Ecology and Vulnerability
Bats

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Northern Long-eared Bat

Photo credit: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Profile: Bats

Bats, the only flying mammal, are incredibly important species that unfortunately sometimes have a bad reputation. Many bats find pest insects to eat by using echolocation, while others aid...

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Bats, the only flying mammal, are incredibly important species that unfortunately sometimes have a bad reputation. Many bats find pest insects to eat by using echolocation, while others aid pollination of flowers and crops. Their feces, called guano, acts as a good fertilizer. Bats are found in almost every kind of habitat, though they generally prefer warm weather and will hibernate through winter in certain areas. An example of a bat in Massachusetts is the Northern Long-eared Bat. The main threats facing this species group are disease, most notably white-nosed syndrome; habitat loss; pollutants such as pesticides and insecticides; and humans, with fear of bats causing people to destroy bat roosts (where bats sleep) or hurt bats that they find 1.

References

1. National Wildlife Federation. (n.d.) Bats. Retrieved from http://www.nwf.org/Wildlife/Wildlife-Library/Mammals/Bats.aspx