It’s peak spooky season and we are busting bat myths! While they may be featured as scary decorations or Dracula’s alter ego this time of year, bats play a crucial role in environments around the world. This October, let’s embrace these adorable flying mammals and learn why they deserve our admiration and respect, specifically in the Shenandoah Valley!
First, let’s debunk some general bats myths.
Myth #1: All bats carry rabies.
No, not all bats carry rabies! In fact, only less than 1% of all bats contract rabies.
Myth #2: Bats are blind.
No, bats are not blind. Some species have great night vision, which works alongside bats’ ability to echolocate prey and maneuver around objects in the night. So, you don’t have to worry about a bat flying into your hair anytime soon!
Myth #3: Bats suck people’s blood.
Not true, bats are not out to get your blood! Although there is a unique species of “vampire bats” that live in Mexico and South America, these feed primarily from cattle’s blood through a tiny, painless bite.
Myth #4: Bats aren’t important.
False! Bats, the only true mammals that can fly, make great neighbors as they aid environments all over the world through essential ecosystem services, which include pollination, seed dispersal, and pest control.
When looking specifically at the greater Shenandoah Valley area, in the warmer months you can see bats fluttering about the sky as the day fades into the night – this is the prime mealtime for Virginia bat species, which are all insectivorous and feast primarily on flying insects. All bats use echolocation to reflect various chirps and squeaks off their prey, enabling them to “see with sound.” Common Virginia bats eat about 50% to 100% of their body weight in bugs, decreasing invasive insect populations and acting as a natural pest control for farmers.
In the colder months, bats go into hibernation, lowering their heart rates and body temperatures to survive in a sleep-like state for months at a time. Bats in the Valley hibernate in locations that maintain a consistent temperature between the upper 30 and upper 40 degrees Fahrenheit with high humidity. Caves, hollow trees, and sometimes human dwellings are bats’ go-to cozy choices for their winter slumbers.
Our tiny nocturnal neighbors play a big role in biodiversity, with 17 different species of native bats found in Virginia. There are three federally endangered species of bats in Virginia: the Gray, Indiana, and Virginia Big-Eared bat. There are also three state endangered bat species: the Little Brown, Tri-colored, and Rafinesque’s Big-eared bat. Over the past decade, a fungal disease called White-Nose Syndrome (WNS) killed millions of bats – some species such as the Little Brown Bat saw a 95% population decrease in only four years. WNS is a cold-loving fungus that spreads from bat-to-bat contact, as well as through infected surfaces in their
hibernacula (the places bats live). The disease wakes up the hibernating bats, causing a depletion of energy, and because there are no flying insects in the winter months of Virginia, bats starve to death. The United States Geological Survey estimates that a loss of one million bats in the Northeast has left between 660 and 1320 metric tons of insects uneaten by bats, which has left a negative impact on agriculture through the increased use of pesticides and their associated costs. As bats are mammals, they typically only produce one pup per year, which makes recovery for bat populations even more difficult.
Scientists are working to help our bat buddies recover from WNS and to stop the spread of the disease. People like you and I can help them too, through putting up bat boxes to promote safe roosting sites, turning off outdoor lights at night to ensure natural darkness, keeping pet cats inside and limiting pesticide use to reduce bat fatalities, and contacting appropriate wildlife rescue organizations when a bat or bat roost is found inside a human dwelling. Also, if you’re a caver like me, we can clean our gear properly to prevent the spread of WNS to other caves and can also be respectful visitors to the caves that are home to our bat buddies! There’s no need to be frightened of bats anymore this Halloween – let’s celebrate our batty pals and all the amazing things they do to keep our ecosystem balanced. We challenge you to tell a family member or friend about why bats are spectacular, not spooky!
Sources:
https://dwr.virginia.gov/wildlife/nuisance/nuisance-bats/
https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/vampire-bat
https://www.nps.gov/subjects/bats/myth-busters.htm
https://www.doi.gov/blog/13-facts-about-bats
https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/why-are-bats-important
https://www.nps.gov/articles/what-is-white-nose-syndrome.htm
Learn more about how the Conservancy protects the Valley’s biodiversity:
shenandoah.org/conservation-strategy