Sometimes bats get a bad rap as they have long been associated with vampires and witchcraft. However, they are not the menacing critters they have been built up to be. Bats are unique mammals that can fly, feed breast milk to their young, and are critical to the survival of certain plants. Various bat species have been identified at Wind Cave National Park. Although a few hibernate at the Natural Entrance, most bats within the park live the summer in trees and rock outcroppings. However, due to a fungus that causes a disease known as White Nose Syndrome, the bat population within Wind Cave is in serious decline.
Why Care About Bats
Most bats prey on insects. Each night bats can eat their body weight in insects, numbering in the thousands! Their favorite foods include moths, crickets and many other crop-destroying pests. Due to their diet, people have estimated that bats save the agricultural industry some $3.7 billion a year in pesticide usage. In addition, over 300 species of fruit depend on bats for pollination. Mangos, bananas, agave and cocoa rely on bats to pollinate their flowers as do thousands of other plant species. Without bats there might not be any tequila and even worse no chocolate! Finally, about 80 medicines come from plants that rely on bats for their survival.
Interesting Bat Facts
The scientific name for bats is Chiroptera (Ki-ropt-era), which is Greek for “hand wing.” Bats have four long fingers and a thumb, each connected to the next by a thin layer of skin - resembling a modified human hand
Though small in physical size, bats have a large footprint, making up 20% of the world's mammals
Bats are the only flying mammals. While flying squirrels can glide for short distances, bats are true fliers. One bat species, the Mexican free-tailed bat, can reach speeds up to 100 mph, making it by far the fastest animal on Earth. It achieves this speed purely through wing power and not diving from the air or using winds to increase speed
Baby bats are called pups, and a group of bats is a colony. Mothers can find their babies among millions of other bats by their unique voices and scents
Most bats have only one pup a year making them extremely vulnerable to population declines
Many bat species use echolocation (emitting high frequency sound pulses through their mouth or nose and listening to the echo) to find prey at night. However, bats can see as good as humans and some bats rely on vision and a sense of smell to navigate and find prey in the daytime
Wind Cave Bats
Although eleven species of bats are found in Wind Cave National Park, its two most common bats, long-eared and little brown bats, are in severe decline due to White Nose Syndrome.
Northern Long-eared Bat
Long-eared bats (Myotis septentrionalis)
Distinguished by its long ears.
Typically winters in caves or mines and spends the summer in forested habitats.
Fur color is medium to dark brown on the back and tawny to pale brown on the underside.
Captures prey in flight, but can hunt stationary insects.
Quiet echolocation call makes them well suited for sneaking up on prey undetected and for maneuvering through cluttered habitats.
Have experienced severe population declines due to White Nose Syndrome.
Listed as a federally “Endangered” species, whereas just a few years ago, it was a very common bat species.a
Little Brown Bat
Little Brown Bat (Myotis lucifugus)
Fur is glossy or reddish brown on the back and upper parts with paler grey fur beneath, wing membranes are dark brown.
Voracious eaters. They feast on many insects, such as midges, mayflies, moths, beetles, but especially favor aquatic insects.
Roosts during the summer in trees cavities and rock crevices, which provide protection from predators.
Estimated a female little brown bat can eat almost half her body weight in a single night while she is nursing her pup.
White Nose Syndrome has been a significant cause of mortality. In the Northeast U.S. population loss has been extreme, with surveyed hibernacula (caves used for hibernation) averaging a population loss of 90%.
Being listed as a federally “Threatened” species, whereas just a few years ago, it was a very common bat species.
White-Nose Syndrome (WNS)
Has claimed the lives of more than 6 million bats since its discovery in 2006 in New York and there is no known cure.
Estimated that more than 50 percent of the bat species in the U.S. are in severe decline or listed as endangered due to WNS.
Infected bats often develop a white, powdery fungus around their muzzles and wings, hence the name.
Fungus lives on cave walls and floors due to a cave’s dark, cool and moist environment.
Cave-dwelling bats are in the most danger as the fungus irritates the bats, disrupting their hibernation and causing them to wake up more frequently. When they wake up, they burn precious fat storage that normally would help them survive the winter. Ultimately, the bat starves to death.
Although WNS does not affect humans directly, our relationship with bats means the disease has serious indirect effects on people.
We all benefit from a greater understanding of the world around us, so learn about bats and share what you learn with friends and family.
Help dispel bat myths and teach others about these fascinating and beneficial mammals.
Raise awareness how incredible and vulnerable bats are.
More than 15 bat species are listed as federally Endangered, Threatened or under Review under the Endangered Species Act.
Turn off unnecessary lights and watch for bats
Lights can disrupt or deter bats. Providing a dark environment can help improve conditions for bats.
Watching bats fly over you is a great way to further understand and appreciate them.
Avoid disturbing bats, follow established rules if entering a cave or mine in winter.
Always clean and decontaminate your gear and outerwear before entering a cave, and never bring items from an area with WNS to an area without WNS. Learn more about WNS cleaning protocol for cavers here.
