Habitat For Bats

Bats can be found in almost every country in the world and provide vital services for their ecosystem from pollinating plants, acting as nature’s pest controllers, and fertilizing soil by providing rich nutrients in their poop, called guano. The guano is so rich that up until about a century ago, it was harvested as a natural resource in the United States, and the practice continues now in some other countries.

There are 1100 species of bats, ranging in size from weighing less than a penny right on up to those with a six foot wingspan, and can be credited with protecting our agricultural crops by eating the many pests that can threaten our food supply. Often misunderstood due to their villainous portrayal in movies, there are only a few species of bats that are considered carnivorous, and because bats are nocturnal, it is relatively rare that you will actually see one. With the exception of four species located in specific areas of the United States, all bats in North America are insectivorous, that is, they feed on insects.

Despite being such a key component to the ecosystem, bat habitat is declining rapidly. With a vanishing habitat, so too will the population of these machines of nature. Bats in the wild normally live fifteen to twenty years but reproduce slowly and they need cool dark sheltered places to live, breed, and hibernate.

You can help by installing a bat habitat on your farm, ranch or open land. Learn more about bats and bat habitats by clicking on the resource link below.



LINKS
Bat Conservation International www.batcon.org

Originally published June 2010