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 on 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 damaged. In fact, the truly scary thing, 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 near you is to build or buy a bat box for property, providing bats with a safe space to roost.
Related Images
The Villarrica volcano in Chile on September 2, 2018
The Garden of Silence, Chandigarh
Farmland in USA's Palouse region
Moons of Jupiter—Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto
Louis Armstrong performs with bandmates in Vienna, Austria, on February 22, 1959
Shepherd with flock of sheep at dawn, Thar desert
New York City’s Empire State Building is seen lit up before Earth Hour in 2011
Bing Today Images
