BATS STRIKE GOLD : SANCTUARY CREATED AT ABANDONED MINE FOREST OFFICIALS HOPE TO KEEP CURIOSITY-SEEKERS OUT.Byline: Sherry sherry [from Jérez], naturally dry fortified wine, pale amber to brown in tint. The term sherry originally referred to wines made from grapes grown in the region of Jérez de la Frontera, Andalusia, Spain; today it may refer to any of the Joe Crosby Daily News Staff Writer Hoping to create an inviting haven for bats while keeping curiosity-seekers out, Angeles National Forest The Angeles National Forest (ANF) was established by executive order on December 20, 1892 as the San Gabriel Timberland Reserve. It covers over 2,600 km² (650,000 acres) and is located in the San Gabriel Mountains of Los Angeles County, just north of the metropolitan area of Los officials are gating entrances to an abandoned gold mine. The four-inch-thick steel slabs will feature gaps wide enough for the bats, which have been disappearing in recent years because of encroaching development, to fly in and out of the mine, forest officials said. ``We have a safety issue for humans going in there,'' said Nancy Mehaffie of the Tujunga Ranger Ranger Any of a series of unmanned probes launched from 1961 to 1965 by NASA. The project was NASA's earliest attempt to explore the Moon's surface. Ranger 4 (1962) became the first U.S. spacecraft to hit the Moon, crash-landing on its surface as planned. District. ``You can just walk off and slip into a hole 10 to 15 feet deep.'' But the mine makes an ``excellent habitat for bats, which come out at night and like a dark, cool spot and constant temperatures,'' she said. Numbers are hard to come by, but experts said bats are fast disappearing because of land development which robs them of their homes and causes slight temperature fluctuations that can damage their delicate systems. ``They're real sensitive to disturbances,'' said Martin Esparza, lands and minerals assistant for the Forest Service. ``They're sensitive to light and fluctuations in temperatures. When land is cleared for development, that removes vegetation vegetation /veg·e·ta·tion/ (vej?e-ta´shun) any plantlike fungoid neoplasm or growth; a luxuriant fungus-like growth of pathologic tissue. and changes the temperatures which can effect the bats.'' The bats' disappearance is a concern not only for animal lovers. Experts said the loss of bats means more insects Insects See also ants; bees; biology; butterflies; zoology. acarophobia a fear of itching or of the mites or ticks that cause it. aeroscepsy, aeroscepsis perception by means of the air, said to be a function of the antennae of insects. and fewer pollinated plants. The Mexican free-tailed bat The Mexican Free-tailed Bat (Tadarida brasiliensis) is a medium sized bat. Their bodies are about 9 centimeters in length, and they weigh about 15 grams. Their ears are wide and set apart to help them find prey with echolocation. , which weighs about 12 grams, can eat its weight in insects. During an average night, the critters consume 250,000 pounds of insects. ``There's a definite economic impact and humans can care less about anything unless it impacts their wallets,'' said Brian Keeley, a biologist with Bat Conservation In Europe all bat species are protected, and in particular, bats and bat roosts are legally protected from disturbance. It is also illegal to capture or kill bats without a licence and a reason for that action. International, an Austin, Texas-based organization that seeks to study and protect the animals. There are nearly 1,000 different species of bats throughout the world, Keeley said. Twenty-three species make their home in California California (kăl'ĭfôr`nyə), most populous state in the United States, located in the Far West; bordered by Oregon (N), Nevada and, across the Colorado River, Arizona (E), Mexico (S), and the Pacific Ocean (W). , including the Mexican Mexican named after or originating in Mexico. Mexican axolotl see ambystomamexicanum. Mexican beaded lizard (Heloderma horridum free-tailed and brown bats. Many prefer to live in large structures, such as barns, houses, even poles and trees. Five years ago, forest officials placed bat houses in some trees but the dwellings failed to attract any occupants. Forest officials hope their new experiment will succeed and people become sensitive to the plight of the animals. ``Bats are an up and coming field,'' Mehaffie said. ``People are taking notice.'' CAPTION(S): 3 Photos Photo: (1--color) U.S. Forest Service worker Martin Espa rza inspects a mine opening to be gated off for bat protection in the Angeles National Forest. (2--color) Esparza checks the opening for traces of bats. (3--color) Esparza peers into one of two entrances to the old Black Cargo mine, slated for a bat haven. Shaun Dyer/Special to the Daily News |
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