An Animal Important To The Ecosystem Is One Not Well Liked
Learning About Bats
Ok, I love animals, but there are some exceptions. I DO NOT like snakes! Sorry, reptilian lovers, I just can’t muster any affection for snakes.
Bats are less repulsive, but I am not a fan of these creatures.
When I discovered that April 17, 2023, is International Bat Appreciation Day, I read about them and discovered they deserve my respect if not my fondness.
One thing I liked is that a single brown bat eats as many as 1,200 mosquitoes in an hour. Mosquito bites suck! (No pun intended.)
- Bats are the only true flying mammals.
- Bats don’t suck blood. They open a wound and lick the blood.
- They eat not only blood, but also fruit, nectar, and insects. Thus, they are important in pollination and insect control.
- Much like cats, bats groom themselves almost constantly.
- North America’s biggest urban bat colony is in Austin, Texas. They eat 10,000 to 30,000 pounds of insects each night. About 100,000 tourists visit the site yearly to watch the bats leave the roost at twilight.
- Bats sleep almost 20 hours daily.
- Bats can live more than 30 years. (Even if they are asleep for most of it.)
Ways to celebrate International Bat Appreciation Day:
- Learn more about bats. Read or watch a documentary about them.
- Post on social media that April 17 is Internation Bat Appreciation Day.
- Donate to Bat Conservation International.
- Watch Batman.
Just wanted to share an interesting “appreciation” day.
Sahil Patel writes an inspiring article about pets here:
Patrick OConnell extols the merits of growing your own garden:
Maria Rattray reminds us about the wonderful ecosystem we are part of
