Bats are intelligent, unique mammals facing multiple threats of ignorance, suspicion, poisoning, roost destruction, habitat loss, and over-exploitation. Bats are the only true flying mammal and are unquestioned champions of aeronautics … our own distant relative, the bones of a bat’s wings are essentially the same design as those in human arms and hands (having a thumb and four fingers). The brain of a “flying fox” bat has more in common with a primate than a rodent.

Bats seem to have a bad rap among many people, but are very important members of our ecosystem.

There are many myths about bats, so let’s dispel some of them to start:

♦Bats are not rodents or flying mice and are not genetically related to mice. Bats are not blind. They have eyesight as well as a sonar system that allows them to navigate by detecting sound waves inthe dark to avoid collisions and to find flying insects.

♦Bats don’t hunt human beings to suck their blood. Most bats avoid people. Only three of the world’s more than 1,100 species of bats are classified as vampire bats, and these live in tropical areas of Latin America. They are small, do not suck blood and do not target humans.

About 70 percent of bats eat insects. Most bats in the US are insect eaters. Others eat fruit, nectar and pollen. A few bat species eat fish and frogs. Texas is home to 32 of the 47 species of bats that inhabit the U.S.

The risk of catching rabies from a bat is minimal. Less than 0.5 percent of bats contract rabies, although they can carry the rabies virus just as other mammals do. However, you should not touch bats because they are wild animals that may bite in self-defense and fear. Bats on the ground are more likely to be sick.

Bats are not pests that should be killed. Bats eat large quantities of insects such as mosquitoes, flies, cockroaches and agricultural pests. Some species pollinate flowers, trees, cacti and crops, while others spread seeds to grow new plants. Some seeds won’t sprout unless they have been digested by a bat.

Nitrogen-rich bat guano is used as fertilizer. Scientists have developed important medications while using bats in research.

Many, but not all, bats roost in caves. Among the places where others roost: inside buildings, under bridges, under football stadium bleachers, inside parking garages, in abandoned mines and in trees. Some even use bat houses that people have built in hopes of attracting bats to control insects. Although bats get more respect these days than they did 10 to 25 years ago, all is not rosy in the bat cave, particularly in states north and east of Texas. A mysterious and devastating fungal disease called white nose syndrome has killed more than a million since the disease was discovered in 2006 in New York.

White nose syndrome, WNS, affected bats often have white fungus on their muzzles and other parts oftheir bodies, according to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. They also exhibit odd behavior, such as flying during the day. Scientists haven’t determined how the disease is transmitted or how to control it. And since it appears to be spreading quickly across the nation, restrictions have been placed on caves in many areas, and some have been closed to public entry.

The Mexican free-tailed bat (Tadarida brasiliensis) has been designated as the Texas State Flying Mammal. They live in caves in the southern US, Central and South America. Their colonies are the largest congregations of mammals in the world. The largest colony in the world is found near San Antonio. It has nearly 20 million bats, which eat around 250 tons of insects per night! Bat flights from this cave may travel hundreds of miles and fly to an altitude of 10,000 feet to feed on insects at night.

Over 500 plant species rely on bats to pollinate their flowers, including species of mango, banana, durian, guava and agave (used to make tequila). So, next time you drink some tequila or eat a mango, say thanks to the bats! The pollination of plants by bats is called chiropterophily. Plants pollinated by bats often have pale nocturnal flowers (in contrast, bees are mostly attracted to bright, daytime flowers). These flowers are often large and bell shaped, and some bats have evolved specifically to reach the nectar at the bottom of them.

Learn more about the amazing bats at: www.batcon.org, the web site for Bat Conservation International.