"We are losing our attitude of wonder, of contemplation, of listening to creation and thus we no longer manage to interpret within it what Benedict XVI calls 'the rhythm of the love-story between God and man.'"
+ Pope Francis
Support your local bats and devils
No, this isn’t a misplaced Halloween post. News about two not-well-loved critters—bats and
First, the bats. A study of the economic impact of bats has shown that losses of these only true flying mammals could cost agriculture in
"Without bats, crop yields are affected. Pesticide applications go up. Even if our estimates were quartered, they clearly show how bats have enormous potential to influence the economics of agriculture and forestry."
According to the researchers, a single colony of 150 big brown bats in
eat nearly 1.3 million insects a year -- insects that could potentially be damaging to crops. Indiana
The LA Times reports that, on another continent, support has been building for a similarly unloved mammal.
Unlike the bats, the devils appear to have no direct economic value, other than the Australian self-identification with independence and strength. Still, it’s heartening to know that, for whatever reasons, the people of
If nothing else, these two stories remind us that little in God’s created order is disposable. The existence of a diverse web by biology—known as biodiversity—is not here by chance. Every species and creature has value, even if, like the Tasmanian devils, there may be no economic study to support their existence.
And so we wish the scientists and researchers well in their efforts to save these creatures. They should be in our prayers. Moreover, it would be nice if we in