Bats Every Gardeners Best Friend, Part 2

Reader Contribution by Erik Thiel
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Regardless, efforts are being made to improve guano mining. “There is some cases where we are trying to work with cave owners on guano mining,” said Waldien. “But, in general, there are areas we are just emerging into.” Bracken Cave in Texas is home to the world’s largest Mexican free-tailed bat colony and is owned by BCI. All guano mining there has stopped. “Now BCI is trying to engage in guano mining companies,” said Waldien. “From those that are identifying caves and harvesting it to the wholesale and retail outlets, to develop a more bat-friendly approach to this.”

One way for bat guano to remain a renewable resource may be through purchasing it from reputable sources. “I would really discourage people from going on Craigslist and buying it there,” said Kocer. “At least if you’re going through [reputable] companies, they’ve been doing it, they’ve got caves. They’re probably not in the northeast.” One company who has been in the guano business for over 25 years is Sunleaves. “We purchase our guano by the container,” said Tony Bayt, distribution manager at Sunleaves, in an e-mail. “It’s mined and screened in an ecologically-conscious manner by licensed mining companies and shipped to us in bulk.” Sunleaves receives their guano from all around the world. Due to proprietary issues, the cave locations are kept private. “Our supply chains have remained open and we’ve been in the position to fulfill our customers’ needs,” said Bayt. And organic gardeners do need their share of guano. Granular forms of bat guano can be purchased in 125 pound and 375 pound, 55 gallon barrels, according to Bayt.

Other than the risk factors of inappropriate guano mining, bat guano alone may pose potential risks to miners or gardeners. One fungal pathogen bats are known to transmit is Histoplasma capsulatum, which causes histoplasmosis in humans, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). People get histoplasmosis from breathing in fungal spores and while some people may not get sick, other people may experience pneumonia-like effects. “All of our production clerks are respirator-certified to handle the guano,” said Bayt. “We have never had such an occurrence in our company history.”

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