as LinkedIn and Facebook. LinkedIn is a professional network where you can connect with others related to your field. Design your profile to look professional which means photos and posts. Start posting things that are related to your field. Make your posts look like you know what you are talking about. This is your chance to show your knowledge. This is not Facebook so do not post irrelevant material. Respond to post placed by your connections. Again, show your knowledge. I am talking about an actual response, not just hitting the "like" button. You do not need to respond to every post because you do not want to come off as a know it all. Connect with those in your field, especially those with titles such as supervisor, director, manager and so forth.

• Google search companies that are related to your field, locate them on LinkedIn and follow them. Also, connect with employees at the company on LinkedIn. You can also do a company search on LinkedIn and it will show you people who work at that company. Connect with them. 

• LinkedIn will eventually recommend contacts based on your current connections. Start connecting with these people. Look at where they work and start making a list of these companies. This will help you build a list of potential companies for your job search.

• Join pages and groups on Facebook related to your field. Follow the same process for posting as you would on LinkedIn. Stay professional.

• Create a blog (like this one) to show off your knowledge. Blogger is free and has many tools to design what you want. Again, keep it professional and easy to read and find information. Make sure to provide easy to find contact information. Add a page about you and a page where visitors can find your work such as a portfolio page.

• Depending on your field, you can create videos and put them on You Tube. You can place these videos on your blog. Keep videos on a specific topic and use them to show your knowledge. Do not just talk about what you know on videos. This is your platform to show what you know. You can dress down in your videos and wear clothes related to field. Make sure to provide contact information on your videos or in description box below videos. This can be a link to your blog or LinkedIn page where you have your email. The video serves no purpose if you do not offer viewers any means to contact you. Share your videos!

If you follow these steps you will quickly build a strong network. The first step starts with you.

Educating Publc about Bats

Earth day comes once a year and I decided to take this time to pass out literature about bats including white nose syndrome to the public. Bats have such a bad rap and I wanted to help reduce that negative perspective many have about bats.

I handed out numerous pamphlets and most people accepted it. There were a few that enjoy living the life of ignorance and there is nothing we can do to change that.

I was surprised how many people had installed bat boxes and some were active with bats.  I explained to many how they can build or purchase bat boxes and where to find information on how to correctly install them.

I believe I successfully spread the positive word about bats and hope many went home with a better understanding about bats and how important they are to the ecosystem.

If you live in Ohio and would like to volunteer monitoring bat roost, the blink below will take you to ODNR website where you can sign up to help.

Volunteer Bat Roost Monitoring

2018 Earth Day Events: Columbus, Ohio

Earth Day 2018 is coming up. What are you going to do to take part and help protect your planet and community? There are events such as festivals, tree planting and litter clean ups all over the country.

This is a list I put together with links for some events taking place in the Columbus and surrounding areas. Most are free but make sure to check before heading out to a certain event. Make sure to volunteer as many events can use your help! If you cannot attend an event, make your own event. Get some of your friends and just get out and clean up your neighborhood.

Volunteer for Earth Day

Tuesday, April 17, 2018

Tunes & Togetherness with Goodwill: 9:30 am - 11:00 am

Friday, April 20, 2018

Bioblitz at Highbanks: 12:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Kenny Park Tree Planting: 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Sharon Woods Earth Day Clean Up: 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm

Saturday, April 21, 2018

Bioblitz at Highbanks: 6:30 am - 12:00 pm
Windsor STEM Elementary School and Rosewind Commons Tree Planting: 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
NBSA Earth Day Event (Street Clean Up): 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Earth Day at the Crest Gastropub: 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Ganthers Place Earth Day Clean-Up: 11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Earth Day for Kids: 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Sunday, April 22, 2018 - EARTH DAY

Blendon Woods Earth Day Night Hike: 8:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Carmack Woods Tree Planting: 9:00 am - 1:30 pm
Earth Day Celebration at Genoa Park: 12:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Interfaith Day of Community Service: 12:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Battelle Darby Creek Earth Day Celebration - Cruddy Creek: 1:00 pm - 1:45 pm
Battelle Darby Creek Earth Day Celebration: 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Battelle Darby Creek Celebration - Nature Art Workshop: 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Saturday, April 28, 2018

Lettuce Celebrate Earth Day: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Check put the Metro Parks schedule to find additional events taking place this week

Help Protect our Bats

We are losing bats by the millions in our country due to "White Nose Syndrome."

They are important to help control insects that destroy crops, pollinate plants and much more. It is up to us to make sure they have a future.

Make a donation today to the Bat Conservation International who is the largest support of bat conservation in the world.

Bat Conservation International

How To Reduce Pollution

Pollution takes place because of human activity. We create pollution so we should clean it up. The number one priority is to educate. Some may not know the damage caused by pollution and there are those who do not care. We cannot change everyone but we can do our part to reduce it. I have listed some ideas on how we can get involved and how to help your community look better. But we must remember that not all pollution is visible. Many chemicals and minerals cannot be seen but are present and doing a lot of harm to our ecosystem. So do not let what looks to be clean deceive you.

REPORTING ILLEGAL OR SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY

If you spot something that may not look right, it is your right to report it. We do not really see the whole picture and pollution activities can take place everywhere. Places you may least expect it to happen may be a large contributor to illegal pollution activities. Below is a short list of potential pollution sites. See important numbers at bottom of page.

• Sewage and drain pipes pollution
• Storm water pollution
• Construction areas
• Farm and agriculture pollution
• Industrial pollution 
• Mineral extraction pollution
• Residential pollution
• Commercial pollution
• Recreational pollution

Create documentations such as photos, videos, location, date and time.Do not enter private property or dangerous areas. Leave that to the authorities.Get PHOTOS, PHOTOS, PHOTOS!

REDUCE AND ELIMINATE POLLUTION

Run off is probably the largest contributor to local water pollution. As it rains, the moving water picks up and carries everything in its path. Instead of throwing items out, pass it along to someone else. A few sites where you can post items for free are Craig’s List and FreeCycle. This includes the following items. You can also drop off items at the local Goodwill and Salvation Army.

• Yard Waste: There are many options for this
• Recycle: Bag up yard waste for local recycling. In Columbus this can be achieved by checking the city schedule on their website.
• Compost: Make your own compost station. Check out this video on making your own compost area. Many cities such as Franklin County Soil and Water offer programs on composting and discounts on obtaining a compost cylinder.
• Salt: Winter brings ice and the salt and other chemicals used to eliminate the ice makes it way into our water. Read some alternatives on Huffington Post.
• Chemicals: Many chemicals used on yards such as pesticides and herbicides make their way in to our water. Try to reduce what is used or find safe alternatives. Also, do not dump anything into the storm drains. They get enough debris without us adding to it.
• Clean Up: If every resident would clean up debris found in their yard and the street in front of their home, this would eliminate much trash from making its way into the watershed. Remember to recycle the trash you pick up. Also, do not rely on local organizations to conduct clean ups. When at the park, trails, parking lots or anywhere, pick up trash and dispose of it properly. Do not forget those small cigarette butts.
• Washing Car: We all like to keep our cars clean but use biodegradable soap.
• Paint/Thinners: Do not dump this into the storm drains or throw in trash. If there is still paint in can, pass it along to someone who can use it. When can is empty, recycle it. Also, many places will take your paint for free such as SWACO or local home repair centers.
• Pets: Do not dispose of unwanted pets such as reptiles, fish and so forth into local water or woods.They are destructive to our local wildlife by competing for needed food and habitats. It can unbalance the local ecosystem. If you no longer want the pet, check you local pet shops or place it on sites such as Craig's List or FreeCycle. I will give you an example. Have you ever been to Blacklick Metro Park and see all the goldfish in the pond? They did not put them there. Someone decided they did not want them and dumped them in that pond. They have now taken over and the park is trying to eliminate them. This is an example of people dumping unwanted pets into the environment.
• Plants: Do not throw aquarium plants in local water or other unwanted plants into the ecosystem. These are called invasive plants and can do the same harm as unwanted pets. Many can start to grow earlier in spring before the local plants and thus competes for food and sun. This will prevent local plants from growing and can eventually kill off local plants. 
• Carpooling: When is the last time you carpooled, used a taxi, bus or public transportation, walked or rode a bike? If it has not been recent than it is time to make a change. The CO2 emissions from each vehicle add up and are quickly destroying our planet. 

RECYCLE

You can reducing the amount of trash by recycling much of your personal waste. In Columbus this can be achieved through Rumpke which handles the local recycle program. Recycling does not take that much time or work and you can reduce your trash by over 90%. What a relief for the landfills. Below are some things you can recycle.

• Glass Bottles & Jars (all colors)
• Metal Cans: Aluminum cans, steel cans and lids, empty aerosol cans with the lids and tips removed
• Plastic Bottles (empty, crush, reattach lid): Bottles and jugs that have a small mouth and wider base, such as milk jugs, soda bottles, laundry detergent bottles, water bottles, shampoo bottles and contact solution bottles
• Paper: newspaper, magazines, cardboard, mixed office paper and envelopes, paperboard (cereal boxes), pizza boxes free of food debris and grease, telephone books and catalogs
• Cartons: food and beverage cartons, such as milk, juice, soup, wine, broth and other cartons.

Other Ideas

• Reuse comics, posters, maps and fabrics to wrap gifts. Reuse ribbons, bows and gift bags. In the end you can recycle them.
• Donate unwanted decorations or lights to centers like Goodwill, Salvation Army or free community stores.
• Many items such as Christmas trees and wreaths can be composted at the curb. See Columbus schedule.
• Reuse leftovers or send dinner guests home with a meal.

NON-RECYCLABLE ITEMS

• Plastic Bags: Buy reusable cloth bags to take shopping and leave the plastic bags at the store. If you do use plastic bags, many stores such as Kroger have barrels at store exits where you can dispose of plastic bags. You can reuse the plastic bags by bringing them with you. Keep these bags out of the landfills.
• Car Batteries: Check with local shops who sell car batteries as some may take them back. You may also check with scrap yards as they may also take them.
  
• Small Batteries: Purchase rechargeable batteries to replace the disposable batteries.
• Oils: Many auto shops and car part stores take old oil and recycle it. So check with local shops to find a place to take them.
• Computer Monitors: Columbus usually has an annual; recycle day where you can dispose of your old electronics. There are also some companies who will take them though they may charge a small fee. If you do a Google search, many options come up such as the Goodwill.

SAVING ENERGY

• Turn off lights when you're the last one to leave a room.
• Switch to energy efficient, longer lasting LED bulbs.
• Have your heating and cooling system inspected by a qualified professional.
• Change furnace filters regularly according to manufacturer's instructions.
• Adjust the thermostat to save energy at night or when no one's at home.
• Unplug battery chargers when they're not charging anything.
• Take shorter showers.
• Fix water leaks as quickly as possible.
• Install water efficient showerheads and faucet aerators.
• Purchase only ENERGY STAR® certified high-efficiency appliances and devices.
• Use a timer on the holiday lights to save energy.
• Cut back water usage and install rain barrels for watering your plants. Check out Franklin Soil and Water. 

Americans throw away 25% more trash during the holidays than any other time of year? The extra waste amounts to 25 million tons of garbage, or about one million extra tons per week (Green Spot)

MY FINAL THOUGHTS

Many people do what they can to help clean this planet. It all starts at home by helping within your community. It may be donating to a cause, volunteering or just taking your own steps in the areas I mentioned above. I would like to thank everyone for doing your part. Than there are those who say they care but do nothing about it. They continuously violate almost every area I mentioned above. So this is the time to make that step over and to become involved. Even if it just starts at home, you can make a difference. It would be nice if we could close down the community clean up projects because there is nothing left to clean. It is wishful thinking but it would be nice. Remember, our clean planet starts with you!

LOCAL REPORTING AND INFORMATION NUMBERS

Emergency

• Columbus Office of Emergency Preparedness 614-645-7089
• Columbus Fire Department 614-645-6387
• Emergency Management & Homeland Security (24 Hours) 614-794-0213
• Franklin County Soil and Water Conservation District 614-486-9613

City of Columbus Sewer and Water Public Utilities

• Sewer emergencies (report discharge) 614-645-7102
• Water emergencies (report line breaks) 614-645-7788

Health Department

• Franklin County Public Health 614-525-3160
• Franklin County Sanitary Engineers 614-525-3940

Parks and Green Spaces

• Franklin County Metroparks 614-891-0700
• Columbus Recreation and Parks 614-645-3300

Solid Waste Management
Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio 614-871-5100
City of Columbus Recycling 614-645-3111

NATIONAL REPORTING AND INFORMATION NUMBERS

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5

• Report an Environmental Crime/Spill 1-800-282-9378
• Central District Office 614-728-3778
• Environmental Emergency Response 614-728-3821
• Non-Emergency Environmental Reports 1-800-686-8930
• Solid Waste Complaints 614-728-3890
• Hazardous Waste Complaints 614-728-3887
• Air Pollution Complaints for Franklin County 614-728-3805
• Air Pollution Complaints for Asbestos 614-995-0671

Coastguard

• National Response Center 1-800-424-8802

U.S. Department of Agriculture

• Natural Resource Conservation Services 614-674-6759

MORE IMPORTANT NUMBERS

Active Dumping
614-871-5322
Police: 911

Dead or Threatened Organisms
ODNR Division of Wildlife: 330-644-2293

Strong Odor
Ohio EPA Emergency Hotline: 800-282-9378

Unusual Color Over Large Area
Ohio EPA Harmful Algae Bloom Form: 614-644-2160
ODNR Abandoned Land Management: 614-265-6633

Chemical and Petroleum Spills
Ohio EPA: 800-282-9378 (24 hotline)

Sewage Related Pollution
Franklin County Public Health: 614-525-3965 (24 hotline)

Agricultural or Manure Related Pollution
Franklin County Soil & Water Conservation: 614-486-9613

Injured Animal
ODNR Division of Wildlife: 800-WILDLIFE or 614-644-3925
Ohio Wildlife Center: 614-793-9453

Poaching
Ohio Division of Wildlife: 800-POACHER (762-2437)

Criminal or Hazards on Trail
Metro Park Rangers 614-620-1865