BATS
MEGABATS
MICROBATS
BATS
BATS ARE IMPORTANT
5 WAYS TO ATTRACT BATS TO YOUR YARD
BAT HOUSE RELATED TOPICS
BATS LINKS
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SECTION 1
BATS
FUZZY FLYING MAMMALS
As the only mammal that can fly, there's no doubt that bats are exceptional
creatures. Common misconceptions and fears about bats have led many people
to regard these nocturnal flyers as nothing more than frightening disease
carriers, but bats are crucial for a healthy environment. Bats disperse seeds,
eat loads of harmful insects and help pollinate plants.
There are more than 1,300 bat species distributed across six continents; about
50 bat species live in national parks across the United States, and Indonesia
hosts 219 bat species — more than any other country. Bats make up one-fifth of
the mammal population on Earth, according to Bat Conservation International.
Megabats and microbats
Bats are divided into two main types: megabats and microbats. Megabats (formally,
bats in the Megachiroptera suborder) include flying foxes and Old-World fruit bats.
They tend to be larger than microbats (Microchiroptera suborder), although some
microbats are actually larger than the smaller megabats.
Bats: Fuzzy Flying Mammals
https://www.livescience.com/28272-bats.html
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SECTION 2
BATS
ARE
IMPORTANT
The Earth without bats would be a very different and much poorer place.
More than 1,390 species of bats around the world are playing ecological
roles that are vital to the health of natural ecosystems and human
economies.
Many of the more than 1,390 bat species consume vast amounts of insects,
including some of the most damaging agricultural pests. Others pollinate
many valuable plants, ensuring the production of fruits that support local
economies, as well as diverse animal populations. Fruit-eating bats in the
tropics disperse seeds that are critical to restoring cleared or damaged
rainforests. Even bat droppings (called guano) are valuable as a rich
natural fertilizer. Guano is a major natural resource worldwide, and, when
mined responsibly with bats in mind, it can provide significant economic
benefits for landowners and local communities.
Bats are often considered “keystone species” that are essential to some tropical
and desert ecosystems. Without bats’ pollination and seed-dispersing services,
local ecosystems could gradually collapse as plants fail to provide food and cover
for wildlife species near the base of the food chain.
Bats Are Important
http://www.batcon.org/why-bats/bats-are/bats-are-important
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Bat
Conservation
International
http://www.batcon.org/
BAT
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bat
BATS
TREE OF LIFE
http://tolweb.org/tree?group=Chiroptera&contgroup=Eutheria
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SECTION 3
5 WAYS
TO ATTRACT
BATS
TO YOUR YARD
It’s unfair how bad a rap bats get. Between the vampire films, spooky
decorations, and blood-sucking ghost stories, you’d think they were
all out to get us. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Bats are
relatively harmless and rarely bite humans unless provoked,
so don’t poke!
Forget their fearsome reputation and consider trying to attract bats
rather than avoid them. If you garden or spend a lot of time outside,
bats are quite beneficial. Most North American bats eat insects and
can gobble up over 1,000 mosquitoes per hour. That means an ordinary
colony of 75 bats can devour up to 75,000 insects in just 60 minutes
— talk about pest control!
Another perk:
Bat droppings, otherwise known as guano, act as a nutrient-dense
fertilizer, making that garden of yours thrive like never before.
So how can you bring bats to your neighborhood? Like all creatures,
bats seek food, water, and shelter. Here's how to make your backyard
move-in ready for these productive creatures.
1. Find out what bats live nearby.
If you're in an urban area, it'll be harder to spot bats. You might want
to reach out to a bat enthusiast group or locate an expert leading local
walks. Contact the Bat Conservation International for more information. A
little research can go a long way toward creating an appealing environment
for local bats.
2. Offer a water source.
Bats can lose 50% of body weight in water in a single day, according to Bat
Conservation International’s Water for Wildlife program; even desert species
periodically need H20.
Unsurprisingly, having a pond or water feature on your property then makes it
very enticing for bats. If you don't have a natural water source nearby, Penn
State Extension recommends installing a birdbath or fountain to attract more
bats to your backyard.
3. Let your garden act as a magnet.
Make your garden work for you while you sleep. Fragrant flowers, herbs, and
night-blooming plants attract nocturnal insects, which, in turn, lure bats.
The more insects, the better.
Try planting dahlia, French marigold, nicotiana, evening primrose, thyme,
raspberry, or honeysuckle. Pale-colored blooms also have a good chance of
bringing in bugs.
4. Buy or build a bat house.
To attract bats to roost in your yard, you’ll need a place for them to call
home — a bat house! Buy one online (like this popular Applewood Outdoor
Premium Bat House), at your local home improvement store, or build one
yourself. DIYers can download this single-chamber bat house plan from Bat
Conservation International's site.
Here's how to make a home fit for a bat:
Choose the right location.
Mount the bat house on a pole or on the side of a building. Tree-mounted
homes are a no-no, since they're easily accessible to predators and offer
too much shade.
Bats need height to drop down before they catch flight, so the bat house
must be high enough (at least 15 feet) for them to fly away without
running into a predator on their downward journey.
Keep it small.
Bats like narrow, tight spaces to call home, similar to the space between
a tree trunk and its bark. Since they don’t build nests like birds, they
won't need room for nesting materials. Instead, ensure the surface inside
is slightly rough, making it easy for them to claw up.
Maintain an ideal temperature.
Bats prefer warmer climates between 85 and 100° Fahrenheit. Position the
bat home facing south to southeast. That way, the bat house catches the
heat and warms up when the sun rises.
Do a security check.
The bat house provides a respite from wind and rain, not to mention dangerous
predators. Inspect it regularly from spring to early fall to make sure no bees
or wasps have taken up shop.
You'll know your bat home is a success and the bats have taken up residence when
droppings begin appearing around the house on the ground.
5. Guard your own home.
Before you put out the welcome mat for bats, make sure you're not accidentally
inviting them into your own home. Bats and humans are more compatible when they
aren’t sharing residency. Since bats can fit through a hole the size of a
quarter, you’ll want to seal up any openings around your own house. Bats love
particularly old homes with lots of nooks and crannies and often move into attics.
5 Ways to Attract Bats to Your Yard
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/gardening/a20706363/how-to-attract-bats/
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SECTION 4
BAT
HOUSE
RELATED TOPICS
Bats
http://www.eparks.org/wildlife_protection/wildlife_facts/bats/
Bat House
http://www.eparks.org/wildlife_protection/wildlife_facts/bats/bat_house.asp
Building a Bat House
http://www.eparks.org/wildlife_protection/wildlife_facts/bats/bat_house.asp
How to build a Bat Box PDF (157 kb)
http://www.eparks.org/pdf/batbox.pdf
Echolocation
http://www.eparks.org/wildlife_protection/wildlife_facts/bats/echolocation.asp
Free Single Chamber Bat House Plan
http://www.batcon.org/pdfs/bathouses/SingleChamberBHPlans.pdf
Free Four Chamber Bat House Plan
http://www.batcon.org/pdfs/bathouses/FourChamberNurseryHousePlans.pdf
Installing your Bat House on a Building
http://www.batcon.org/pdfs/bathouses/InstallingYourBatHousebuilding.pdf
Installing your Bat House on a Pole
http://www.batcon.org/pdfs/bathouses/InstallingYourBatHouseWoodenPostSteel Pole.pdf
Criteria for Successful Bat Houses
http://www.batcon.org/pdfs/bathouses/BatHouseCriteria.pdf
Bat Houses: The Secrets of Success
http://www.batcon.org/resources/media-education/bats-magazine/bat_article/574
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How to Hang
a Bat House
https://www.wikihow.com/Hang-a-Bat-House
37 Free DIY
Bat House Plans
https://morningchores.com/bat-house-plans/
Habitat
For
Bats
http://www.habitatforbats.org/
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SECTION 5
BAT
LINKS
Bat Conservation and Management, Inc
https://batmanagement.com/
Bat House Construction Project
http://web.archive.org/web/20111217072349/http://www.bsdhome.com/bathouse/
Bat Houses
https://www.mass.gov/guides/bat-houses
BATS
https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/mammals/land/bats/
BATS
https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/exposure/animals/bats.html
Beneficial Bats
http://www.fws.gov/Asheville/pdfs/beneficialbats.pdf
The DSP Behind Bat Echolocation
http://www.hscott.net/the-dsp-behind-bat-echolocation/
How to Attract Bats to a Bat House
https://oureverydaylife.com/attract-bats-bat-house-4853011.html
How to Build a Bat House
https://www.wwgoa.com/article/build-a-bat-house/
How to Build a Bat House
https://www.thisoldhouse.com/how-to/fun-family-project-how-to-build-bat-house
How to Build a Bat House
https://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/outdoors/gardening/how-to-build-a-bat-house
Living with wildlife: Bats
https://wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/living/species-facts/bats
Location For Bat House
https://sciencing.com/location-bat-houses-5768100.html
Microbat Vision
http://www.fladdermus.net/thesis.htm
UK Bat Conservation Trust
http://www.bats.org.uk/pages/about_bats.html
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How To
Build A
Bat House
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPlkXifGJ9M
All About
Bats
for Kids
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FVoTMOorXA
Visiting
the Largest
Bat Colony on Earth!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_tykwBvqZ0
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Animal
World
https://animal-world.com/
Animals:
Common and Scientific Names
http://www.library.arizona.edu/exhibits/swetc/azso/back.1_div.3.html
Animal articles,
quizzes, facts
http://sheppardsoftware.com/web_games_trivia_animal.htm
Animals
Facts
https://animalsfacts.net/
What
Are
Animal Rights?
https://www.thoughtco.com/what-are-animal-rights-127600
CABI
https://www.cabi.org/
American Society
Of
Animal Science
ASAS
https://www.animalimagegallery.org/
Animal Sake
https://animalsake.com/
MIMI
https://en.mimi.hu/index.html
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Pet MD
https://www.petmd.com/
The Open Door Web
http://saburchill.com/index.html
The Encyclopedia of Life
http://eol.org/
DK Find Out
http://www.dkfindout.com/us/
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