The members of Cub Scout Pack 44 have gone absolutely ‘batty? over their community service project – they are building 70 bat houses to be distributed around the Oxford area as an alternative means of combating the West Nile Virus.
‘One bat can eat like 1,200 bugs a night, and that includes mosquitos,? said Pack Chaplain Orlando Campagiorni. ‘This means we can help combat the West Nile Virus by using a conservation effort.?
The idea began with Cub Master Warren Morski telling Campagiorni about a similar project done by a boy scout. Campagiorni grabbed a hold of the idea and expanded it for the whole pack.
‘I don’t think we’ve done anything of this scale before,? he added.
By researching and then building the houses, the cub scouts are gaining knowledge and earning a sense of accomplishment. Distributing the houses in a conservation effort allows them to perform an important community service.
‘This really is giving something back to the community,? said Campagiorni, ‘especially since we’re always asking for others to support us.?
Pack 44 would like to distribute the bat houses throughout the Oxford area. They are asking for any interested village, township, church or business officials to please first visit the website www.batconservation.org for more information on the houses, and then to contact Pack Liaison Adam Westmoreland at 248-969-9325 or adam@elmothumm.com.
‘There are specific requirements for where the houses can be placed,? said Campagiorni, ‘so we want people to make sure they have a good location. We’d really like to get them in the parks and such.?
Cub Scout Pack 44 also would like to thank the following companies for donating the materials used in the bat houses: James Lumber, Oxford Ace Hardware, James Reis Company, Lake Orion Lumber and ACO Hardware Rochester Hills.