 Fright-Night Creatures Not So Spooky After All October 30, 2002
photo by Howard Buffett The buzz on bats You've all heard tales of terror about the vampire bat: It soars, it swoops and bites the necks of people in dimly lit cobblestone streets. Not true. There is no proof of fatal bat attacks on humans. Yes, vampire bats do live on a diet exclusively of blood consumption, but they usually opt for animal targets. These bats have special adaptations that allow blood to flow, an adaptation that has medical doctors taking notice. Vampire bats have three active ingredients in their saliva to keep their prey's blood flowing. The first is an anticoagulant that keeps the blood from congealing. The second is a chemical that keeps red blood cells from sticking together. The third inhibits the constriction of veins under the wound. These naturally occurring chemicals, especially the anticoagulant, are now being used to develop medication for heart and stroke patients. The truth about tarantulas Tarantulas are known for their fur-covered bodies and venomous fangs. The menacing "tap, tap, tap, tap" that echoes as they scuttle around scares those in fear of the tarantula's deadly bite. But contrary to most Hollywood spider horror flicks, tarantula venom is not poisonous to humans. In fact, tarantulas are beneficial to the environment as species controllers by feasting on mice, crickets, moths and flies. Mad for maggots Maggots churn stomachs and are often a slimy ingredient associated with the classic witch's brew. Aside from this claim to fame, maggots serve some benefit. As decomposers, they break down rotting biomass, returning nutrients to the soil. Go, maggots, go! The dirt on toads Toads aren't only popular for their legs and eyeballs. They are incredibly sensitive to habitat changes and are excellent indicators of the health of an environment. When foreign chemicals are added to an ecosystem, toads are some of the first animals to suffer, so scientists study them for clues to environmental degradation. Also, toads are efficient pest controllers and a great alternative to using pesticides in the garden. They eat insects, slugs and snails. Observations on owls Just because owls can rotate their heads 270 degrees and fly silently after dark doesn't mean they are up to mischief. As nocturnal animals, owls are part of normal nightly predator-prey interaction. In doing so, owls contribute to pest control, eating mostly rodents and other small mammals. It's true, owls are intelligent birds and efficient hunters. But they will not haunt you with bad luck. While we love these animals for their numerous environmental benefits, Halloween wouldn't be as spooky without them.
Source of Story:
The World Wildlife Fund, known worldwide by its panda logo, leads international efforts to protect the diversity of life on earth. Now in its fourth decade, WWF works in more than 100 countries around the globe.
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