Going batty over bats

Even though there are more than 1,100 species of bats in the world – one out of every four mammal species is a bat – many of them are endangered.

Deforestation (the clearing of trees from forest land) has hurt bat populations.

Bats also have been affected by people who don't realize that they are gentle creatures with a necessary role in our environment.

"Bats help to control insect pests,"Ms. French said. In fact, a little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus) – the most common bat species in North America – can eat as many as 600 mosquitoes in an hour. They use echolocation – high-pitched sounds like sonar – to find the bugs.

Some studies show that the Mexican free-tailed bats that live in Texas's Bracken Cave may eat as much as 200 tons of insects per night. Their bug-eating saves money, according to some environmentalists. It would cost many millions of dollars in pesticides to kill the number of insects that the bats eat. And bats are better for the environment.

"Bats also help to disperse seeds and pollinate plants," Frenchsaid.

In many parts of the world, plants from which we get fibers and food are pollinated by bats.

Bat droppings (called guano) make excellent fertilizer for crops. A sign at the zoo told visitors that bats are so important to the ecosystem that without them, the rain forests of the world might become extinct.

Many people think of bats only at this time of year. It's not certain how they became associated with Halloween, but it may be because they are only active at night. During the day, they go into a "daily torpor" during which their body processes slow down to conserve energy.

Frenchmentioned that bats sometimes roost in crypts in cemeteries, which might be another reason they became linked with the scary holiday.

What can kids do to help save the world's bats? "Educate other kids!" she said. Bats can only keep doing their important work if they are left alone by people who have learned to appreciate these unique creatures.

• Scientists divide bats (order: Chiroptera) into micro-bats (microchiroptera) and megabats (mega- chiroptera). Most microbats have big ears and hunt insects. Most megabats have big eyes and eat fruit.

• Bats are not "flying mice." They are not rodents.

• Some species of bats live up to 30 years.

• The biggest bat is the flying fox, which has a wingspan of up to six feet.

• The smallest bat is the size of a bumblebee and weighs about as much as a penny.

• In Chinese folklore, bats symbolize good fortune.

• Many bats hibernate in fall. Others migrate to warmer climates.

• Bats see and hear quite well; the saying "blind as a bat" isn't true.

• Many species of bats do not live in caves. Instead, they roost in trees, mines, and various types of buildings.

To learn more about bats, visit Bat Conservation International's website, www.batcon.org.

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