| about
bats |
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| movie
and text |
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Much
folklore around the world has cast the bat in a bad
role. Perhaps the most familiar of this folklore to
we in
Western culture are the medieval witchcraft texts that
described bats as familiars for witches and the old
European lore which associated bats with vampires. Curiously,
the old European association of bats to vampires occurred
long before Europeans discovered the existence of the
less common species of vampire bats in South America
(the only continent where vampire bats are found). Also,
note that the bat's "evil" reputation from
those medieval texts clung to it far into the modern
day, while cats, who got the same bad reputation in
those texts, have since been redeemed and thrown in
the "cute" category (going by popular generalizations,
that is). |
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Many
thanks to Bob Donohue, Planet
Bonehead |
Producer
of this video |
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In
Chinese folklore, bats are a symbol of good fortune
and luck. Folklore from Samoa, ancient Greece, the Kono
peoples of Sierra Leone, and the Apache and Cherokee
tribes all portray bats in a more favorable light. |
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 Folklore
aside, there have been more rational people who, although
dismissive of the supernatural myths, still found something
wrong with bats. Bats were often seen as dirty, disease-ridden,
or vicious. Some "species-centric" humans,
especially those in the relatively recent past whose
attitude towards Nature was one more of conquest and
control, have likewise thought bats were expendable,
simply pests in their way. Well, even the most "species-centric"
humans are discovering that it isn't always advisable
to control Nature or wantonly destroy it. People are
finally getting this concept, some out of an empathetic
or altruistic love for animals/nature and some because
a destroyed planet just isn't going to make a good place
to install the new swimming pool. Even for the most
species- and egocentric amongst us, ecology has become
something important to consider. And guess what? It
turns out that bats happen to be extremely important
to the ecology and very survival of this planet. |
R
E Stebbings / Bat Conservation Trust
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| the
role bats play |
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Ecologically-speaking,
bats are vital because many of the bat species are the
primary pollinators of certain plants, especially those
that bloom nocturnally. While bees and birds help along
pollination and the spreading of seeds during the day,
the bats take over this role at night. Many species
of plants would disappear without the bats' help - with
obvious disastrous results for the environment. In addition
to this important contribution to pollination and plant
seed dispersal, many species of bats help to keep the
insect population in check. A single Pipistrelle may
consume up to 3000 insects in one night. |
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| artificial
lighting: it's detrimental effects on bats |
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Demand
for floodlighting has increased in recent years. Glowing
night skies are rapidly replacing dark, starry skies.
Buildings (including many churches) are being illuminated
for aesthetic reasons. Previously dark rural locations
are being lit up with increasing need for security on
private and public property. Lighting is used along
roads between towns, on bridges and on sport complexes.
Excessive lighting not only causes light pollution and
wastes energy but also impacts on the natural environment
by affecting the activity rhythms of both plants and
animals (Outen 1998). |
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Common
Pipistrelle - Courtesy:
Hugh Clark / Bat Conservation Trust |
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All
bat species are nocturnal, resting in dark conditions
in the day and emerging at night to feed. Many species
of bats are known to sample the light levels before
emerging from their roost, only emerging for their night’s
hunting when the light intensity outside reaches a critical
level after sunset (Swift 1980). Floodlighting disrupts
the normal 24-hour pattern of light and dark which is
likely to affect the natural behaviour of bats. Light
near a roost access point will delay bats from emerging
and shorten the amount of time available to them for
foraging. Bright light may reduce social flight activity
and cause bats to move away from the light area to an
alternative dark area. Illuminating a bat roost creates
disturbance and may cause the bats to desert the roost. |
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Due
to the decline in bat numbers, all species of bat are
protected by the Wildlife & Countryside Act (1981)
and the Conservation (Natural Habitats etc.) Regulations
1994. This makes it illegal to: kill, injure, capture
or disturb bats, obstruct access to bat roosts or damage/destroy
bat roosts. Lighting in the vicinity of a bat roost
causing disturbance could constitute an offence, unless
English Nature has been consulted and allowed time to
provide advice. (DEAL article: Bat Conservation Trust) |
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VIDEO:
This is Bracken Cave, San Antonio, Texas: it's
the largest bat colony on earth with estimated numbers
of 30 million Mexican Free-Tailed bats at around 200
bats per square foot of the cave. It has been estimated
that these bats eat around 200 tons of insects each
night, emerging at sunset and returning at dawn. Truly
one of the wonders of the world. |
| With
many thanks to 'Bat Conservation International'. Based
in North America, BCI do magnificant work at home and
abroad. |
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