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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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