Better than a Bug Zapper
As bug consumers, bats are very significant in the overall environmental species web, as well as very important to the human economy. Billions of dollars of pest control services are attributed to bat insect-eating activities. In addition, the consumption of around 600 mosquitoes/hour, makes bats ideal friends for outdoor human enjoyment.
Mammals that fly
Bats are the only mammals that can actually accomplish sustained flight! Their anatomy is specially adapted for this.
Echolocate in the dark
Bats can find and consume insects that are flying or resting on vegetation in the dark and on the wing! They navigate and communicate in part by skilfully emitting, receiving and translating high frequency sounds.
Torpor and Hibernation
Bats, like some other mammals can lower their metabolic rate, so that their rest heart rate of 100-200 beats/minute drops to about 5 beats/minute. This allows them to hibernate over-winter in a resting state in sustained cool moist environments like caves. Bats that aren’t nursing young can also go into a similar state for short periods of bad weather in summer (torpor).
