K9 Conservationists

Give Bats a Break with Nate Marshall

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In this episode of K9 Conservationists, Kayla and Charles speak with Nate Marshall. They talk about bats, wind farms, and why you should care about the conservation of bats! 

Episode suggestion: Win friends, not battles. 

Call to action: Build a bat box. 

What should we like about bats? 

  • They are around everywhere in multiple types of ecosystems 
  • They eat insects, fruits, fish, crustaceans, and blood 
  • The variation and diversity in bats is truly astonishing 
  • 1 in 5 mammals in the world is a species of bat 

    • How many different species? 

    There are over 1400 species, the number still increasing due to discoveries

    Are they nocturnal? 

    • Not all species are! Some are, others are day-dwelling
    •  Same with echolocation; not all of them do it 

      • What do they eat?

      •  Mosquitos and other mosquito sized insects, which helps our ecosystem 
      • They also eat other pests, like moths 
      • Fruit; they help disperse seeds 
      • Nectar; they help pollinate 
      • Blood; only 3 species consume blood 
      • Fish 

        • Bats and Wind Farms 

        • While wind farms are good for pollution, they are decimating migratory species, such as bats 
        • Some farms are trying ways to get bats to avoid the area, or to shut down during peak migration periods 
        • Various farms are working on new mitigation techniques that work better 

          • What other threats do bats face?

          •  White nose syndrome, which is a fungal infection that wakes hibernating bats 
          • They are hunted in some places for meat 
          • General misinformation and fear 

            • What can we do to help?

            •  Bat boxes. However, they aren’t a long term solution
            •  It is important to follow the research when building and placing a bat box 
            • Plant trees 
            • Less pesticides the better 
            • Grow a garden 
            • Keep water clean 
            • Artificial lighting can be detrimental to bats 
            • Find a local bat working group 
            • Bat walks
              • ...more
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              K9 ConservationistsBy Kayla Fratt
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