Thank a bat

Connie Jackson, Erie County Master GardenerBats have always scared me. As a little girl, my fear was of a bat landing on my head and getting tangled in my hair and not being able to fly off. Mom would cut my hair to the scalp to release the bat and I would be scarred for life. It never happened but the image is still vivid.What images do bats conjure up for you? Flying rodents? Dracula's friends? Creepy creatures thirsting for blood? Well, bats are neither rodents, nor do many of them drink blood. Except for a couple of nectar-eating bats in the desert southwest, all bats in the United States are insectivores.Bats can get a really bad rap and when they are in trouble, we are in trouble.White-Nose Syndrome is killing our bats. Scientists are currently working to determine if fungal infection is the sole cause of WNS-associated bat deaths. White nose syndrome has been associated with the deaths of millions of bats in the U.S., affecting 29 states and five provinces in Canada according to figures from the US Fish and Wildlife Service. In some hibernation sites, numbers have declined by 80 to 100 percent since 2006 when the condition was first identified.This disease, named for the white fungus often seen on the muzzles, ears, and wings of infected bats, poses a threat to cave hibernating bats of the United States and potentially all temperate regions of the world. Scientifically called Geomyces destructans, the fungus invades the skin of bats, producing ulcers and often making bats leave hibernation before they are ready, thereby causing starvation.So what? Why does it matter? Bats are important to our ecosystem for a number of reasons. Are you tired of mosquito bites? Bats have your back. Are moths flinging themselves against your screen door? Bats are ready to snap them up. There are over 900 species of bats around the world which make up 20 percent of all mammals. Bats are the only mammal with the ability to fly. A bat's diet consists mainly of insects that can be harmful to humans as well as gardens. Mosquitoes, midges, gnats, moths, caterpillars and large flying beetles are all very appetizing to our bat friends. One bat can consume up to 1200 mosquitoes in an hour. Some birds and bees will also eat these insects, but they are only active during the days whereas bats work the night shift.What's more, bats help farmers by eating insects that feed on crops, so farmers can use far fewer pesticides. Not only do we get healthier food, but billions of dollars per year normally spent on pesticides are saved with the help of bats.What goes in must come out. After eating all of those insects, bats digest and excrete guano (bat poop) which is a valuable garden fertilizer that's rich in phosphorous and nitrogen.Bats are nocturnal pollinators. You have heard of the trouble affecting honeybee populations. As gardeners, we need a diverse group of pollinators to help our gardens grow. That's how bats help. Experts say that the birds and bees take the day shift and the bats take the night shift. Everything that we know about pollination in the day time occurs at night with the bats.The pollination of plants by bats is called chiropterophily. The fact that bats do so much for pollination is part of the reason why they are protected in many areas. If the bats are eliminated in given locations it will severely hinder the development of many plants, fruits, and flowers. Many people are unaware that over 500 plant species rely on bats to pollinate their flowers, including species of mango, banana, cocoa, durian, guava and agave -used to make tequila. So, next time you eat some chocolate, say thanks to the bats.According to the New York Botanical Garden, bats also distribute seeds. The bats ingest fruits, digest the pulp surrounding the seeds and then defecate the seeds, dispersing them for new growth.Currently, 16 counties in Ohio have been confirmed as WNS positive including Lawrence County in 2011, five counties were added in 2012 (Geauga, Summit, Cuyahoga, Portage, and Preble), and 10 counties in 2013 (Medina, Jefferson, Union, Wayne, Ashland, Athens, Clinton, Madison, Warren, and Sandusky) according to information from the Ohio Division Natural Resources.How can you help?Give bats a water source. You don't need to live near a stream or have a pond on your property. A bird bath is enough to satisfy a bat.Since the timing for the bats to be out is at night, plant night-blooming flowers such as datura and moonflower. Bats also like flowers with lots of nectar.Offer them shelter. Buy a bat house or if you're handy, you can build one. If you have an old decaying tree on your property, they'll be perfectly happy to live there.Help prevent the spread of the fungus by decontaminating your clothing, shoes and gear before and after entering caves.These misunderstood furry little creatures are our gardening friends and we can help. You might want to consider becoming a Master Gardener in Erie County. We are currently recruiting for our new class which begins March 1. More information and applications can be found on the Extension website erie.osu.edu, or by calling our office, 419-627-7631.