Beneficial Bats

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Bats are an important element of the ecosystem. They are excellent pollinators, feast on pesky mosquitoes and nocturnal insects, and provide a valuable fertilizer – bat guano. As mentioned, bats pollinate hundreds of varieties of plants, including agave, bananas and avocados and spread the seeds of cacao, figs, and nuts1. Nightly, bats eats thousands of nocturnal insects and mosquitoes often eating their body weight in prey. By doing so, bats help protect crops from insect pests and in doing so reduce the need for insecticide ($3.7 billion worth2), which reduces air and water pollution. Bats also serve as prey for owls, falcons, and weasels3, to name a few. Additionally, bat guano (bat poop) is a valuable fertilizer for both agricultural practices and cave organisms.
Help bats by planting a bat garden and installing a bat house. Bat gardens include flowers that open late afternoon and evening, have white, purple or green flowers, and have a musty odor4. Some flowers to consider planting in your bat garden include four o’clocks, phlox, evening primrose, goldenrod, moonflowers, and night flowering catchfly.
Building a bat house is simple and easy. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources provides simple directions for construction of a bat house5. Do not be afraid to build a bat house because of rabies. Bats are known to carry rabies. However, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP), most bats do not have rabies6. The CDCP warms to stay away from bats that are out during the day and that can’t fly as these are usually signs of a sick bat7.
All and all bats are beneficial. Invite these extraordinary creatures into your yard and reap the benefits of reduced mosquito and insect populations and increased plant pollination.
Interesting Facts about Bats8:
  • 1,300 species worldwide
  • Only flying mammal
  • Fly 60 miles per hour
  • Most only birth one pup per year (A baby bat is called a pup.)
  • 13 species of US bats are endangered
  • Long-life – 20 to 30 years in the wild
  • Oldest bat – 41-years-old
  • Groom themselves like cats
References:
1, 8 USDOI, n.d., 13 Facts about bats, www.doi.gov
2, 3 NPS, 2016, Benefits of Bats, www.nps.gov
4 Sandeno, Cynthia M., 2014, Bats – Heroes of the Night, National Forest Service, www.recreation.gov
5 Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, n.d., Build a Bat House, http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/wildlifehabitat/bathouse.html  
6, 7 CDCP, 2011, Bats and Rabies: Learning about bats and rabies, www.cdc.gov

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