Tag Archive for White Nose Syndrome

Hiking the Buggy Top Trail in Tennessee

What a perfect autumn day!  My friend, Amy, joined Adam and me for a hike on the Buggy Top Trail near Sewanee, Tennessee.  I hope you enjoy the following pictures of the fall foliage.  Also, there is something you can do to save the declining bat populations in America.  Read on!

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THE ROCKY TRAIL HEAD OF THE BUGGY TOP TRAIL

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FANTASTIC FALL FOLIAGE

Did you know the State of Tennesse has the most caves in the United States?

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AMY AND ADAM PEER INTO THE DEEP CAVE

Here is what YOU CAN DO to help save bats.  Many of these mammals live in caves.  Since 2007 to 2008, millions of insect-eating bats have died in 22 states across America.  They are dying from WHITE NOSE SYNDROME.  Caused by the evil bacteria, g. destructans, signs include white fungal growth on a bat’s muzzle or wing tissue.  They also exhibit abnormal hibernation behavior with this syndrome.  They begin to make day flights in the winter and this causes them to lose their protective winter fat stores, and then they die.  There are severe economic consequences to declining bat populations.  It is estimated that 40 to 50 billion dollars have been lost since this epidemic began.  This is because insect-eating bats devour pests that affect farmers crops.  Rangers at the South Cumberland State Park exhort hikers to stay out of caves.  They are worried that hikers are bringing in the deadly cause of the bats’ demise on their hiking boots.

What a treat it was to hike with my friend, Amy, who is an awesome naturalist.  She taught me that the plant below was WILD GINGER.  We also spotted tiny lizards on the hike, and she informed me the correct name of these lizards was ANOLES.

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WILD GINGER

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THE ROLLING LANDSCAPE OF TENNESSEE

Looking for a pretty place to hike?  Try the BUGGY TOP TRAIL in Tennesse!  Just stay out of the caves!