Bats
The days are getting shorter and the nights a little crisper. Birds have begun their flight southward and tree tips are starting to turn shades of res. Autumn arrives on September 21, and with fall comes thoughts of crisp apples, carved pumpkins and the famed creatures of the night and Halloween lore -- bats.

Bats, over the ages, have gotten a bad rap. there is a fog of superstition, folklore and misinformation surrounding these winged mammals. Further blackened by Halloween, haunted houses and horror movies, the bat has become a creature, erroneously, to fear rather than admire. They are falsely accused of purposely entangling themselves in ladies' hair, confused with the fictitious, bloodsucking vampire and attacking people in their sleep.

When you add it all up, bats are some of the most maligned creatures around and although you may not want bats in your belfry, we definitely need bats in our environment. today, through natural history exhibits at local museums, environmental education classes, image enhancing children's books like Sellaluna and increased understanding of their environmental importance, the bat's status in the ecological scheme of things has been greatly improved. Things are looking up for bats and rightly so!

 

Get The "BAT" Facts

Connecticut bats are furred, warm-blooded mammals with body lengths of 3-6" and wingspans ranging from 8-16". Bats have a fine, high-pitched squeak that is inaudible to many human ears. Little brown bats have the weight of a nickel, 1/4-1.8 oz. "blind as a bat" is an old wives' take. bats can see quite well. There are nearly 1,000 species of bats worldwide, making up 1/4 of all mammal species. Just 10 small bats will consume over 1 million insects during an average summer. To catch insects, bats have developed a type of sonar to locate even the tiniest of insects in the dark of night. Bats are not" swooping down" on humans at night, as often believed. They are merely going after the insects that people attract. Bat's speed of flight can exceed 40 miles per hour. Bats are most achieve 1 hour after sunset and 1 hour before sunrise. Bats can fly at 3 weeks of age and can live up to 20 years or more!

Nature's Most Effective Insecticide
Without these creatures of the night, it would be nearly impossible for humans to go outside during the day. Bats are Mother Nature's most effective insect control mechanism. For example, a single little brown bat, one of the most abundant and widespread bats in north Americas, can eat 3,000 to 7,000 mosquitoes each night. That's a pretty effective insecticide, especially when you consider that it doesn't poison other creatures or make holes in the ozone layer!

A nocturnal mammal, the bat eats when the insects are out, in contrast to birds, which eat during the day. some bat species consume half their weight in a night, sometimes as many as 600 or more gnat-sized insects an hour.

Unlike any other mammals, bats can fly. Their "hand" and forearm bones are similar to those found in other mammals but they are adapted to accommodate the bat's continuous wing membranes. This thin, double layer of skin encloses its somewhat elongated forearm; long, tapered fingers; and hind limbs.

A bat's fingers have great dexterity, so they can manipulate the wings to form umbrella shapes that trap insects, as well as hover in midair like hummingbirds. In all species of bats, the clawlike thumbs of their extraordinary hands remain free outside the wing. Bats use this fine tool for clinging to the walls of caves, hanging from tree branches and manipulating food and other objects.

Dispelling the Myths
Contrary to the popular myth, bats have good eyesight and rely on vision for long-distance orientation. For short-distance navigation and catching food at night, they use "echolocation." This sonar system helps bats, like dolphins, locate targets and background objects form the echoes of ultrasonic sounds. These ultrasonic sounds are given slowly when a bat is foraging and quicken as a bat pursues and captures an insect. detection, pursuit and capture of an insect takes about one second.

Bats have no trouble distinguishing their prey for human hair and more that likely, they swoop down around humans when they pick up the number of insects that surround them. Bats will avoid humans because their tracking system tells them that they are too big to be a morsel of food!

Worldwide, there are nearly one thousand species of bats that come in an amazing variety of appearances. Bats can be found everywhere in the world except in the most extreme desert an polar regions. The big-eyed, winsome expressions of some bats often surprise oppose who would never have thought that a bat could be attractive or even cute.

Conserving Bats in Connecticut
Seven species of bats can be found in Connecticut. The two most common bats in the state are the little brown bat and the big brown bat. The remaining species are less common and seldom seen. Two additional species historically occurred in Connecticut -- the federally endangered Indiana myotis and the eastern small-footed bat. no confirmed sightings of these tow bats have been recorded her in several decades. Typically bats are very loyal to their birthplaces and hibernating sites and are in temperate regions, cold winters force bats to migrate.

Conservation of bats is becoming a growing activity because bat populations are declining worldwide at an alarming rate due to three causes:

1. human misunderstanding and destruction out of fear

2. increased use of pesticides

3. loss of habitat

Increased education and improved environmental practices will improve the chances of survival for bats. Also, summer housing for bats can help offset the loss of habitat. making and putting up bat houses gives you the opportunity to help Connecticut bats directly. Connecticut Audubon Society and may other nature organizations can provide you with information on how to build or where to buy a bat house.

In the news recently are reports of rabies found in bats. However, the instance of the disease in bats in no higher frequency than that seen in many other animals. According to Jenny Dickson, CT D.E.P. Wildlife Biologist, the statistics for those bats tested brought in and tested for rabies has remained low for many years. "Of the bats we receive for testing, only 3 to 5% have contracted the disease and for the total population of bats in Connecticut, that is a very low percent and a stable statistic for several years. There has been no significant change or increase in rabies."

As a precaution, Ms. Dickinson recommends that pet owners be sure that their animals have been regularly vaccinated, especially cats who are more likely to come in contact with bats. "If you find a baton the ground, which is not where bats are typically found, it is best to leave it alone or call your local Health Department or Animal Control Officer," advises Ms. Dickson.

Learn More About Bats
Look to the skies on 1 hour before sunrise and one hour after sunset to see the fluttering display of bats rounding up their insect prey. once you understand and appreciate these remarkable creatures of the dark, bats can be viewed as allies and an integral part of our natural wold. For an educationally en;lightening and fun experience to learn more about the fascinating world of bats, you can visit the following places this fall:

1. Connecticut Audubon Birdcraft Museum:
   "Creatures of the Night": a natural history interactive exhibit opening in October (put link here to program guide).

2. Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk:
   "Masters of the Night: The True Story of Bats" - Exhibit through January 4, 1998. call 203-852-0700

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