VOA标准英语2011--Bat Populations Still in Decline

Bat Populations Still in Decline

Bats are an amazingly diverse group of flying mammals that can be found in virtually every corner of the world. Because they're mostly nocturnal and a few types feed on animal blood, bats have acquired a rather dark reputation, linked in legends to witchcraft¹ and the occult.
But most bats are harmless fruit or insect-eaters, and in North America alone, they save the farm economy billions of dollars annually² by controlling destructive pests and pollinating crops.
Still, bat populations have been declining rapidly for years, due to rampant³ disease and human encroachment⁴ on their habitats. Our reporter introduces us to one woman in the Washington area who is working to improve public understanding of bats, and doing what she can to help them survive.
As sunlight fades from the evening sky, Leslie Sturges checks on a colony of bats she has been monitoring.
The bats gather at the portals of their summer homes - these wooden bat boxes hung on a pole in a suburban⁵ park.
One by one, the small brown bats take flight into darkness, hunting for insects and small bugs⁶.
But Sturges says she's concerned that her count reveals only half the number of bats as last year. She hopes some have made an early return to the cave where they hibernate⁷ in winter.
“You know my hope is that a lot of the colony already moved out," said Sturges. "But I can’t be that optimistic as far as bats are concerned in the Mid-Atlantic."
Sturges is director of a conservation group called Bat World NOVA. She cares for injured and orphaned⁸ bats here in her basement. Then she releases them back to the wild.
Bat populations are declining worldwide, mostly because of habitat destruction and overuse of pesticides⁹. Sturges says common fears that bats will fly into your hair, or that all bats carry the deadly rabies virus also contribute to human intolerance of bat populations.
“A lot of people refer to bats as filthy," she said. "But they aren’t. They groom¹⁰ like cats and dogs do. They use these toes back here to actually comb their fur out.”
Sturges also teaches the importance of bats at nature centers and in schools. Her goal is to promote their protection and conservation by stressing the positive things bats contribute to the environment.
“One of the things they contribute, well around here in North America, is pest control for plant-eating insects," said Sturges. "So anyone who grows anything is getting an assist from bats.”
Contrary to popular belief, bats are not blind. Their eyesight is actually pretty good. But at night they navigate¹¹ in flight using a system called echo-location . They use their sensitive ears to listen for objects and bugs - that reflect back their high-pitched chirps¹² - which we can hear with this device.
“That’s his echo-location call coming through"
Sturges and her assistant, Sherry Keen, are caring for about thirty orphaned, injured, and sick bats this summer.
And these are all this year’s orphans¹³.
When they start to feel well enough to fly, she moves them to this screened pen in her backyard so they can develop their flight skills.
She plans to release "Shaggy", a red bat, tonight.
“He came in as an older juvenile," she said. "And he has just been able to exhibit really good flight skills and…”
Sturges wants to make sure he has a good meal before his release.
Later, as the sun sets, it's time for the bat to return to the wild.
“Bye, Shags, be good out there," said Sturges.
But “Shags” doesn’t want to leave. He would rather sleep after a big meal.
“So I think what I am going to do is put him back in and let him nap for an hour and I am going to try and release him later on tonight" said Sturges. "Because he has to go. He can’t live here.”
Sturges says "Shaggy's" chances of survival are good. Red bats are common in the area. One last bat nap in captivity¹⁴ and then it’s off again into the wild.

1 witchcraft   

n.魔法，巫术

参考例句：

• The woman practising witchcraft claimed that she could conjure up the spirits of the dead.那个女巫说她能用魔法召唤亡灵。
• All these things that you call witchcraft are capable of a natural explanation.被你们统统叫做巫术的那些东西都可以得到合情合理的解释。

2 annually   

adv.一年一次，每年

参考例句：

• Many migratory birds visit this lake annually.许多候鸟每年到这个湖上作短期逗留。
• They celebrate their wedding anniversary annually.他们每年庆祝一番结婚纪念日。

3 rampant   

adj.(植物)蔓生的；狂暴的，无约束的

参考例句：

• Sickness was rampant in the area.该地区疾病蔓延。
• You cannot allow children to rampant through the museum.你不能任由小孩子在博物馆里乱跑。

4 encroachment   

n.侵入，蚕食

参考例句：

• I resent the encroachment on my time.我讨厌别人侵占我的时间。
• The eagle broke away and defiantly continued its encroachment.此时雕挣脱开对方，继续强行入侵。

5 suburban   

adj.城郊的，在郊区的

参考例句：

• Suburban shopping centers were springing up all over America. 效区的商业中心在美国如雨后春笋般地兴起。
• There's a lot of good things about suburban living.郊区生活是有许多优点。

6 bugs   

adj.疯狂的，发疯的n.窃听器( bug的名词复数 )；病菌；虫子；[计算机]（制作软件程序所产生的意料不到的）错误

参考例句：

• All programs have bugs and need endless refinement. 所有的程序都有漏洞，都需要不断改进。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The sacks of rice were swarming with bugs. 一袋袋的米里长满了虫子。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 hibernate   

v.冬眠，蛰伏

参考例句：

• Bears often hibernate in caves.熊常在山洞里冬眠。
• Some warm-blooded animals do not need to hibernate.一些温血动物不需要冬眠。

8 orphaned   

[计][修]孤立

参考例句：

• Orphaned children were consigned to institutions. 孤儿都打发到了福利院。
• He was orphaned at an early age. 他幼年时便成了孤儿。

9 pesticides   

n.杀虫剂( pesticide的名词复数 )；除害药物

参考例句：

• vegetables grown without the use of pesticides 未用杀虫剂种植的蔬菜
• There is a lot of concern over the amount of herbicides and pesticides used in farming. 人们对农业上灭草剂和杀虫剂的用量非常担忧。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 groom   

vt.给（马、狗等）梳毛，照料，使...整洁

参考例句：

• His father was a groom.他父亲曾是个马夫。
• George was already being groomed for the top job.为承担这份高级工作，乔治已在接受专门的培训。

11 navigate   

v.航行，飞行；导航，领航

参考例句：

• He was the first man to navigate the Atlantic by air.他是第一个飞越大西洋的人。
• Such boats can navigate on the Nile.这种船可以在尼罗河上航行。

12 chirps   

鸟叫，虫鸣( chirp的第三人称单数 )； 啾； 啾啾

参考例句：

• The linnet chirps her vernal song. 红雀吱喳鸣叫着她春天的歌。
• She heard nothing but the chirps and whirrs of insects. 除了虫的鸣叫声外，她什么也没听见。

13 orphans   

孤儿( orphan的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The poor orphans were kept on short commons. 贫苦的孤儿们吃不饱饭。
• Their uncle was declared guardian to the orphans. 这些孤儿的叔父成为他们的监护人。

14 captivity   

n.囚禁；被俘；束缚

参考例句：

• A zoo is a place where live animals are kept in captivity for the public to see.动物园是圈养动物以供公众观看的场所。
• He was held in captivity for three years.他被囚禁叁年。