Going Batty

Lynda Mills, local biologist, presents program about the often misunderstood bat

Photos by Eugenia Jones McCreary County biologist Lynda Mills presented an informative program about bats on Friday evening (August 26, 2022). After learning about bats, participants went hiking in search of bats. Participants were warned against touching bats as only trained, fully vaccinated individuals should handle bats.

all, life can be hard enough
for ordinary, four-legged,
adorable, well-loved mammals
trying to survive on this
big ‘ole planet we call Earth.
But when it comes to furry,
night-time loving bats, they
have to deal with batty rumors
flying around that link
the tiny creatures to vampires
and blood-sucking bad habits.
It’s definitely a public
relations nightmare!
Realizing bats are actually amazing
creatures that play a significant
role in the environment, local biologist,
Lynda Mills, presented an
informative program about bats on
Friday evening at the McCreary
Center of Somerset Community
College. Adults and youngsters
enjoyed learning basic information
about bats before trekking to
a prime bat location in hopes of
netting a bat. Those attending the
netting a bat. Those attending the class were cautioned in advance to not touch bats due to the possibility of contracting disease. Only biologists with prior bat experience and valid rabies vaccinations should come in contact with the furry mammals.
Biologists survey bats by stretching massive mist nets across bat watering sources (water filled road ruts, small pools, and creeks) and bat corridors (old roadways and forest clearings providing open space suitable for bat travel),
When bats fly into the nets, experienced biologists with prior bat experience and up-to-date vaccinations remove the bats from the nets and deftly chart information including species, gender, weight, forearm measurements, and health indicators. Before being released back in to the wild, each bat is tagged with a numbered ID band and examined for indicators of White Nose Syndrome, a fungal disease that has been killing bats across North America and Canada with mortality rates of 90-100% in some cases.
After examining each bat, biologists are extremely careful to avoid any possible spread of White Nose Syndrome by changing the disposable gloves worn over their work gloves, using disinfectant, and ensuring all equipment is cleaned upon completion of each bat examination.
As Kentucky’s only major predator of night-flying insects, bats are responsible for the reduction of several insects that extensively damage crops and act as cold-blooded parasites in humans. Some estimates indicate that one gray bat can eat 1,000 mosquito-sized insects per hour making it possible for a single colony of several thousand bats to eat millions of insects every night and tons of insects per year. During their lifetimes, bats will eat countless insects. Acting as chemical free pesticides, bats perform a valuable service to humans and help maintain balance in the ecosystem.
Despite common belief, bats in Kentucky do not suck blood, will not build nests in your hair, and do not contribute extensively to the spread of rabies. In fact, it is estimated that less than 1% of bats have rabies and the only way to contract rabies from a bat is to be bitten by an infected creature. However, precautions should be taken, and bats should never be touched by untrained, unvaccinated individuals.
Contrary to popular belief, bats are not blind. Although, Kentucky bats typically use ultrasonic sounds (echolocation) to get around, they can see as well as many mammals their size.
Since bats are mammals, they share certain characteristics with humans. Both are warm-blooded, have hair, and give birth to live young that first feed on milk. Bats, with their wings are the only mammals capable of sustained flight.
Although the red bat and some other species will give birth to up to four babies, most mother bats give birth to only one pup (baby bat) per year. The babies are born blind, furless, and are totally dependent on their mothers. The pups grow quickly and typically learn to fly within five weeks. Bats typically live at least twenty to thirty years.
Bats travel and capture prey by emitting high frequency sounds from their mouths. They can emit up to 200 pulses per second and analyze the echoes that bounce back to their ears off nearby objects. Because the echolocation system of bats is so precise, they can detect and capture insects as small as gnats and travel through totally dark caves. Bats use their large wings to “scoop up” moths and other prey while in flight.
During the warm months of summer, colonies of bats live in a variety of habitats including trees, caves, cliffs, mines, trees, bridges, barns, and houses. The disappearance of most insects during the winter months forces a few species of Kentucky bats to migrate south; however, most hibernate in caves or abandoned mines where ideal temperatures allow the bats to slow their metabolisms for six months or more. The bats survive on stored fat reserves during hibernation. Most bats hibernating in caves return, year after year, to the same cave. A few species of bats hibernate in tightly huddled groups to conserve energy.
Many populations of Kentucky bats have declined over the last few decades. Regrettably, humans are a primary cause for the decline. The use of pesticides, habitat loss, and the extermination of bats as pests have all taken a toll on Kentucky’s bat populations. One of the greatest threats to bats from humans comes from human disturbance during hibernation. Since many of Kentucky’s bats gather together in large numbers during hibernation, they are particularly vulnerable to any type of disturbance during this time. If bats are awakened during hibernation and use up their reserved fatty food supply, they cannot survive until warmer weather when they are once again able to capture insects for nourishment. As a preventive measurement, many caves where major populations of bats are known to hibernate are now gated to keep people out during key hibernation times.
Although the red bat and some other species will give birth to up to four babies, most mother bats give birth to only one pup (baby bat) per year. The babies are born blind, furless, and are totally dependent on their mothers. The pups grow quickly and typically learn to fly within five weeks. Bats typically live at least twenty to thirty years.
Mills is looking forward to next year when she hopes to present an even bigger and better bat program in conjunction with other biologists.
(The writer wishes to acknowledge the following sources of written information: East Kentucky Power Cooperative and the Kentucky Bat Working Group website as contributed by the KY State Nature Preserves Commission and Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife.)