Learn more the benefits of bats as they begin to hibernate for the winter

Wednesday, 04 November 2009 17:03

The setting sun casts long shadows, and the sky darkens as twilight sets in.

Suddenly, dark shadows flutter above — creatures of the night silhouetted against a dimming sky, emerging for their nightly foray.

Bats often conjure up images of terror in the minds of many, but the reality is that local residents are unlikely to see many bats flying around by early November.

At this time of year, most of Connecticut’s bats have settled into their winter homes, or hibernaculas, where they will sleep until spring.

And, while the scary images of bats are far from reality, the link between bats and all things terrifying does provide an excellent opportunity to shed some light on these unique mammals.

Jenny Dickson, a biologist for the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Wildlife Division, said bats “are one of the most misunderstood and under-appreciated wildlife species.”

The tales surrounding bats and far-fetched feats have caused them to endure a bad reputation for centuries. Here are some age-old fables that can be dispelled with a few interesting facts:

— Bats are not flying mice. They are the only mammal capable of true flight and are more closely related to primates (and people) than to rodents.

— Bats do not get caught in people’s hair. They are adept fliers and rely on sensitive sonar (echolocation) to navigate night skies. Bats that swoop near people are after insects such as mosquitoes.

— Bats are not blind. They have good eyesight, but rely on echolocation to master night flight.

— Bats are not filthy or covered with parasites. Clean wings are essential for executing intricate flight patterns, so bats spend great amounts of time grooming themselves. Parasites that feed on bats are highly specialized and do not transmit infections to humans.

— Only three species of bats in the world are known as vampire bats. They are found only in Latin America and are a parasite of birds and cattle.

— Worldwide there are almost 1,000 different kinds of bats. Connecticut has only eight native species. Four of these are classified as “special concern” species; and one, the Indiana bat, is classified as a state and federally “endangered species.”

While dispelling the myths hopefully helps improve people’s perceptions about bats, it is also important to focus on the many benefits these fascinating creatures provide.

Bats are voracious insect-eaters, providing one of the most natural, efficient, and cost-effective means of controlling insects available. One little brown bat, an animal that weighs about as much as a small handful of pennies, can consume 1,200 mosquito-sized insects in an hour.

Bats in tropical regions pollinate flowers and disperse seeds for many commercially available plants such as almonds, avocados, bananas, figs, and allspice. Bats also have contributed to advances in navigation, vaccine and antibiotic production, birth control and fertility studies, and the development of alternative fuels such as gasohol.

Unfortunately, bats are quickly becoming a rare sight in the northeastern United States. An ecological disaster of unprecedented proportions, known as white-nose syndrome (WNS), is quickly decimating populations of these creatures.

Since its discovery in 2007, roughly a half million bats have been lost as a result of WNS, with thousands more in danger as the devastating disease rapidly spreads.

Information sheets on bats and building bat houses, as well as dealing with nuisance bat encounters, are available, free of charge, by writing to the state DEP’s Wildlife Division’s Sessions Woods office at P.O. Box 1550, Burlington, CT 06013. There’s a special “Kid’s Page” devoted to bats, with fun facts and a bat that children can color.

Some of this information also can be found on the DEP’s Web site at ct.gov/dep/wildlife.