The dark, damp cave seemed perfect for bats but I had to peek inside for a closer view, then out of a crevasse the vampire bat silently swooped down on me.

 Flying deftly around the dark cave the bat circles erratically to distract me from the females and young hanging overhead.

This is not just a Halloween character but a real resident of my coastal front yard.  I know how this furry flying mammal thinks and feels and I respect its space and urge to protect its family.  Silently I pay my respects, film and move out without to much stress to the little bats budding solitary colony.

How useful are bats to our lives? Google search link here

There are nearly 1,000 species of bats  ranging in size from the tiny bumble-bee bat of Thailand , to the vulture size Fox bats. Their diet consists primarily of insects, but some species eat nectar and fruits. The vampire bats drink the blood of other animals.

Bats contribute to and maintain biodiversity by enriching and replenishing forests  and  in pollinating and dispersing the seeds of fruit and nut trees. Literally thousands of economically important plants depend on nectar feeding bats for pollination of their flowers.

Bats are the only major predators of night flying insects. Guano from bats continues to be a major fertilizer in many countries.

Much more could be said about bats but realize that they are not flying rats or vermin to be mistreated when we find our un-maintained dwellings have “sprouted” a colony.

Bats are highly evolved, interesting and vital residents of the earth worthy of every effort to guard their well being. Learn, Love, Conserve CRNC cr nature

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