Bum Rap Of The Bat

Bats are the most misunderstood of all animals, even though they they play a very important role in the health of our ecosystem. They are one of our greatest pollinators and seed dispersers for many varieties of plants. Bat populations around the world have suffered a decline, due to years of misinformation, which has generated fears and threats to this little animal. The loss of this beneficial little creature would have a devastating effect upon our ecosystem. Education and knowledge is the key to conservation and protection of the bat. They are a mammal, with more than 1,100 different species, from the world's smallest mammal which weighs less than a penny, to the larger flying fox bat which has a 6 ft. wingspan. Bats have survived in almost every habitat imaginable since the dinosaur times. Being generally nocturnal, they fly at night, prey upon insects, and agricultural pests. One small brown bat has the ability to consume up to 1,000 mosquitoes in an hour. One third of the world's bats have a diet which consists of fruit and nectar, hence they are wonderful pollinators. Their seed dispersing plays a major role in the regeneration of our rain forests. ( Humans could learn a lot from bats. )