International Bat Appreciation Day 2024

April 17

A day to discover, learn about and love our nocturnal friends, the bat!

There are over 1400 species of bats, 25 of those in California (see them here), and 7 are in the Central Valley. Bats are often seen as scary and dangerous, but they really are very beneficial! They are insect-eaters, and can eat as much as their body weight in insects (mosquitoes) in just one night. They are nocturnal (active at night) and are not blind! They use echolocation to get around, same as dolphins, just not underwater! Some people can hear the faint squeak of the bats if it is quiet enough.

Bats are very important in an ecosystem, since they eat insects, create excellent fertilizer (we call it guano), disperse seeds and also are night-time pollenators. You can help them out in your own backyard with these three things:

Food - They eat insects, so being a little more relaxed in your yard maintenance can help. Try to use less insecticides, let your lawn grow a little longer and plant things that will bloom at night such as Phlox and Evening Primrose.
Water - Bats do a low fly-by to grab water, often drinking from creeks, rivers, large ponds and even large puddle in gutters. Make a bat water dish out of a birdbath or another larger (shallow) container that has no flying obstructions nearby. Make sure the water is refreshed regularly.
Shelter -Bats actually roost, like birds, and so they have some varied places to sleep. They often use crevices in trees, rocks, bridges and caves as daytime retreats. You can build a bat house to hang in your yard, and there are many ways to do so. Click Here to see one way to build a bat house.

So celebrate an under-appreciated member of our eco-society! Become Bat-Crazy!