Celebrate bats, a secretive and useful creature

Did you know Oct. 24th –31st is International Bat Week? 

Although bats are a common sight in Halloween decorations this time of year, they are not something we usually encounter outdoors in Iowa during late October. Most bats have already migrated or tucked themselves away to hibernate and survive the cold months ahead. Bat Week is a perfect time to celebrate and learn about the importance of these small, secretive mammals.

Bats often get a bad rap because they are nocturnal (active at night) and tend to be elusive. Over time, old stories and myths have given these amazing animals an undeservedly spooky image.

One common myth claims that bats are blind and might get tangled in your hair — but that could not be further from the truth! Most bats have excellent eyesight and can use echolocation (sound-based navigation) to locate insects in the dark. If a bat swoops near you at night, it is not after you — it is chasing the mosquitoes and other night-flying insects that are flying around you.

Iowa is home to ten species of bats, all of which primarily eat insects. A single little brown bat can devour up to 600 night-flying insects per hour, including mosquitoes! These amazing aerial acrobats rely on echolocation to find their prey and avoid unwanted collisions while darting through the night sky.

Of the 1,400 bat species found worldwide, many are in trouble due to habitat loss; slow reproductive rates; diseases like white-nose syndrome; and poaching, overhunting and persecution driven by harmful myths. Currently, 53 species are listed as endangered, and many others are experiencing population declines.

Because most bats have only one pup per year, it can take many years for populations to recover once they begin to drop. In the U.S., more than 50% of bat species are in serious decline or already endangered — including Iowa’s own Indiana bat.

Iowa’s bats can roost in a variety of places, including abandoned buildings and attics; roofs with small openings; beneath tree bark; in building siding; and in crevices of log-style homes, caves and rock shelters. Some colonies can include more than one hundred individuals. Bats typically stay hidden during the day and emerge at dusk to feed.

If a bat finds its way into your house, do not panic. Leave a window or exterior door open, and in most cases, the bat will find its way out. If that does not work, you can gently capture it: Put on gloves and use a small box or container and a flat piece of cardboard. Carefully place the box over the bat against the wall. Slide the cardboard between the bat and the wall to trap it safely inside the box. Take the box outside and release the bat near a tree, away from people and pets.

Fortunately, there are many ways people can help bats. Concerned individuals are building and installing bat boxes to provide safe roosting sites, working to prevent the spread of White-nose Syndrome and protecting and restoring natural habitats for bats.

To learn more about the bats in your area or to find fun educational activities about bats visit batweek.org/educate. For great information on bats found in Iowa visit naturalresources.extension.iastate.edu/wildlife/bats-iowa.