Bat Week! October 24-31, 2018

Bats are flying mammals and found in nearly every habitat throughout Ohio.  In fact, most bats live near humans without ever being detected. Of the over 1250 bat species worldwide, there are 13 species of bats recorded in Ohio.  The most commonly encountered species generally include the little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus) and big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus).  Bats are a rabies vector species, but it is very uncommon to encounter a rabid bat. (www.ohiowildlifecenter.org/help-wildlife/found-an-animal/helping-wildlife-bats/).

Bats are very important to the environment!  Bats feed one or two hours after sunset and also before sunrise.  In one night, a single bat can eat thousands of mosquitoes and other flying insects.  Multiply this number by number of bats in a colony, and the benefit to humans is enormous!  Not only do bats help slow the spread of disease by vector species like mosquitoes, but reducing pests also saves money.  Farmers can save money on pesticide use thanks to these natural pest predators, and that savings gets passed on to the consumer.

To learn more about bats and Bat Week, check out these bat conservation resources!

www.batweek.org

www.batcon.org

​wildlife.ohiodnr.gov/species-and-habitats/species-guide-index

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