Halloween is right around the corner so let’s get into the spooky spirit with today’s Feel Good Friday organization, Bat World Sanctuary!
If you’re wondering why bats, you’ll find the answer on the Bat World website. “Fruit and nectar bats bring us approximately 450 commercial products and over 80 different medicines through seed dispersal and pollination. Up to 98% of all rainforest regrowth comes from seeds that have been spread by fruit bats. Insect-eating bats are literal vacuum cleaners of the night skies, eating millions upon millions of harmful bugs. They protect us by eating insect-pests that destroy crops as well as insects that cause human disease.”
Every year, the volunteers at Bat World rescue hundreds of bats that might otherwise die. There is a team of local rescuers who you can contact if you find an injured or trapped bat. Follow these directions to keep both you and the bat safe. Bat World also works with zoos, researchers and animal shelters to offer bats a lifetime of sanctuary instead of death. Considering most bats have a lifespan of 25-40 years, that’s a big commitment.
In a 2019 video the team at Bat World estimates that, since their founding they have rehabilitated 30,000 bats and saved another 200,000 from destruction. Just this month, 21 bats have been rescued. You can track the details and see photos on the Bat World rescue log.
Bats that are unable to be released back into the wild are given a home in the Bat World Sanctuary. Right now there are approximately 400 permanent residents who you can watch on the live 24/7 bat cams. The bats were pretty active when I checked in last night while writing this.
In addition to the rescue, release and sanctuary efforts, Bat World provides tons of educational materials. There is a page of resources for teachers that includes a quiz you can take to find out what kind of bat you are. I’m a vampire bat, perfect for Halloween. There’s also information on how to build a bat house, and a page that covers myths vs facts. Apparently bats are not blind nor are they trying to get tangled in your hair. You can learn even more by watching videos on the Bat World Sanctuary YouTube page.
If this post has made you want to help Bat World Sanctuary support the world’s 1100+ species of bats, there are a lot of ways to do so. Make a donation, become a volunteer, adopt a bat, shop for merch, and amplify their work on social media. Like the Bat World Sanctuary Facebook page and follow them on Twitter @batworld and on Instagram @batworldsanctuary.
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