International Bat Day is a great time to appreciate New York’s nine bat species. When spring temperatures become warm enough, bats will leave their hibernation sites and may be seen flying in search of insects. Unfortunately, many species of bats, including Northern long-eared bats, have faced severe population declines due to White-nose Syndrome.
Some bat facts:
• They are insect-eating machines, eating thousands of flying insects in a single night!
• Bats use echolocation (rapid pulses of sound that bounce off an object) to detect and catch insects.
• Bats are more closely related to primates than to mice.
• They are the only mammal that can fly.
To view bats, check out your local park or forested area, especially near water and along trails. Even your own backyard can be a great place to view bats if you have trees near your home
