In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla and Charles speak with Nate Marshall. They talk about bats, wind farms, and why you should care about the conservation of bats!

Episode suggestion: Win friends, not battles.

Call to action: Build a bat box.

What should we like about bats?

• They are around everywhere in multiple types of ecosystems
• They eat insects, fruits, fish, crustaceans, and blood
• The variation and diversity in bats is truly astonishing
• 1 in 5 mammals in the world is a species of bat

How many different species?

There are over 1400 species, the number still increasing due to discoveries

Are they nocturnal?

• Not all species are! Some are, others are day-dwelling
• Same with echolocation; not all of them do it

What do they eat?

• Mosquitos and other mosquito sized insects, which helps our ecosystem
• They also eat other pests, like moths
• Fruit; they help disperse seeds
• Nectar; they help pollinate
• Blood; only 3 species consume blood
• Fish

Bats and Wind Farms

• While wind farms are good for pollution, they are decimating migratory species, such as bats
• Some farms are trying ways to get bats to avoid the area, or to shut down during peak migration periods
• Various farms are working on new mitigation techniques that work better

What other threats do bats face?

• White nose syndrome, which is a fungal infection that wakes hibernating bats
• They are hunted in some places for meat
• General misinformation and fear

What can we do to help?

• Bat boxes. However, they aren’t a long term solution
• It is important to follow the research when building and placing a bat box
• Plant trees
• Less pesticides the better
• Grow a garden
• Keep water clean
• Artificial lighting can be detrimental to bats
• Find a local bat working group
• Bat walks