Bat Appreciation at Bethpage State Park!

Did you know that the last week of October is International Bat Week? Yes!

 This time every year, the world gathers to raise awareness for bats. To many, it earns the label as the the most misunderstood mammal. Why you might ask? Well, these furry little creatures seem to be prevalent in everything from Halloween decor to pop culture (good and evil: think Batman but also Dracula), but rarely in the spotlight for their distinctive traits, ecological significance and ecosystem services they provide. Bats are so much more than what they get credit for! 

 

Tomb Bat of the Philippines

 

 

 

 

First off, bats are the only mammal with true flight. Other mammals, such as the flying squirrel might come to mind, but are only gliders not true fliers. Bats have specialized anatomic features to allow for flying; flexible wings and agile joints help them move their bodies like a webbed hand. Its almost as if these creatures row through the air the same way we use our hands to swim in water.This makes them even more acrobatic in the air then birds. 

Proboscis bats roost on a tree near a Belizean River

In terms of their importance, bats are phenomenal bioindicators, meaning their presence signals the healthiest of ecosystems. How? Well if you have bats living in your area it means their prey of mostly insects is in high quantity and quality. If you don't have bats it might indicate your area is using harmful  pesticides and possibly overusing them. Which comes to another service that bats provide: they are considered a natural pest control, eating up to 1000 mosquitos an hour! Imagine that. In hotter climates bats are not just insectivores, but also take on herbivore and nectarivore roles. This means that while visiting plants to eat fruits and nectar they also promote pollination and seed dispersal. Without the help of bats, agave and cocoa wouldn't be possible and we would live in a world without tequila or chocolate production. 

 A singular bat roosting on a branch at Bethpage State Park (April 2022).

 With all this in mind, you might be wondering... what does Bethpage State Park do to appreciate and promote bats here? Well, this year we had one of our most talented Girl Scouts Kayla dedicate her time and talent to building artificial homes for our resident roosting bats!

 After research and learning about bat habitat and requirements she creatively constructed two beautiful bat homes from scratch. Wood was used to create three chamber boxes with crevices inside for bats to be able to grip and hang inside. She also painted the homes a dark color to ensure the boxes would absorb sunlight and keep the bats warm. We met during the process and also after to talk about location of the installed homes. We concluded that I should install Kayla's boxes on our Red and Green Course. The first location was chosen near our "Red Eye" pollinator garden, a place we agreed had plenty of access to insects for foraging bats. The second location chosen was a few feet away from our #15 Green Course Pond. Water habitats provide sustenance to bats who need to skim the water for drinking and aquatic insects.  

As we know from our study conducted by bat researcher Dr. Thomas Gordon, we have 9 different bat species inhabiting our park. Most recently, we have had a few Eastern Red Bat sightings with one even needing to be rescued and brought to a rehab. Despite being nocturnal, we know bats are here and need our help and protection. We are so indebted to Kayla for her environmental contribution and her commitment to raising bat awareness for years to come. In addition to her bat homes, she also designed signage to educate our golf patrons about bats and that that our courses serve as safe habitat for these critical creatures.   

 

 

 

Post photography and writing by Yael Weiss.