As they have proven themselves to be among the most adaptable of mammals, a number of bat species have evolved to cope with the heat and lack of water in the world’s deserts. These bats have found ways to find shelter and catch prey in these challenging environments. In so doing, they fill ecological niches and sometimes aid humans in the parched parts of the world.

Unsurprisingly, bats congregate around oases or other sources of freshwater in deserts. They also use go into torpor to survive the harsh conditions of deserts. While in this state of lowered metabolism, bats reduce the amount of water they need, and they may use this survival mechanism during times when ponds and washes dry up. Torpor also gives them a way to regulate body temperature during the scorching heat of desert summers.

Desert long-eared bats (Otonycteris hemprichii) live in the arid and semi-arid regions of North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula and as far east as Pakistan, roosting in rocky crevices or occasionally in buildings. This small member of the microbat family forages close to ground level and uses echolocation to find flying as well as ground-dwelling insects and invertebrates such as crickets, scorpions, beetles, and cockroaches.

By being nocturnal, bats are predisposed to thrive in dry environments with soaring temperatures.

Scorpions can comprise up to 70 percent of this bat’s diet. Once a desert long-eared bat catches a scorpion, and attempts to bite the head off of the venomous arachnid, the scorpion will naturally fight back, often by stinging the bat in the face. The bats appear to feel pain from the stings, but have adapted to this desert diet by evolving immunity to the scorpion venom, even the very venomous Palestine yellow scorpion. The pallid bat (Antrozous pallidus), a medium-large bat that lives in arid regions of western North America also eats scorpions as part of its diet and has also developed immunity to their stings.

The only bat in the world that hunts exclusively over the ocean, the fish-eating myotis (Myotis vivesi) feeds on fish it catches in the Sea of Cortez. The lands adjacent to this body of water where the bat lives, the Baja Peninsula and western coast of Mexico, are quite arid. Much of this part of the world receives less than an inch of rain annually. As there may be no source of freshwater for months and months, the myotis has developed kidneys that can concentrate urine, enabling it to survive by drinking seawater.

Arid Acclimators

Kuhl’s pipistrelle (Pipistrellus kuhlii) is an example of a bat that can turn an adaptation off and on. It lives in a number of environments throughout southern Europe and North Africa, from the coast of France to Pakistan. When this small bat lives in the deserts of North Africa or other dry places, it changes the fat content of its skin and reduces the amount of water lost from its body surface. A research project found that the desert-dwelling Kuhl’s pipistrelles reduced their total water loss by 20 percent compared to bats of the same size who did not live in deserts.

By being nocturnal, bats are predisposed to thrive in dry environments with soaring temperatures. Cacti of the American Southwest and Mexico have evolved a symbiotic relationship with their nighttime bat pollinators. Organ pipe and saguaro cacti are primarily open at night, attracting pollinators like lesser long-nosed bats (Leptonycteris yerbabuenae), who use their extra-long tongues to reach deep inside the blooms for their sips of nectar. Besides pollinating these plants, the bats also disperse the cacti’s seeds after consuming their fruit.

People have farmed dates in arid regions of the Middle East since biblical times. It was only recently, however, that researchers found several species of desert bats that feed on date pests, apparently aiding farmers for thousands of years.

Unfortunately, deserts around the world are facing increased challenges due to overgrazing, unsustainable agriculture, and climate change, posing threats to bats and other animals, including humans. Climate change is drying up water sources in deserts and making larger bodies of water smaller. Bats drink on the fly, scooping up a sip as they swoop over a body of water. Fewer and smaller bodies of water in deserts make these drinking dips more difficult, especially for larger bats.

Bat Conservation International supports desert-dwelling bats through conservation and restoration. BCI’s Habitat Protection and Restoration (HP&R) Program works across the American West to restore habitats and water resources for bats and other wildlife. The Agave Restoration Initiative seeks to plant 500,000 agaves and protect and restore 230,000 acres of land, establish 20 greenhouses, and support 50 communities by 2035 throughout Mexico and the American Southwest. The agaves provide nectar for pollinator species, such as the Endangered Mexican long-nosed bat (Leptonycteris nivalis) and the lesser long-nosed bat. Your support of BCI keeps programs like these alive for desert dwelling bats and bats throughout the world.

BCI’s Habitat Protection and Restoration Program works across the American West to restore habitats and water resources for bats and other wildlife.

Learn more information about BCI’s Agave Restoration initiative at: batcon.org/batsandagave and batcon.org/agaverestoration

The post Desert Bats appeared first on Bat Conservation International.

A love letter to the ecological balance between bats and their native environments.

By Marina Richie

Whirling in moonlight and stars, spotted bats fly in a dance of clicks and buzzes. Opening their mouths, they fire ultrasound pulses at shrieking high decibels that would make a human ear flinch. (Spotted bats are one of the few bats that use echolocation frequencies low enough to be audible to humans.) But bats don’t mind. They simply contract muscles in the middle of their large, flared ears for protection. In fact, their translucent pink ears, nearly as long as their bodies, are the largest of any bat found in the United States. So sensitive are their ears to the returning echoes, bats “see” the shape, position, and location of the moths they prey upon.

As dusk falls to darkness above a meadow laced by a bubbling creek, salmon-hued clouds swim across a sky river. Bats are the flying mammals of the night, flapping wings that are forelegs stretched into skin. Spotted bats (Euderma maculatum)wheel, somersault, and scoop up moths with their tails. In turn, moths evade bats like stunt pilots performing barrel rolls, loops, and steep dives. These moths are part of an exclusive diet, captured high above the ground.

Far below the moonlit dance of bats and moths are the native bunchgrasses and shrubs, essential to the future of both.

The future of spotted bats is twinned with moths that pollinate many flowers. Moth caterpillars depend on native plant hosts. Far below the moonlit dance of bats and moths are the native bunchgrasses and shrubs, essential to the future of both.

Although not endangered, these spotted mammals are one of America’s least known animals. Initially thought to be extremely rare, the spotted bat is now known to occupy a rather large range throughout central western North America from southern British Columbia to northern Mexico. To ensure there will always be a call and an echo, take a stand for bats, their prey, and their habitats.

Listen to the Spotted Bat call

Experts now estimate that 52 percent of bat species in North America are at risk of populations declining severely in the next 15 years. This includes rare spotted bats, seeking night roosts in cliffs, caves, canyon walls, and trees adjacent to meadows. They pursue moths above meadows and along lush streamsides. Pollinators and spotted bats dwell in a dynamic balance. So do we all.

The only mammal that can truly fly, bats echolocate, sing complex tunes, eat half their body weight in insects each night, reseed forests, pollinate flowers, and are responsible for tequila and chocolate in our lives.

Bat Power

More than 1,400 species of bats across the planet inhabit the realm of impossibility. The only mammal that can truly fly, bats echolocate, sing complex tunes, eat half their body weight in insects each night, reseed forests, pollinate flowers, and are responsible for tequila and chocolate in our lives.

Bats face threats from white-nose syndrome, pesticide spraying, roost disturbance, and logging trees that serve as roosts. Bats need us to show our power to keep them safe.

Show your love for bats by supporting BCI

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“Species-specific research on African bat species is so incredibly rare,” says Natalie Weber, a conservation scientist who works with BCI as Strategic Advisor for Endangered Species in Africa. “Unfortunately, the only efforts targeting this species were based on trying to find some viruses. But that’s not research on the species.”

Weber has been fortunate to see the striped leaf-nosed bat during her fieldwork in West Africa and Mozambique. She finds the bat fascinating, partly due to its large size and partly due to its intelligence. She recalls observing four or five individuals in a cave in Mozambique who stood out from the other bats roosting there.

“You could see they were kind of observing us as if they were thinking, ‘What are these dudes doing here? Should we be scared?’ They’re super curious,” Weber says. “I think the species should receive more attention because it has the potential to be an emblematic species by its appearance and size. But unfortunately, there’s nothing at the moment.”

What we know about the striped leaf-nosed bat

Weighing up to 6.3 ounces (180 grams), the striped leaf-nosed bat is large compared to other bats across Africa. It’s a cave-dwelling bat found at elevations from sea level up to 5,600 feet (1,700 meters), and it lives in colonies ranging from just tens of individuals to thousands of individuals. When large caves aren’t present, it’s most typically seen roosting in trees or even from the eaves of buildings. In its smaller populations, the striped leaf-nosed bat has been observed co-roosting with other species, such as Sundevall’s roundleaf bat (Hipposideros caffer) and the African trident bat (Triaenops afer).

The bat has two colorations: the paler, striped variation for which it is named and a reddish variation. As for its diet, insects are on the menu—it is Africa’s second-largest insect-eating bat. “They do eat insects, but given their size, I think we can also quite safely assume that they also prey on other small vertebrates,” Weber says. “But not much is known.”

She does note that an interesting aspect of the striped leaf-nosed bat is that it’s visually indistinguishable from the giant roundleaf bat (Macronycteris gigas). “They look the same, but they are distinguishable by the echolocation frequency,” Weber says. And, of course, genetic analysis can also distinguish between the two species.

As for conservation status, the IUCN Red List considers the striped leaf-nosed bats as Near Threatened, with a declining population trend. “I think this bat is facing similar threats as all cave-dwelling bats, like exploitation and disturbances by people,” Weber says. “Its large body size is a particular problem for vittata because compared to the smaller species, there’s a higher interest to hunt it for consumption. Reports indicate that people use the grease of this bat to make candles, and it goes into traditional medicine.”

How conservation work protects the striped leaf-nosed bat

Though there are no conservation projects directly targeting the striped leaf-nosed bat, the species is benefitting from wide-ranging conservation work. In Kenya, the bat can be found in the Kaboga Cave near Watamu and in one of the Three Sisters caves near the southern coast. BCI’s conservation initiatives seek to protect these caves, which are habitats for other threatened bat species, like Hildegarde’s tomb bat (Taphozous hildegardeae).

“Our focus in Kenya is to find community-based solutions for a beneficial coexistence between bats and humans along the coast,” says Isabella Mandl, Ph.D., BCI’s Regional Director of Africa and South Asia. “At all sites, one in the south and two in the north, we are protecting important cave roosts by helping the communities set up community-based organizations and formal protection. We are also working together to formulate management plans for the areas, including habitat restoration and ways for the communities to generate income from green enterprises.”

Weber calls such projects an “umbrella protection” that positively affects all resident bats, whether or not they’re Endangered. And she hopes that when more attention is drawn to these caves, perhaps more interest will develop in the striped leaf-nosed bat.

Natalie Weber

Strategic Advisor for Endangered Species – Africa

Natalie Weber – Strategic Advisor for Endangered Species – Africa

As strategic advisor for Endangered Species Africa, Natalie is responsible for supporting BCI’s efforts to prevent or reverse the decline of threatened bat species and loss of critical habitats, mainly in Guinea but also other countries across Africa. To this end, she is working with several partners from local NGOs to international stakeholders as to assess bat diversity in key (protected) areas, identify conservation priorities, and enhance protection of sites crucial for bat species conservation.

Natalie is experienced as independent conservation scientist and research consultant with a focus on bats for almost 20 years and has conducted (field) works in more than 10 countries in Africa (and further in SE Asia and Europe). She has covered a large range of projects and the proven ability to flexibly handle different tasks, from leading field teams to project coordination and management. Her tasks also include capacity building of numerous students and technicians in cooperation with local partners as well as raising awareness about the ecological importance of bats among resident communities. In general, she likes working in different surroundings to always learn more about ecological interrelations and species-specific resource requirements, and to develop tailored conservation strategies.

Isabella Mandl, Ph.D.

Regional Director, Africa & South Asia

Isabella Mandl, Ph.D. – Regional Director, Africa & South Asia

Isabella has been working on research projects to support the protection of threatened species on
Madagascar and Comoros since 2013. She is a passionate conservation biologist who, besides
highlighting the importance of working with local communities, believes that understanding animal
behaviour is a key component for successful conservation management. Eager to provide support
where she can, Isabella acts as a mentor for students and early career scientists across Africa.

At BCI, Isabella leads the Livingstone’s fruit bat conservation project. She set up a study on the
species’ movements and is responsible for implementing research and survey protocols, with the
goal of understanding how the fruit bats use the landscape. The insights gained through this project
will be applied in conservation measures, preventing this important species from going extinct.

Melquisedec Gamba-Rios, Ph.D.

Regional Director, Latin America & Caribbean

Melquisedec Gamba-Rios, Ph.D. – Regional Director, Latin America & Caribbean

Melquisedec is the ESI Team’s Regional Director for Latin America and & Caribbean Initiatives. In this role, Melqui is responsible for identifying priority areas for the Endangered Species Interventions team to focus, and work with in-country partners to co-develop effective strategies to protect and recover endangered bat species, populations, or habitats.

Melqui has been working with bat ecology and conservation for over 20 years. Originally from Colombia, Melqui conducted most of his research work in Costa Rica. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, where he investigated antipredator behaviors in bats and the implication in bat communication and sociality. He has published work on topics including species distribution, habitat selection, and roost requirements for multiple bat species, with a particular emphasis on the neotropics.

The post Species Spotlight: Striped Leaf-Nosed Bat appeared first on Bat Conservation International.

Hiking uphill in sticky, humid weather before descending into an even hotter and stickier cave, all while hauling heavy camera equipment, certainly sets the scene for an adventurer seeking a challenge. However, if you are filmmaker Chris Gallaway, it’s not just the bugs, the mud, and the humidity you are worried about ̶ it’s also protecting your equipment from the rain of bat poop from the roughly two million bats who call that cave home.

Gallaway is an independent filmmaker and founder/director of Horizonline Pictures. Based out of Black Mountain, North Carolina, he is drawn to stories of creativity, culture, conservation, and outdoor adventure ̶ and takes a quiet, patient approach to filmmaking. In 2023, he worked with BCI to produce a film series about Bats and Agave.

Over the past year, Gallaway and his crew have been following BCI’s team of scientists as they work to protect and conserve the world’s most threatened bats. First stop was St. Clair Cave, nestled in the heart of Jamaica.

Jamaica is home to 21 species of bats, 5 of which are endemic (found only in Jamaica). St. Clair Cave alone shelters at least 10 bat species, including mustached bats, ghost-faced bats, leaf-faced bats, and the critically endangered Jamaica greater funnel-eared bat (Natalus jamaicensis). This cave is the only known location for the Jamaican greater-funnel eared bat, with records only coming from genetics and museum specimens. Unfortunately, with less than 100 estimated individuals left, finding one in the cave is like finding a needle in a haystack (or more like finding one bat in an emergence of millions of bats). “That reality was a bit of a wake-up call,” says Gallaway, underscoring the urgency of protecting these fragile cave systems to ensure the survival of these threatened species.

One of the biggest threats to the bats at St. Clair Cave (and other caves in Jamaica) are feral cats. Feral cats don’t only pose a risk to Jamaican bats, but to bats worldwide. Globally, at least 86 species of bats have been reported killed by cats, though these observations are thought to be underreported. Of these species, a disproportionate number of them are found on islands (like Jamaica) and at least a quarter of them are considered Threatened or Near Threatened by the IUCN Red List. In partnership with the Polly Ground community and the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), BCI has been installing predator-exclusion fencing around the cave entrances that will help keep cats out and provide the bats living in the cave a little more safety from predators.

St. Clair Cave is classified as a “hot cave,” meaning it reaches extreme temperatures and humidity levels, often over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Naturalists in the 1950s described Inferno Passage — one of its main chambers — as “a Stygian sauna bath…filled with a rain of bat urine and excrement.” The cave was once a primary breeding site for the Jamaican Flower Bat (Phyllonycteris aphylla) but, in the 1990s, the species mysteriously vanished from its known roosting sites (including St. Clair Cave), leading researchers to believe it extinct.

The Jamaican National Environment and Planning Agency rediscovered the species in 2010 in a new location: Stony Hill Cave. Recognizing the risks to Stony Hill Cave from developers, Jamaican authorities reached out to BCI about the urgency to protect this important bat roost. Stony Hill Cave is smaller and less complex than St Clair Cave, consisting of one Y-shaped chamber where the bats can be found roosting. This relatively simple topography means even small changes in airflow could alter the temperatures and make the cave less hospitable to the heat-loving flower bats. In collaboration with the Jamaican Natural Resources Conservation Agency and NEPA, BCI successively purchased the land around the cave in 2022, helping to safeguard this critical habitat and secure the future of the Jamaican flower bats that call it home.

Communities like Polly Ground have truly embraced the task of conserving their local bats, becoming conservationists in their own ways. This spirit of collaboration is at the heart of BCI’s mission.

While filming at Stony Hill Cave, Gallaway said he was completely charmed by the Jamaican flower bat. To get some of those stunning, close-up shots of the bat, one of the individuals captured by the scientists was placed into a flight box for filming. Laughing a bit, Gallaway reflects on how he at first thought the bat would be really docile, before remembering that they are nectar-feeders who basically live on sugar water and are actually quite hyper-active. Luckily with the magic of slow-motion capture, they were still able to capture close-ups of this beautiful and rare bat, a privilege Gallaway is grateful to have experienced.

When asked about his experience, Gallaway gives most of the credit to the BCI team and the Jamaican communities who are making these conservation projects possible. Communities like Polly Ground have truly embraced the task of conserving their local bats, becoming conservationists in their own ways. This spirit of collaboration is at the heart of BCI’s mission: building lasting connections that strengthen conservation through shared goals and understanding.

Learn more about the film series and BCI’s Endangered Species Campaign at: batcon.org/nightwatch

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BCI’s Subterranean Team works closely with federal, state, and private land managers to identify and evaluate abandoned mines serving as bat roosting sites. The estimated 500,000 abandoned mines throughout the United States present many potential dangers to human health and the environment; therefore, state and federal government agencies are tasked with reclamation and closure of these hazards through abandoned mine land (AML) programs. Yet many of these abandoned mines have become significant habitat for bats as they seek refuge from encroachment by human development.

A Historical Overview

To understand the connection between bat refuge and abandoned mine land in the U.S., we need to take a deeper, acronym-heavy dive into the history and collaborative work it took to get where we are today.

The Department of Energy, Office of Legacy Management (DOE-LM), Defense-Related Uranium Mines Program (DRUM) kicked off in 2017 with a focus on 3,472 legacy uranium mines located on lands managed by federal, state and tribal, and private owners. The mines under DRUM oversight have a production history from around 1947 to 1970 and provided uranium ore to the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission for defense-related activities. In 2020, BCI’s Habitat Protection & Restoration Program (HP&R) officially entered partnership with DOE-LM to support their DRUM effort.

Many of these abandoned mines have become significant habitat for bats as they seek refuge from encroachment by human development.

“The DOE DRUM/BCI partnership was born over a decade ago when the DOE was planning to conduct field verifications of abandoned uranium mines,” says HP&R Director, Jason Corbett. “We have formed an exceptional partnership in helping the DOE DRUM Program with their mission, while also accomplishing ours by protecting critical roosting habitats for bats in abandoned uranium mines.”

The primary objective is to safeguard hazardous abandoned mines, but it is also vitally important to protect wildlife habitat and cultural resources.In this way, the process takes a holistic approach to conservation.

The DRUM safeguarding effort is dynamic, with each partner bringing their own set of mandates and resource considerations. For instance, when safeguarding hazardous features on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land, BLM is responsible for ensuring that DRUM projects adhere to federal environmental regulations and BLM management directives. The Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (CO DRMS), which oversees abandoned mines across the state, facilitates the mine safeguarding process.

In March 2024, the DOE invited project partners involved in abandoned mine lands (AML) work in Colorado, including BCI, the BLM, CO DRMS, and contractors to collaborate and discuss ongoing and future work in the state. The meeting took place in Gateway, Colorado, a one-gas-pump town at the geological confluence of the Unaweep and Dolores River Canyons in the heart of Colorado’s uranium country.

BCI’s Multifaceted Role in the DRUM Program

BCI plays an integral role in the mine closure process. Our Subterranean Team leads the underground mine surveys and documents signs of bat use, which may include live or dead bats, guano, and insect parts indicative of feeding. The survey teams also record other wildlife use at the site and use those observations to make (or form) their closure recommendations.

Concurrently, a cultural resource team visits the same sites to record notable cultural resources and comply with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. This work may be done in-house by BCI’s Cultural Team, a sub-contractor, or a partner cultural resource specialist.

“BCI’s Cultural Resources team conducts archaeological surveys before the mines are closed,” says Autumn Cool, BCI’s Cultural Resources Coordinator. “We study the history and physical remains of the abandoned mines to ensure that historically important places are recorded and protected during our work.”

BCI plays an integral role in the mine closure process. Our Subterranean Team leads the underground mine surveys and documents signs of bat use.

After all the surveys are complete, BCI helps to coordinate the development of documentation to satisfy National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements that apply to federal projects. BCI works hand-in-hand with the project partners to develop the NEPA document. BCI also assists in the final stages of the safeguarding process to ensure that mine closures do not adversely affect any natural or cultural resources that may exist at the project sites.

“The relationship with the DOE has facilitated the growth of the HP&R program over the last few years and has allowed us to expand our program offerings,” says Aaron Sidder, BCI’s Compliance & Ecology Coordinator. “It is truly a win-win: our expertise has helped the agency act quickly to make public lands safer, and we’ve been able to protect a lot of bat habitat in the process.”

DOE’s DRUM program sunsets in 2030. BCI plans to continue partnership with DOE through the end of the DRUM program. Meanwhile, mine safeguarding continues. In Colorado, three projects are scheduled for construction in 2025 and many more in the works for the following years. Additional DRUM safeguarding projects are also underway in Montana, Utah, and Wyoming.

Learn more about BCI’s Abandoned Mine Land program work.

The post Subterranean Shelter: Bat Refuge in Abandoned Mine Lands appeared first on Bat Conservation International.

A lot of bat species are insectivores. Other species eat fruit, while others visit flowers for nectar. And vampire bats have developed a taste for blood. Little known, however, are two species that specialize in fishing. The fish-eating myotis (Myotis vivesi) and the greater bulldog bat (Noctilio leporinus) have evolved flight and even feet that enable them to subsist mostly on fish.

Both bats use large, long wings to glide and swoop, hawklike, over bodies of water to catch their prey. Although their flight lacks the maneuverability of other bats, their large wings give the bats enough lift to catch and carry their heavy prey. Some fishing bats can catch and consume as much as 30 fish in a night.

Besides the large wings, both of these bat species have really large, Sasquatch-like feet. Fish-eating myotis have feet that comprise almost 15 percent of their total body length. If a male human, standing 5’ 10”, had similarly proportioned feet, he would wear a size 14 shoe! Both species have claws extending from their large feet (see photos).

Flying low and slow, fish-eating myotis bats comb the upper reaches of a body of water with their large feet to catch prey.

Fish-eating myotis live among islands and the rocky coasts on the Sea of Cortez, the body of water between mainland Mexico and the Baja Peninsula. Habitat also includes the western Pacific shores of Baja. These bats roost in caves and rock crevices, and also along the shoreline under flat stones and turtle shells. They sometimes share their roosts with two species of petrals, common shorebirds of Baja. On many of the islands, the western whiptail is a predator of the birds’ eggs and chicks. The bats are much more aggressive at warding off these lizards, flapping their wings and biting the whiptails when they get close to the bats’ roosts. This may be an example of a bird species evolving a roosting strategy that allows them to benefit from the bats’ behavior.

Flying low and slow, the myotis bats comb the upper reaches of a body of water with their large feet to catch prey. Sometimes it appears that they drag their feet behind them through the water. Their toes and large claws are compressed to minimize drag as they skim. Though they feed mostly on fish and crustaceans, they also eat algae and insects. Interestingly, the color of their guano changes according to what they eat.

Fish-eating myotis can fly great distances in a night both on and off the shore of Baja. Much of the peninsula is quite arid, with few sources of fresh water. The bat is adapted to these conditions. With kidneys that concentrate urine, the bat is able to drink seawater, one of the very few land mammals that is able to do so.

If they sense that there are many fish in a section of water, greater bulldog bats will rake across the water in swaths that can reach 30 feet in length.

The greater bulldog bat inhabits a much larger area than the myotis, ranging from Mexico through Central and South America to northern Argentina. They also live throughout the islands of the Caribbean, including Cuba, Granada, and Jamaica. Often roosting in the hollows of trees, these bats live in colonies that sometimes number into the hundreds. Colonies may be made up of mixed or single sex groups, and this may vary seasonally. They favor living in in river basins, coastal areas, and lowlands that receive plentiful rainfall. At dusk and into the night, greater bulldog bats can be spotted flying over streams, ponds, estuaries, and coastal lagoons.

When they forage, greater bulldog bats can use multiple strategies. They may fly high, in a circular motion up to 50 cm above the surface, using echolocation to detect fish by the ripples they make, or they may fly very low, up to 10 cm above the surface. They may drag their feet randomly, or in a directed way. If the bats detect fish, they decrease the pulse duration and intervals of their echolocation calls before they strike. If they sense that there are many fish in a section of a pond, lake or other body of water, these bats will rake across the water in swaths that can reach 30 feet in length. As they fly, the bats face their feet forward and instantly grab any fish they contact. Foraging behaviors and diet can vary seasonally, and they are also known to eat insects, shrimp, crabs, and scorpions.

Bat conservation research and conservation efforts can support both of these fish-eating bats. The greater bulldog bat was assessed in the State of the Bats of North America, which identified threats to this species stemming from agricultural and forestry effluents, tourism and recreation activities, and droughts. There is even greater concern for the fish-eating myotis, as it has a restricted range and a declining population. These bats face multiple threats, including habitat loss and climate change as well as serious damage from introduced predators, such as rats and domestic cats. By spreading awareness about the incredible adaptations of fishing bats, you can help amplify support for bat conservation that leads to successful outcomes for these species.

The post Fishing Bats  appeared first on Bat Conservation International.

250,000. That’s the estimated number of insects the bats of Nakanacagi Cave on Vanua Levu, Fiji consume in a single night. Tucked in amongst the crevices of this volcanic sandstone cave are roughly 2,000 to 7,000 Fijian free tailed bats (Mops bregullae). This cave is home to almost all of the Fijian free-tailed bats on the planet and is the only known maternity cave for this endangered bat. That means what happens in this cave, for good or bad, has the power to decide the future of these incredible animals.

Fijian free-tailed bats are one of only two species of insect-eating bat to live in Fiji (the other being the Pacific sheath-tailed bat, Emballonura semicaudata). With cute, dark eyes and wrinkled, flappy lips, they look a little like bulldogs, at least according to Siteri Tikoca. A PhD candidate at the University of Adelaide in Australia, a BCI Student Scholar and iTaukei (indigenous Fijian), Tikoca is the one who did the math on the free pest-control services provided by the caves’ bats. She hopes that having these kinds of numbers that can be used in discussions about the bats will help people see the connections between the bat and their own lives.

“We can only encourage local pride, ownership, and stewardship once we fully understand what surrounds us, the link to our identity and Vanua, and how we can live in harmony.”

Fortunately for the bats, the future of Nakanacagi Cave is in good hands. In 2019, BCI and the Rainforest Trust provided the funding for the National Trust of Fiji to purchase about 21 acres of land surrounding the cave, creating the opportunity to establish Fiji’s first Bat Sanctuary. This purchase was a critical first step in protecting the cave and surrounding tropical dry forests. Next was developing a management plan for the cave and the surrounding area, a process that was driven largely by the community via workshops, facilitated by the National Trust of Fiji, Nature Fiji MareqetiViti, BCI and other partners. The Nakanacagi Bat Sanctuary hit another major milestone this year when the completed management plan became part of the government record of Fiji. For Tikoca, this community-driven work is important, as is further understanding the natural history of these incredible bats. “We can only encourage local pride, ownership, and stewardship once we fully understand what surrounds us, the link to our identity and Vanua, and how we can live in harmony.” she says.

As part of the series to highlight endangered bats and the people working to protect them, Chris Gallaway of Horizonline Pictures visited the bat cave and village in July of this year with the team from BCI and local collaborators. While the bats may steal the show with their stunning acrobatics as they leave the cave, these films are also the story of conservationists at work. For Gallaway, coming in with a camera provides an opportunity to create space for those involved to reflect on the work and the emotional core of what they are doing and why. And then some moments are a surprise, even with a carefully planned ‘shot list.’ In talking about his experience, Gallaway recounted preparing for one of the filming nights. They were waiting with other villagers for the chief to arrive so they could request permission to visit the cave. “As we were waiting, the children started doing call and response chants and singing, creating these unplanned moments of spontaneity and joy,” says Gallaway. “It is these moments that truly help put the work in perspective, seeing these communities come together in support of bats and emerging as conservationists in their ways.”

Conservation is not and cannot be only about protecting animals, but also about supporting communities.

This emphasizes that conservation is not and cannot be only about protecting animals, but also about supporting communities. Places like Nakanacagi Cave are increasingly at risk from threats like climate change, particularly large tropical storms. In December 2020, tropical cyclone Yasa hit Nakanacagi Village hard, followed in 2021 by tropical storm Ana, with winds and flooding damaging farms and homes. In response, BCI redirected funds towards emergency supplies for the village immediately following the storm and are also contributing to rebuilding efforts within the community. These types of holistic efforts are increasingly important ̶ rising ocean temperatures due to climate change are predicted to result in stronger and more intense storms that could pose a threat to these islands. As Tikoca reminds us, “Conservation doesn’t work without people. The earlier we get them involved and encouraged to lead local stewardship, the better the chances we have of seeing success.”

When asked about what motivates her to be involved in bat conservation, Tikoca reflects on her own connections to the land and the threats she sees her communities facing. “I want to be part of the solution”, she says, “It starts with us. It must start with us.” In partnering with the Nakanacagi community, the goal is a sustainable and resilient future for both the Fijian free-tailed bats and their true custodians ̶ the people of Fiji.

Learn more about BCI’s Endangered Species Work and watch the film series at:  batcon.org/nightwatch

The post Free-tailed Harmony: Connecting Bats, Land, and Community in Fiji  appeared first on Bat Conservation International.

Dotting the coastal landscape of Kenya and Tanzania are ancient limestone caves. Formed from the shells and exoskeletons of ancient corals and sea creatures, these caves are the last refuges for the endangered Hildegarde’s tomb bat (Taphozous hildegardeae). Endemic to this region, these bats are found only in a geographic area of around 700 square miles ̶ that’s smaller than the entire state of Rhode Island! The actual area of suitable habitat used by the bat is much smaller and they are currently only found roosting in a handful of these coastal caves. The forest habitat used by these bats is increasingly fragmented, due to encroaching development, deforestation, and other types of disturbance.

Bats make up 27 percent of Africa’s mammal species and play important roles as pollinators, seed dispersers, and pest control throughout the continent.

When most people think of African mammals, they likely imagine the majestic lion or towering giraffes ̶ not the humble bat. Bats make up 27 percent of Africa’s mammal species and play important roles as pollinators, seed dispersers, and pest control throughout the continent. Like Hildegarde’s tomb bat, many of Africa’s bat species rely on caves for shelter and reproduction. Negative attitudes towards bats in these regions can also lead to persecution and destruction of roosts. African bat conservationists, such as Dr. Paul Webala, a professor at Masaai Mara University, have long championed the protection of Kenyan bat caves. Rapid development, especially in coastal areas, is also placing these important caves at risk. These threats also caught the attention of Dr. Isabella Mandl, BCI’s Regional Director for Africa and Asia, who began networking with Dr. Webala and local community members on how to best protect these coastal roosts.

In line with these efforts, BCI recently moved forward with purchasing a plot of land in the area of Watamu, about 105 km north of Mombasa, and the site of Kaboga Cave. This cave is one of the few remaining caves where Hildegarde’s tomb bat can be found. Ownership of the land has since been transferred to Kenyan partner organization Angaza Vijiji, with whom BCI is creating a management plan. Integral to this work is Dr. David Wechuli, a Kenyan bat scientist (and BCI scholar) who was recently hired as BCI’s Kenya Program Manager and has extensive experience working in these communities. As Dr. Mandl describes, “This is very much not a research project, but a multifaceted effort focusing on cave roost protection through outreach and applied skill-building within the communities.”.

South of the Kaboga Cave site, nestled in the far southeast corner of the country is the village of Fikirini and the Three Sisters Cave. With four distinct chambers within the cave complex, three of which are occupied by bats, this site is another important roost site for the Hildagarde’s tomb bat. These caves also hold important cultural significance, with local community members using one of the caves for traditional ceremonies. The Three Sisters Caves also was an important refuge during the slave trade in the mid to late 1800s.

Kenyan coastal caves are not just home to the Hildegarde’s tomb bat, but several other unique and important African bats, including Egyptian fruit-eating bats (Rousettus aegyptiacus), near-threatened bats like the striped leaf-nosed bat (Macronycteris vittatus) and Decken’s horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus deckenii), and the data-deficient Least long-fingered bat (Miniopterus minor), among others. The periodic shafts of light, long, hallway-like passages and sheer number of bats make for a stunning spectacle come dusk, a moment captured in exquisite detail by Chris Gallaway, the filmmaker behind BCI’s new cave conservation series “Night Watch.”

The BCI team is working with the Fikirini community to develop sustainable management practices that will preserve this culturally and ecologically important site. This includes close collaboration with Angaza Vijiji, a Kenyan organization that specializes in green enterprise development to help the community develop skills needed to manage the cave and gain income from their efforts. Dr. Paul Webala is also involved as an advisor, with students and early-career bat researchers in Kenya collecting ecological and monitoring data on the bats, and whose results help shape on-the-ground management decisions.

The story of the tomb bat is one of resilience ̶ despite encroaching disturbance, the bats have continued to hang on in these caves.

In some ways, the story of the tomb bat is one of resilience ̶ despite encroaching disturbance, the bats have continued to hang on in these caves. It also highlights the importance of taking action now, before it’s too late. When asked what she hopes will be the future of these efforts and BCI’s work in Kenya, Dr. Mandl expresses hope and optimism. “This is about giving the communities we work with the tools to sustain the conservation of bats on their own and to enable them to protect their land from development and exploitation,” she says. “Community is the heart of this project. Our work is informed by research results but it very much depends on a holistic approach to conservation to succeed.”

Learn more about BCI’s Endangered Species Work and watch the film series at: batcon.org/nightwatch

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We all know that bats are the best. But what of the most outstanding of the best? Let’s take a look at the bats who are the biggest, smallest, loudest, and other bats who hold “world records” in the bat world.

Smallest

The bumblebee bat (also known as the Kitti’s Hog-nosed Bat) is only about one and one third inches when measured from head to rump, making it not only the smallest bat but the smallest mammal in the world! If one were to land on you, you may not notice, as these brownish red to grey bats with big ears weigh less than 2 grams (about as much as a small coin).

Bumblebee bats are found only among limestone caves close to rivers in forested areas of the Myanmar-Thailand border. At dawn, they leave their roosts to breakfast on flies and small insects for about 18 minutes. They then return to the skies at dusk for a half hour of feeding. They otherwise roost, sleeping or in torpor. Tourism, fertilizer collection, and limestone mining pose the largest threat to the two small areas of habitat of this species.

Largest

The largest bats in the world are the giant golden-crowned flying foxes of the Philippines. They can weigh about three pounds with wingspans that can stretch more than five feet across from wingtip to wingtip. For perspective, that is about as tall as actress Salma Hayek (sans heels).

These flying foxes put those large wings to good use, flying an average of 25 miles per night. And when they aren’t flying, they use their wings as sleeping bags, wrapping their dark brown appendages around them as they roost, rest, and sleep.

Named for the golden fur that adorn their heads, flying foxes live in lowland forests of several Philippine islands. They use their acute sight and smell to find figs and other fruits to eat. This species serves an important ecological function by spreading fig seeds in its droppings.

Fastest Flyers

In July of 2009, the Guinness Book of World Records, Boston University, Brown University, and other institutions recorded Brazilian free-tailed bats flying at 99.5 miles per hour, which makes this species the fastest bat in the world.

Measuring flight speed is tricky. It’s not as though scientists can set up a marathon among flying creatures with a start and finish line. To clock the bats, scientists performed some tricky piloting of an airplane and tagged the bats with radio transmitters. They explain that the free-tailed bats achieve their great speed because they have aerodynamic bodies and longer wings than most other bats species.

Greater bulldog bats are the heavy metal screamers of the animal kingdom, making ultra-high frequency calls as loud as 140 decibels.

Loudest

The greater bulldog bat hunts for fish in rivers and ponds of South America using echolocation calls that are not particularly loud. But when they want to grab the attention or otherwise communicate with another bulldog bat, they are the heavy metal screamers of the animal kingdom, making ultra-high frequency calls as loud as 140 decibels. These bats and their ears are adapted to this high level of sound, which is as loud as a report from a gun or the din on an aircraft carrier and can cause permanent damage to human ears.

Longest Migration

Unobserved until recently, the straw-colored fruit bat is now known to travel over 1,500 miles across Africa in its seasonal migration. During the rainy season, from October through December, eight million of these large, yellowish bats converge on an evergreen swamp forest in Zambia’s Kasanka National Park to feast on figs, mahogany, and other fruit.

This distinguishes the straw-colored fruit bat as having not only the longest bat migration, but also having the largest migration of any mammal, more than impalas and even elephants! The numbers of these bats can be so great they can fill the night sky. As seed spreaders, this bat is a keystone species for central African ecology, although hunting and deforestation pose threats to these long-distance travelers. 

In summertime, more than 15 million Mexican free-tailed bats make their home in Bracken Cave – the largest colony of bats in the world.

Largest Bat Colony

In summertime, more than 15 million Mexican free-tailed bats make their home in Bracken Cave just outside of San Antonio, Texas. This is the largest colony of bats in the world. The multitude of bats flying out of the cave each night is so great that they have been compared to the sight of a tornado.

During these summer months, as females give birth and raise their young, this colony also plays a major role for local agriculture. On any given night, these bats consume over 100 tons of corn earworm moths and other crop pests.

In 1992, BCI purchased Bracken Cave and 4.7 acres of surrounding land. Continually expanding upon this initial acquisition and together with the Nature Conservancy, BCI now conserves 3,462 contiguous acres of distinctive and rugged Texas Hill Country around Bracken Cave. Besides conservation efforts for bats, such as monitoring for white-nose syndrome, BCI also sponsors surveys of other wildlife on the preserve, including the black-crested titmouse and the Threatened golden-cheeked warbler. And with the new year upon us, BCI will continue its conservation work at Bracken Cave and throughout the world, wherever bats are found.

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Starting a new year is a time to reflect on the past and make goals for the future. And if you are like about 50 percent of Americans, one of your New Year’s Resolutions might be related to fitness. Maybe you want to hit the gym regularly this year or maybe start up a running program. If so, you may be able to take inspiration from an unlikely source – bats! While bats are best known as the only mammals capable of flight, at least a couple have adapted to a life on the ground: the common vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus) and the New Zealand lesser short-tailed bat (Mystacina tuberculata).

With hands and forearms that have been highly modified through evolution into wings, and knees that face backwards (compared to humans), how exactly is it that bats can run anyway? Let’s start by examining the kinematic definition of “running.” If an animal’s gait has an aerial phase, where all four limbs are off the ground, then it meets one of the criteria to be considered a “run.” The second criteria has to do with how much time a limb spends in the air over the course of a stride (or duty cycle) – if in the air for more than 50 percent of this cycle, then it is kinematically a run.

While bats are best known as the only mammals capable of flight, at least a couple have adapted to a life on the ground.

To measure the kinematics of bats moving on the ground, scientists trained bats to walk on a special treadmill, recording their movements with video. At low speeds, the vampire bats moved with a “cat-like” prowl, using a lateral sequence gait. This gait is common in quadruped animals; when the left front limb moves forward, the back right limb does the same. While the short-tailed bats did not take to the treadmill as readily as the vampire bats, they also used the same lateral sequence walk. However, as the speed on the treadmill increased, the vampire bats shifted their gait from a prowl to a bouncing gallop. Since this bounding gait has a significant aerial phase where all four limbs leave the ground, it meets at least one of the definitions of a run. However, unlike the bounding gait of other mammals like squirrels and rabbits, vampire bats use a front-wheel drive – they initiate their leaps using their front limbs instead of the back legs.

With hands and forearms that have been highly modified through evolution into wings, and knees that face backwards, how exactly is it that bats can run anyway?

Why would bats be adapted to move efficiently on the ground? The New Zealand lesser short-tailed bat evolved on islands without native land predators like cats or snakes. While they didn’t become flightless like some famous island birds, such as the dodo or kiwi, these bats have adapted to take advantage of ground-based resources. In addition to catching insects in the air, as most insect-eating bats do, short-tailed bats spend up to 30 percent of their time scurrying along the forest floor in search of buried insects, fruits, and nectar. With no major predators around, they’ve never needed to run fast or make quick escapes.

Unlike the bounding gait of other mammals like squirrels and rabbits, vampire bats use a “front-wheel drive.”

In contrast, common vampire bats use their cat-like prowl to approach their sleeping prey, which includes large livestock like pigs, cows and horses. When feeding under animals that are up to 16,000 times their size, a quick burst of speed can be crucial for dodging a dangerous stomp. Interestingly, the ability to gallop may be unique to common vampire bats. When placed on a treadmill, the white-winged vampire bat (Diaemus youngii) also moved in a lateral sequence gait, but did not transition to a run at higher speeds. White-winged vampire bats, along with the yet-to-be-tested hairy-legged vampire bats (Diphylla ecaudata), primarily feed on birds, so they likely don’t require the same speed to avoid being crushed during a meal.

If you’re planning out your running goals this year, you might be thinking about how to stay in your “fat-burning” zone or perfecting your carb-loading strategy for that big race. After all, humans, like most mammals, rely on metabolizing carbs and fats to fuel endurance activities. However, recent research on vampire bats and their treadmills uncovered an unusual way for mammals to power their workouts. Scientists monitored vampire bat metabolism for up to 90 minutes as the bats walked on the treadmill and found that at much as 60 percent of the bats’ energy came from amino acids, the building blocks of protein, not carbs or fat. This discovery makes sense considering their protein-rich but nutrient-limited diet and highlights just some of the incredible adaptations vampire bats have to support their blood-feeding lifestyle.

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