Lending Bats a Helping Hand

Last week, several members of a rare species of vampire bat settled into their new home near Albuquerque, New Mexico. On Thursday, January 23, 2003, the New Mexico Bat Research Institute announced the arrival of 11 white-winged vampire bats from the island of Trinidad, located in the Caribbean off the coast of Venezuela.

About 1,000 species of bats live worldwide, while only three species feed on blood. The white-winged bat is one of two that feed exclusively on bird blood. While the mammal-feeding common vampire bat is well-studied, researchers know very little about the two smaller vampire species.

Scientists and conservationists hope they can study their new arrivals to learn more about them, and that their numbers can increase by protecting them here.

Although the white-winged bat is not native to the United States, 45 kinds of bats do live here. People don't see bats very often, probably because most bats forage for food at night and take their rest in hidden places. So in this week's lesson, you'll learn more about what bat species live in North America, and you'll discover how they fly, find food and where they roost. You'll also find out why they're important to humans and other species, and how people are helping to conserve their local bat populations.

The Diversity of Bats

Bats are mammals in the Order Chiropetera. Start your exploration with an overview of the order's diversity at BAT HANGOUTS: Going Under Cover Isn't Easy, at the Discovery Channel. Start the Bats Up Close slideshow and click Next to move through the eight species highlighted. You'll notice that these bats eat differently, live in different types of habitats and shelters. Also read Bat hangouts, which features a conservationist helping Mexican free-tailed bats in Texas. What human activities have harmed bat populations and which have helped?

To find out about the other bat species in the U.S., travel to Bat Conservation International (BCI). Start at the Frequently Asked Questions about Bats page for a more in-depth overview of bat biology, behavior and diversity. Then go to the Bat Species section, and read about how extensively they've covered the globe. Where DON'T bats exist? How are bats similar to dolphins (besides both being mammals)? What types of food do 70 percent of world's bat species eat? What are some of the ecological and human benefits of having healthy local bat populations?

Next, check out the diversity of U.S. Bats. Browse the gallery and click on thumbnail images of each species -- such as the Mexican long-tongued bat or the greater bonneted bat -- for more information. Or, you can browse the species gallery through the U.S. bats by State section by finding out which bats live in your state. How do the physical appearances, feeding habits, favorite roosting spots, and North American Ranges of various species compare to each other? How might humans specifically benefit from their presence and behaviors? Have you ever seen any of the bats listed for your state? Keep an eye out for them, or print out their respective web pages, so you can identify the species when you see one!

For further comparison, read BCI's Vampires: The Real Story, a feature article in their BAT's Magazine. How do scientists think these bats locate their prey? How do their feeding behaviors compare with those that feed on fruit or insects? Do vampire bats feed on humans?

How Bats Work

You can learn more about bat biology at How Bats Work. After reading the Introduction, move through the site by clicking Next Page. On the Flying Mouse? page, you'll read about how bat wings compare to bird and human limbs. What is the difference between the two major bat groups, Megachiroptera and Microchiroptera?

At Seeing With Sound, you'll read how some bats use echolocation to find their food. So, how exactly does echolocation work, and how do the shape of bats' ears help them locate prey?

Next, go To the Bat Cave! Here, you'll discover why bats hang upside down to rest. What advantages does this behavior have for them? What does "torpor" mean and why is it important?

The last page to visit is Beasts or Boon? How do people generally react to bats and why? What can happen when people don't understand the habits and biology of bats, and how does this impact bat populations?

Learn how you can help your own local bat populations by stopping by BCI's Frequently Asked Questions about Bat Houses, which helps separate fact from fiction about living with bats around your home. Also check out the Online Plans for an easy-to-build bat house and Criteria for Successful Bat Houses, for great guidance on how you can attract and encourage bats to live around your neighborhood. Remember, bats can keep the insect populations low and can help pollinate plants. Don't hesitate to contact your area nature center or zoo to find out if they have any ongoing bat conservation projects as well!