Why protecting bats is good for people, agriculture, and our environment
Witches. Black cats. Ghosts. Jack-o-lanterns. These are just a few of the things we think of when someone says “Halloween.” One of our most recognizable Halloween icons, however, is usually fast asleep in a cave by the time the holiday rolls around: the bat.
Historically, bats have gotten a bad rap. Their nocturnal habits led to their association with witchcraft and the supernatural in Western culture. But bats are, in fact, key species around the world, and especially here in the United States. Nectar-eating species are important pollinators for many native plant species. This is especially evident in the southwest, where bats pollinate saguaro cactus and blue agave, used in making tequila: if you’ve ever enjoyed a margarita, you have bats to thank for it!
In the east and Midwest, bats keep insect populations down and snack on some of our most annoying pests with relish: mosquitoes, gnats and even stinkbugs are all on the menu for the little brown bat, for example. Insectivorous bats are a great ally to agriculture: one bat can eat half its body weight in bugs in a single night.
Bats in a cave with the characteristic marks of white nose syndrome.
Bats, far from being sinister, are incredibly beneficial. And as for bats flying into your hair? Well, that’s just a myth.
What’s not a myth, however, is that America’s bats are in serious trouble. White Nose Syndrome (WNS) has been devastating bat populations along the East Coast and in the Midwest. There’s still a lot we don’t know about the disease, but what we do know is that it’s caused by a fungus which appears as a whitish patch around the nose and mouth, hence its name. WNS makes bats come out of hibernation and fly around during the winter, using up their energy and fat reserves and, sadly, usually dying as a result. Since 2008, millions of bats have died of this disease.
WNS can be spread by cavers who can pick up the disease on their tools and shoes and then carry it to other caves, so taking protective measures to clean and disinfect equipment is critical. Many caves on federal lands have been closed to caving to try to stop the spread of this deadly disease.
The northern long-eared bat is one species that was hit hard by WNS. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently proposed adding these bats to the endangered species list. ESA protection would help this struggling species on other fronts besides WNS, namely habitat loss. This species absolutely should be listed, and the USFWS delay is costing the northern long-eared bat precious time it doesn’t have.
The future of American bats remains uncertain, and it’s very possible that more and more species will need to be listed as threatened and endangered in the coming years. If bats can successfully weather WNS, they still face challenges: pesticides, development and global warming are all serious threats. Bats help us in so many ways: it’s time we helped them, too.
This Halloween season, let’s celebrate bats for what they are: a vital part of our natural landscape, and a creature we can’t afford to lose.
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