bats have an evil nemesis: white-nose syndrome. That said, as with any wild animal, don't handle bats unless it's necessary. ( Watch celebrities Ben Affleck, Amy Adams, and Zack Snyder talk about why it's important to help bats.) Since sick bats are more likely to be caught, the percentage is likely lower in the overall bat population. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that of bats captured for testing, only 5 to 6 percent test positive for rabies. Unauthorized use is prohibited.īoth the Organization for Bat Conservation and the U.S. "They're so important economically to us, it's shocking," Mies said. Last, the Center for Biological Diversity credits bats with providing "nontoxic pest-control services totaling $3.7 billion to $53 billion per year," with each bat chowing down on a couple of thousand bugs every single night. (Related: " Beyond Bees: 4 Surprising Facts About Pollination.") Forest Service says that bats are responsible for the pollination of 300 fruits plus agave, which is used to make tequila. Like bees, bats are pollinators, Meis said, and the U.S. A 1999 study showed that 300 plants species rely on Old World fruit bats to spread, and these bats "have the potential to disperse seeds hundreds of kilometers."Įnjoy bananas? Avocados? Margaritas? Thank a bat. When fruit bats eat, the seeds are spread via guano, a spiffy word for bat poop. Mies doesn't mind if you think bats are blind or have hair fetishes, but "when people think that bats aren't worth anything, that's the biggest problem."įor instance, "bats are one of the key seed dispersers to regenerate a healthy rain forest," Mies said. "There's no bat that makes a nest," Mies added-and certainly not in your coiffure. (Related: " 7 Bug and Spider Myths Squashed.") So though it may appear the animals are swooping down on you, they're not. It might be the way bats fly that make them look like they're attacking your head.īats hang upside down from their roosts, so the small fliers need to drop down to "get some lift and start to flap," Mies said. (See "'Whispering' Bat Evolved to Trick Prey.") They're also sensory masters: The large ears of small bats help them echolocate, or use sound waves that bounce off objects like a natural sonar. This one is particularly untrue: Bigger bats "can see three times better than humans," Mies said. That enzyme is being used to develop anti-blood-clotting medication called. "They lick about a spoon's worth of blood, and have an anticlotting enzyme in their saliva that helps keep the blood flowing," he said. Vampire bats weigh only two ounces, and while these Central and South American natives have been known to bite people, they primarily feed on cattle in a way Mies compares to a mosquito. National Geographic caught up with Mies at the Orlando Science Center's Bats: Myths and Mysteries exhibit-which was supported by his organization-to debunk some of the most persistent bat legends. Vampire bats, for instance, will regurgitate blood for bats who didn't get to feed. They're actually altruistic, Mies said, and have been known to share food with other bats. ( Read more about efforts to better bats' reputations.) So in honor of National Bat Week, we're clearing up some myths about the world's only flying mammal.įor starters, bats are not nefarious creatures, as they're often portrayed around Halloween, said Rob Mies, executive director of the Michigan-based Organization for Bat Conservation. All Bats Sports Club events are inclusive.Bats tend to get off on the wrong wing with us humans. To become a member of BATS Sports Club Moreton Bay click here. hope to raise other BATS Sports Clubs in selected locations throughout Australia. Free local transport is available to those who need it. Also in 2022, we formed BATS Sports Club, Moreton Bay, the Inclusive Activities sub-branch that manages Inclusive Activities for those who reside in the Moreton Bay Region. Also being introduced in 2023 will be Deep Sea Fishing, Ten Pin Bowling and Social Events. Early in 2023 we will be introducing the sport of Hockey. In 2022 we have progressed our prototype Beeping Ball to the final stage and along with Beep Cricket, introduced 3 new sports, Football, Softball and Touch Football. Representatives from all three levels of Government, our local University USC, and various leaders from within the local community, came together to showcase community-inclusive activities. The 2021 launch of our Beeping Cricket Ball proved to be an incredibly special occasion for Blind Bats Inc. Feel free to go through each of the website pages and as you read each page, ask yourself if you would like to help us progress our objects and aims. Our website is designed to provide you with information about Blind Bats Inc and our inclusive activities.
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