Man is very cleaver when it comes to computers and increasing our knowledge, making amazing break throughs in the medical field, and sending rockets to Mars. The two areas where we seem to make a lot of work for ourselves is, being able to handle social issues and the other one is, bats.
Bats bring disease, they smell, are noisy, spray people, stain roofs and consequently pollute water in tanks, strip trees bare, and we see everywhere a problem around schools and the possibility of affecting children’s health. Unfortunately we are intruding into their territory, and they into ours. Now they live in the centre of Mullumbimby.
We cull brumbies, crocs, kangaroos and foxes, why not bats? Why do we hesitate to combat the bat plague, is it too sensitive a subject in this delicate age? Are the CSIRO or other authorities looking for an answer, as we don’t seem to see much evidence, just silence on the issue. Maybe high frequency sound waves could be a solution.
We see much regulation and concentration on health issues in the media, but here is a blatant disregard for an obvious health risk in the centre of our very own community. Who are we going to put first, bats or people? I suggest the latter.
Terry Newling, Mullumbimby
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
