No – not, batting average; B-A-T average, as in little brown bat! Take this true/false quiz to find out then check your answers below.
1. Little brown bats weigh less than half an ounce.
2. They must eat their body weight in insects per night to prevent malnourishment.
3. They live in colonies with hundreds of individuals.
4. A baby bat is called a pup.
5. Each mother has 2-3 young per year.
6. Mothers identify offspring based on scent and calls.
7. Domestic cats are a major predator of bats that roost near people.
8. White-nose syndrome, a fungal disease that affects hibernating bats, causes death.
9. At about three months of age, they can fly and catch insects on their own.
10. They thrive best in the southern states.
Numerous myths surround these little flying mammals. Even though scientists have proved most of them invalid, they still cause goosebumps to erupt on many, even at just the mention of them, especially if it happens to be at night!
Almost 1,000 bat species can be found worldwide. Bats make up a quarter of all mammal species, second only to the rodent family. But unlike rodents, bats are extremely useful to man as the primary predators of night-flying insects. A single little brown bat can eat more than a 1,000 small insects in an hour. Insects that damage crops such as cucumber and June beetles, stink bugs, leafhoppers, and corn worm moths are no match for hungry bats. So get those bat houses up and watch a fascinating display of Catch and Devour every night just after dusk!
For those of you chiropterologists out there (someone who studies bats) and those who are just curious, the Portage Park District is holding a night program sure to increase that B-A-T average.
All About Bats at Towner’s Woods
August 22 at 8:00 p.m.
Get up close and personal as you learn about the species and lives of our local bats, their importance to our ecosystem, and the threats they face. Presented by our friends at Davey Resource Group and the “Batman” Mike Johnson, they will collect bats for identification. Bring insect repellent and a flashlight if you like.
For more information, check out the Park District website for park locations, call 330-297-7728 or email info@portageparkdistrict.org
Answers to quiz:
1. True
2. False – half their body weight, though new mothers have ben known to eat more than their body weight in one night.
3. False – hundreds of thousands!
4. True
5. False – only one per year
6. True
7. True
8. True
9. False – one month of age
10. False – found in abundance throughout the northern U.S. into Canada with lesser numbers in the southern states
How did you do? Did you B-A-T above .500? If not, be sure to attend the program and ask the real “Batman” any questions you may have about these furry little fliers.