Going Batty

Once feared, these winged creatures prove beneficial to the environment

With their uncanny ability to silently function in total darkness and hang out in creepy locales, it is no wonder that bats are the perfect icon for Halloween.

Florida is home to 13 species—some common and some relatively rare. A few are present only part of the year.

Bats are the only mammals capable of true flight and can execute a variety of aerial maneuvers. The best other mammals can do is to glide through the air, like flying squirrels. Their scientific name, chiroptera, is derived from Greek and means “hand-wing.” Their forelimbs have the same configuration as other mammals, but the finger bones of bats are elongated to support membranous wings. Their hind limbs are also modified to allow bats to hang upside-down by their toes without expending energy.

Most bats are uniquely adapted to catch night-flying insects. These nocturnal predators locate their food and navigate by uttering ultrasonic cries that return as echoes. The ears, nose, and facial shape of the bat aid with this echo-location method when flying in darkness. When bats identify prey, they employ their wings, the wing membrane surrounding their tails, and their mouths to capture insects; these abilities are so acute that they can pick the bugs off of vegetation. Their diet controls mosquito, fly, and other insect populations, which has made the installation of bat houses a popular practice.

While most bats in Florida are exclusively insect eaters, a few of the species, which occasionally show up in South Florida, feed on fruit, nectar, and pollen (the infamous vampire bats, who feed on blood, live in South America). All of Florida’s bats rest during daylight hours, taking shelter in a variety of places such as caves, mines, buildings, bridges, culverts, under tree bark, and in the foliage of plants and trees.

Despite the name, the Brazilian Free-tailed Bat is the one most likely to be encountered locally. While they will use natural cavities like hollow trees and caves for their daylight repose, their large colonies require room and will also roost under bridges and in buildings with access to secluded accommodations. While bat houses in suburbs are helpful, these creatures thrive best in areas with natural shelter and nutritional resources that support a healthy population.

Only with the advancements in natural sciences have these nightly specters gained respect and appreciation for their place in the overall environment. Even so, bats are still mysterious enough to haunt Halloween.