Basically bats . . .?

Yes, bats are one of nature's most beneficial, harmless, and intriguing mammals. There are nearly 1,000 kinds of bats, comprising nearly a fourth of all mammal species.

In temperate areas, most bats eat insects, providing efficient insect control. Bats out-perform all other predators of night-flying insects. A single big brown bat can protect crops from at least 120 thousand corn rootworms in just one summer.

Tropical world bats eat everything from fruits to spices. With their eating activities, bats also pollinate cash crops and spread seeds which reforest areas cleared by lumber operations and fires. Bats have also contributed in fascinating ways to medical research on vaccines, artificial insemination, and navigational aids for blind people.

Scientists have discovered how critical the presence of a healthy bat community is to nearly every ecosystem. They have also discovered that most bat populations are declining at a startling rate: some are at the brink of extinction. More than 50 % of American bat species are endangered, or under consideration as candidates. How could we have allowed this to happen to such important and beneficial animals?

• Fact. Bats are not blind.
• Fact. Bats do not get entangled in human hair.
• Fact. Bats do not infest homes with bedbugs.
• Fact. Bats are not asymptomatic carriers of rabies. Less than one-half of one percent of bats contract the disease, and concerns about rabies should be no differenct for bats than for other wild animals.

Why are bats in trouble?

Because many people misunderstand bats, they fear them and consider them dangerous, or worse! Probably the greatest worldwide threat to the survival of bats is human ignorance. Our lack of knowledge results in many people destroying or harassing them. Even organizations committed to the environment have been reluctant to save bats because they are not "charismatic" mega animals. Some of the factors threatening the survival of bats are:

• Habitat Loss. Deforestation of natural habitats has lead to roost destruction and loss of foraging areas.
• Extermination and Over-exploitation. Mindless batacide has massively destroyed beneficial bat colonies. In Third-World countries they are slaughtered for food. In the tropical Americas, many species of bats are exterminated in vampire bat control projects. Over-collection of bats by the scientific community for research, and by animal dealers to satisfy the pet industry, have pushed many species into extinction.
• Pesticide Use. Bats are poisoned by eating pesticide-contaminated insects and plants. As fellow mammals, the impact of chemicals on bats should alarm us. Even more alarming is the irresponsible use of pesticides against bats residing in our homes. The same poison that exterminates the bat is also likely to make us sick.
• Human Disturbance. Millions of bats have died by people exploring caves in winter. Entry into bat hibernation caves causes bats to awaken and lose valuable energy reserves.

Basically bats . . .?

Yes, we are concerned citizens from all "walks of life", joined together in a non-profit, charitable organization that is dedicated to:

• Wildlife Rehabilitation. We provide publications, workshops, and funds to support licensed wildlife rehabilitators. These dedicated caregivers are in a unique position of working one-on-one with wildlife. Their detailed observations may, in time, make the difference between ultimate recovery or extinction of endangered species.
• Education. We promote public awareness about the value of preserving bats and other wildlife by audio-visual presentations, media appearances, educational publications and seminars.
• Research. We support well-planned scientific studies that have sound methodology.