Oregon is home to 15 different species of bats. As we approach warmer weather and springtime is around the corner, bats hibernating in caves are beginning to wake up and those who migrated away are making their way back.

While bats can prey on fruit, fish and even blood, all of Oregon’s bats are on an insect-only diet, with many catching as many as 600 bugs an hour. Despite their role as pollinators and pest control, a majority of these flying mammals in Oregon are classified as a state sensitive species, meaning they are facing one or more threats to their population or habitat. Beth Ward is the Northwest Bat Hub Coordinator with the HERS Lab at OSU Cascades. She joins us to share more on the bats residing in Oregon.