Caving

This Halloween you’ll probably see plenty of spooky, fanged, and just scary bats.  But when Halloween is over we should remember that bats are beneficial allies of mankind, and more like us than we might know.  One of the misconceptions I hear all the time is that bats are like “flying mice.”  In fact, recent genetic studies have shown bats to be closer relatives of primates than any rodent.  They are intelligent and social individuals, who both care for their sick and elderly in their communities, and help one another care for their young.  Sophisticated adaptations allow these intelligent creatures to be the only mammals capable of true flight.  They have adapted to fill niches, and live in every continent in the world, except for Antarctica.  Bat populations benefit mankind by keeping insect populations in check.  When we see a drop in the bat population in an area, we see a corresponding rise in insect born illnesses.  Nocturnal Insectivores, bats are the primary predators of flying insects, like illness spreading mosquitos, and moths that would damage agricultural pests.  Farmers welcome bats, and often place bat “houses”, similar to bird houses but with open bottoms and divisions to “roost” in.  Many species of bats are threatened or endangered.  What can you do to help?  Visit Bat Conservation International.  Find out more about what you can do,  and find all sorts of bat resources.  Look here for more posts concerning bats and bat related issues, as they are great concern to me, and most cavers.  As always I love reading your comments! 

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