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About Bats and Conservation Bats are mammals belonging to the order Chiroptera, a name of Greek origin meaning "hand-wing," which accurately describes the animal's most unique anatomical feature – they fly with their modified hands. Nearly all the species of bats in the United States and Canada (and 70% of the world's bat species) feed almost exclusively on insects, and bats are the only major predators of night-flying insects. Although individuals of some species consume more that 50% of their body mass in insects each night, a nursing female may consume up to her body mass or 4,500 or more insects each night. This can provide an enormous benefit to humans. From late summer into fall, many North American bats prepare for the long winter ahead, storing the fat reserves they will need to last until spring. In most places, winter means a shortage of food for insectivorous animals. Facing a choice of migrating to a warmer climate and remaining active, or going into hibernation, most bats in the northernmost and mid-latitudes choose hibernation. Some travel to hibernation sites in August and September, while others migrate south to warmer climates. Bats have few non-human predators, though raccoons; skunks, weasels, martens, cats, snakes, hawks and owls occasionally take a few. Humans pose the biggest danger to bat populations. Because many bat species are colonial (live together in large groups), large numbers can easily be disturbed and impacted. Even people who do not mean to cause harm to bats may do so accidentally. For example, if hibernating bats are disturbed, they warm up and spend far more energy than they should. This increases the possibility that the bat's stored fat will be insufficient to keep it alive for the rest of the winter. Bats eat millions of insects over their long lives. If these insects have been treated with insecticides, toxic compounds can accumulate in the bat's fatty tissues. These toxins can harm or even cause death in high concentrations. Bats can also face loss of roosting places through deforestation caused by logging. |
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