As I watched their acrobatics, I reflected on how few people are aware of the important role bats play in maintaining the health of our deserts, forests, grasslands, and wetlands. As the bats danced about delicate blooms, I had no doubt that the same people who enjoy watching a hummingbird feed on a trumpet vine bloom, or a swallow swoop over a wetland, or a flock of waterfowl drop their wings as they descend into a bottomland hardwood forest at dusk would be just as fascinated with bats as with birds if they were properly introduced to these nocturnal creatures. Bats are especially susceptible to decline and extinction because they reproduce relatively slowly for mammals of their size, giving birth to only one pup each year. The status of many bat species has not even been investigated, but in the United States more than half of the species are endangered or their decline is of concern. In Canada, three species are federally listed as vulnerable, and others are listed by provincial agencies as species of concern.
Bats are an essential part of a healthy ecosystem.
The only mammals capable of true flight, bats help keep insects in check, pollinate flowers, and disperse plant seeds. Yet, despite their importance, bats rank among the continent's least studied wildlife and have long been misunderstood and intensely persecuted by the public. As you improve your backyard habitats, remember nature's night-shift. You can make a big difference for bats by putting up bat houses. Like birds, bats also need a place to rest.