Don’t be spooked by bats
Amy Jordan
Originally published 12:34 p.m., October 25, 2007
Updated 12:34 p.m., October 25, 2007
Halloween is known for scary things such as ghosts, goblins, witches, skeletons, and spiders.
Bats are another creature associated with Halloween spooks, but they aren’t really all that spooky. They are actually quite beneficial by eating large amounts of insects.
Bats are common in Kansas, but because of their nocturnal nature they may not be commonly encountered. Bats are unique and interesting animals, but their nocturnal nature makes them one of the most mysterious and misunderstood mammals in Kansas.
The following information about these interesting animals is from Charles Lee, wildlife specialist with K-State Research and Extension.
Of the approximately 900 species of bats found in the world, 45 live in the United States and 15 of those have been found in Kansas. Contrary to popular belief, there are no vampire bats in Kansas. All Kansas bats feed on insects. Large numbers of bats are capable of eating tons of insects each year.
Bats naturally roost in the leaves of trees, in caves or under loose tree bark during the day, but many species prefer to roost in or around buildings. Depending on the species, bats become active during the twilight hours or shortly after dark. When bats leave the roost, they normally fly to a source of water before feeding. Some species feed occasionally throughout the night, but most feed around sundown and then again before daylight.
Bats found in Kansas locate insects and avoid obstacles during flight by echolocation, which is similar to radar or sonar. A sound emitted by the bat bounces off insects or objects and returns to the bat’s ears. Echolocation is unique to bats and some species of dolphins and whales, and enables bats to catch insects in flight. Most of the high-frequency sounds emitted by bats for echolocation are inaudible to humans, although many bats make sounds that humans can hear.
By the first frost, bats begin to prepare for winter. Some species migrate south. Migration distance may vary from a few miles (if a suitable cave is nearby) to 1,600 miles. Bats mate as they gather near caves in which they will hibernate. Although bats mate in the fall and winter, the females do not give birth until mid-May through mid-July. Most bats only give birth to one or two young, but a few may produce three or four annually.
Young bats grow rapidly and most are capable of flight three to four weeks after they are born. Bats often live 10 years or more, and some live as long as 30 years.
• Additional information and plans for a bat house are available at the Lyon County Extension office (341-3220).
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