Today’s post comes from Ashley Hanas, a bat technician with the Friends of Pinery Park.
Bats are the only true flying mammal.
There are currently over 1,400 species and bats encompass 20% of the mammalian species on earth (meaning 1 in 5 mammals are bats!).
Bats are essential to the health of our environment, providing indispensable ecosystem and economic services in the form of prolific insect pest control, pollination of plants, and dispersal of seeds.
Their droppings, or guano, are rich in phosphorus and nitrogen, making it a highly effective fertilizer.
Despite the numerous benefits bats provide us, their reputations are marred by negative misconceptions.