Common pipistrelle bat for Bat Appreciation Month
© Mario Cea Sanchez/Minden Picture
Fly by night. A species worth defending
Some folks are quick to dismiss bats as simply ‘scary’ (and the association with Halloween doesn’t help things). But during Bat Appreciation Month, consider their valuable contributions to the ecosystem. Bats around the world help to control bug populations (including agricultural pests), pollinate important plants, and disperse seeds–helping to regenerate lands that have been overharvested or otherwise damaged. In fact, what’s truly scary is how much we’d miss bats if they were gone. In North America, a disease called white-nose syndrome has killed millions of bats since it was identified in 2006–and scientists are working hard to find a way to help bats recover. One easy way to help bats is to build or buy a bat box for your property and provide them with a safe space to roost.
Related Images
Cheetah in morning rain, Ndutu Plains, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania
Indian star tortoise, Sri Lanka
Wheat field in Ukraine
Hay bales in a field in Jutland, Denmark
A coyote in Banff, Alberta, Canada
Gelada monkeys in Simien Mountains National Park, northern Ethiopia
American bison in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
A mother cheetah and her cubs in the Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
Bing Today Images
