Importance of Bats
Texas is home to 33 different bat species! Organisms around the world rely on bats for their survival, making them a keystone species. In our region, bats are a major form of pest control! Bats who eat insects are called insectivores.
The vast majority of bats are nocturnal, meaning they sleep during the day and hunt for their food at night. Bats are predators of night-flying insects, which includes insects such as mosquitoes, beetles, moths, and crop pests like the spotted cucumber beetle and the cabbage looper. Populations of these insects would be much higher if insectivores like bats were not around to keep them in control.
Bats are also amazing pollinators! In regions in which the bat species consume fruit – tropical and subtropical areas – they play a substantial role in seed dispersal. After consuming the fruit, bats defecate and spread fruit seeds in new areas, supporting ecosystem health. Many species also eat nectar; as these bats fly from plant to plant to get their fill of nectar, they deposit pollen along the way.
Bats help control our insect populations, act as pollinators, and provide important nutrients to cave ecosystems from the guano they create in their dwellings.
Bats in our Region
Texas has some truly extraordinary bats! Bat species roost in different spaces depending on their preferred conditions for shelter and raising their young. Species in our area either roost on tree branches or cavities within nature.
Tree Branch Rooster
- Eastern Red Bat (Lasiurus borealis): Eastern red bats have a wingspan of about 11 inches and have reddish-brown fur with a white patch on their shoulder joints.
- Hoary Bat (Aeorestes cinereus): Hoary bats have a wingspan of about 15 inches with yellowish-brown fur with frosted white and gray tips.
- Northern Yellow Bat (Lasiurus intermedius): Northern yellow bats have a wingspan of about 15 inches and have yellowish-brown fur. Their coloration makes it very easy for them to hide in their tree branch roosts without being noticed.
via Homer Tree
Cavity Roosters
- Big Brown Bat (Eptesicus fuscus): Big brown bats have a wingspan of about 13 inches, medium brown fur with black wings and ears, and a dark brown face.
- Southeastern Myotis (Myotis austroriparius): Southeastern myotis have a wingspan of about ten inches, thick orangish-brown fur and small pointed ears.
- Mexican Free-tailed Bat (Tadarida brasiliensis): Mexican free-tailed bats have short dense light brown fur and large rounded ears. They have a wingspan of about 12 inches. Fun fact: The Mexican free-tailed bat is the Texas state flying mammal!
Waugh Street Bridge Bat Community
For a local example of a cavity roost, visit the wild bats located at the Waugh Street Bridge in Downtown Houston. This roost has an estimated 250,000 Mexican free-tailed bats that live on the underside of the bridge. In the warmer months, spectators can see these bats emerge from underneath the bridge in large groups as they fly out to hunt for the night. In the cooler months, bats will remain inside the bridge crevices and are less likely to emerge.
How to Support Bat Populations
Bats are a vital part of our ecosystem, and it is important to ensure that we are supporting them every way that we can. Bats are facing hardships such as habitat loss, increased use of pesticides, and white nose syndrome.
Here are some ways to support the bat populations in our region
- Reduce outdoor artificial light at night to lessen impacts on their hunting patterns
- Reduce the amount and physical range of pesticide use in your yard
- Choose plants that will provide food and shelter for the bats
- Get involved in Bat Week! Bat Week runs October 24-31 and is a time to appreciate what bats do for our ecosystem! Bat Week has in-person/virtual events, online education, and at-home activities to learn more about bats! Check it out!
Looking for more information?
Sources
Bats by Region – Bat Conservation International
Bats of Houston | Programs | Houston Audubon
