Hobbies And Interests
Fertilizer
Bat guano is rich with nitrates and phosphorous, making it an effective fertilizer. Farmers have been using bat guano for hundreds of years with success. Although it may sound unpleasant, guano is perfectly safe to use as a fertilizer and provides many benefits to plants, including greater health and faster growth. Bat guano can be used as a soil enricher or a top layer, or it can be made into tea and used in watering.
Gunpowder
Although bat guano is not, and never has been, used for gunpowder commercially, a story exists of how Civil War soldiers resorted to using guano to create gunpowder after supplies ran out. This unusual event supposedly occurred at the Longhorn Cave near Burnet, Texas. They used guano because it contains potassium nitrate, which is an essential ingredient in gunpowder. Although this anecdote is plausible, it is unclear whether it is historical fact or a tall tale.
Mascara
In the past, certain makeup companies alleged their competitors were using guano in their mascara. This caused quite a stir among women, many of whom quickly changed makeup brands. Although these claims proved false, the rumors still persist. This smear campaign was quite effective, demonstrating just how repulsive most people find bat guano. Interestingly, this modern development has caused some to wrongly assume that bat guano was a cosmetic ingredient used by the ancients.
Health Risks
Regardless of any potential usefulness, bat guano is extremely hazardous to human health. Long-term use or high exposure to it can cause illness and respiratory difficulties. As such, bat guano is unlikely to become a common household product. It may grace the soil of a few gardens, but beyond that should not be handled.