Sustainability Advocate Wants to Help Bats Survive
Victor Alfieri working to protect local bat population. Alfieri, a self-taught sustainability expert, fought for years to keep chickens in his backyard.
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Victor Alfieri is working to ensure the survival of local bats because of the important role he says they play in the local ecosystem.
Alfieri is a local sustainability advocate. He successfully fought and won a court case to keep hens on his property. He maintains a website and gives talks regularly on sustainability topics and gardening.
Alfieri said local bats are important step in eliminating the need to spray pesticides.
“Bats are an organic solution to insects,” Alfieri said. “As we start losing bats, in turn, we’re going to have more insects. Unless we start taking care of these beautiful creatures, we’re going to have to start spraying even more.”
Alfieri said bats are suffering from a condition known as white nose syndrome. The condition affects bats’ nervous systems. The disease has reportedly killed more than 1 million bats since it was discovered in 2006.
“This is based on health and sustainability,” he said. “We have to get away from using chemicals and start thinking about the future of the land we’re living on.”
Alfieri wants to install bat houses at the North end of Packanack Lake and at Kilroy Field. Alfieri wants bats to inhabit the houses and study them. He wants to install observation towers and observe the animals’ movements too.
“For us to protect our bats we have to determine what kind of habitat they like,” Alfieri said. “We need to understand what they need and what the best way is to protect them.”
Alfieri is looking for volunteers to help him get the project started. Alfieri is also spearheading the Wayne Community Garden project.
“I want to focus on community and bringing people together,” Alfieri said.
— Have a question or news tip? Contact editor Daniel Hubbard at Daniel.Hubbard@patch.com or find us on Facebook and Twitter. For news straight to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.
Victor Alfieri
3:58 pm on Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Wayne Bat Conservation Project
http://www.woodlotfarms.com/Bat_Conservation_Project.html
http://www.woodlotfarms.com/Section_9.html
Victor Alfieri
4:10 pm on Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Project Presentation
A presentation for this project will be held by project founder Victor Alfieri on Saturday February 23rd 2013 starting at 10:30am -12pm. Presentation will cover our local bats, the harsh effects of pesticides, bat project how and why and ending with Q & A. Open to all. Please bring a friend.
Location Main Library, 461 Valley Road, Wayne New Jersey.
Any Questions: wbcp@woodlotfarms.com
Heidi Stankavish
2:31 pm on Thursday, February 7, 2013
Hi Victor,
I met you back in July in Bloomfield,Still hoping they legalize my chickens.But on a side note I also cave and have friends that have worked and assisted with bat research (WNS in particular) give me a hollar if they may be of any help to you and I'll get you their contact info. Thanks!
Heidi
Victor Alfieri
4:10 pm on Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Sustainable Wayne NEEDS YOUR HELP!
Bat conservation is a green project and counts towards
our local efforts to get Wayne NJ certified points
for "Sustainable Jersey" and will enable our town to
apply for state grants that will further our local health
and sustainable efforts.
If you, your school, or organization would be interested
in donating time or money to support this project
please contact: Project founder, Victor Alfieri
E-mail @ editor@woodlotfarms.com
or call 201-220-4862
Scondo
2:31 pm on Thursday, February 7, 2013
There are a couple of errors present in the article. White Nose Syndrome is caused by a fungus that can grow at low temperatures. The fungal infection causes the bat to come out of hibernation as it causes a loss of body fat, The bat comes out seeking to replenish fat stores in the dead of winter, finds no food and exhaust itself further and dies. Mortality rates in some areas have been 100% of the population of bats. The loss of bat population alloows for increases in insect borne disease, such as enchephalitis and west nile and also allows for addied insect damage to crop. The spread has been rapid and has now reached bat populations in the south and west. Far more than 1 million bats have dies. People are urged to stay out of bat habitate to prevent spread of the fungus. This story has been drilled into those who are involved in the outdoor community, but unfortuneately it has not reached general circulation or understanding. This is an environmental disaster beyond anything that we have ever seen before because they are a vital species. Good work Victor.
Victor Alfieri
3:05 pm on Thursday, February 7, 2013
Thanks Scondo,
I have received some great e-mails and phone calls. Everyone seems to be very excited about this project. Reach out to me if you would like to help.
Joy
2:31 pm on Thursday, February 7, 2013
Mosquitos are becoming resistant to many of the pesticides being used . Pesticides as it is are harmful to are health. Why do so many children have asthma ? Mosquitos carry many infectious diseases like west Nile . Every year the cases of people infected with this and dying have increased . The bat population has been decreasing by the millions ! We need to take a more natural approach to prevent the spread of west Nile , we need to increase the bat population !
Victor Alfieri
3:05 pm on Thursday, February 7, 2013
Thank you Joy......Asthma is linked to pesticides.
We have got to come together as a community and start looking for organic solutions.
http://www.beyondpesticides.org/infoservices/pesticidesandyou/Summer%2005/asthma%20article.pdf
Wayne's World
4:39 pm on Thursday, February 7, 2013
Real sustainability on a global scale will only be possible by a reduction of the human population probably by about half. Given that we are closing in on 9 billion inhabitants on a planet that probably comfortably sustains about 4-4.5 billion, I'd say we're pretty much doomed. Irrespective of global warming and whatever your politics are on that, the earth's resources are being depleted at an incredible rate. It's pretty much guaranteed to lead to total environmental collpase, possibly within a generation, and it has to do with so much more than global warming. I just hope I kick it before it happens.
We've all read about the importance of bats, though I suspect the residents near Packanack or Tom's Lake will be about as enthusiastic about a bat population in their backyards as Mr. Alfieri's neighbors are with his chicken farm.
Victor Alfieri
2:07 pm on Friday, February 8, 2013
WW...some people are going to sit around and wait for the so called total environmental collapse and some people are going to try to doing something about it.
I think it's pretty clear were each of us stand.
maryanne
6:39 pm on Thursday, February 7, 2013
Packanack has bats.
Victor Alfieri
2:07 pm on Friday, February 8, 2013
Yes Maryanne,
Packanack has many bats and we want them to stay and be happy and healthy.
That is why this project is so important.
Joe videodummy
8:21 pm on Thursday, February 7, 2013
Does building a bat house attract bats ? I can understand that bats may seek new shelter when their current one is demolished, over populated, or taken over by other animals, bees etc. but other than a seeking a new fresh water source, mosquitos and other insects, bats don't migrate like birds do they ?
Do I need to buy bats ? and if so, where do I buy them ?
Victor Alfieri
2:07 pm on Friday, February 8, 2013
Yes bat house attract bats. It's not ready a migration. They more into local caves and hollowed out trees for the winter in places like high mountain and harriman state park.
No, you do not need to buy bats. In the spring, summer, and fall they are all around us. The question is for how much longer?
Resident Kelly
2:07 pm on Friday, February 8, 2013
This will be a fun and interesting project. We need to find more organic solutions. I often see the ad in the paper about when the town will be spraying. I am appalled that we are forced to breathe in those toxins. We have no choice. The effects these pesticides has on us, our children and our pets is monumental. Until we can come up with alternate methods of pest control, i.e. Bats, we continue to be victims. The pesticides being sprayed have known carcinogens in them that can cause cancer. Why do we accept this? We need to fight back as a community. We need to say enough.
Joe videodummy
12:07 am on Saturday, February 9, 2013
Well, it's certain that pesticides and chemicals that harm bats are also harming humans, since bats are mammals "like us". I think they're the only flying mammal as well.
The advantage to Victor's proposal is a no brainer. Since there are no licensed chemicals to kill bats in the United States, it makes it vitally important to establish a healthy bat population, and by doing so, it gives the public humane reasons to ban all chemicals and pesticides that can destroy the bat species.
The Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey claims their are 9 species of bats currently flying around our state, some are already on the federal and state endangered species list.
The town must have some type of regulations regarding 'pole set-backs' height requirements and load specifications...permit fees, EPA waivers etc.
The mere thought of constructing a bat pole in "Gotham Towne" should spark an immediate council meeting out of fear of exposing the dark influences bat's have had over the foreboding metropolis communities thorough-out our history.
Designmind
1:06 pm on Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Hello Victor,
The bat houses are a great idea but what our bat populations desperately need is their native habitat. Specific Trees such as Shagbark Hickory and White Oak are preferred by our native bat populations and should be planted when folks are considering their next landscape project. Also, dead trees or snags should be left up where they pose little threat to the public, as they also provide excellent habitat.
Below is a helpful link from NJ Fish and Wildlife.
http://www.fws.gov/northeast/njfieldoffice/endangered/Ibat.html
See you at the next Sustainable Wayne Meeting.
Victor Alfieri
6:01 pm on Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Great info...Thank you.