Environmental Action
Though bats are active after the sun goes down, they provide numerous environmental benefits. In many locations, they are a keystone species, and the ecosystem’s health depends on their continued presence. So, what good do bats do when they head out into the dark at night? A few important bat jobs include:- Pest control: In our area, all species feast on insects for their nourishment. You can thank a bat for saving you from even more mosquito bites than you already receive every summer. Some species eat as many as 1,000 per hour, and some mama bats feast on 4,000 insects in a single night! Bats are also good for farmers. Brown bats eat roundworms, and a colony of 150 animals may eat as many as 33 million of the pests in a single summer.
- Micro boosters: Five of Canada's bats dwell in caves, as do numerous other species around the world. In this environment, bat guano is a good thing. Their droppings help some unique microorganisms flourish. Some of them are actually beneficial to people, including bacteria that are used in the production of antibiotics.
- Flower populators: In tropical regions, fruit bats are responsible for pollinating flowers and dispersing seeds. Without bats, you wouldn’t be able to enjoy that banana on your cereal or ice cream. They also help in the reproduction of other important crop foods, such as cashews, figs, dates and mangos.