Exploring Nature: Bats

Bats have had some bad publicity lately, what with tales of a deadly virus starting in a Chinese “wet” market, where, among other delectables, bats were served up as food.

But I’m here to tell you these little critters also have a good side. They eat literally tons of pesky insects that damage crops and there are some 300 species of fruits that depend on bats for pollination and seed dispersal. These include avocados, bananas, carob, figs, mangoes and peaches.

Even the poop of bats serves a purpose – guano makes excellent fertilizer.