VOLUME 3, ISSUE 4
APRIL 2012
PET JOURNAL FREE
WISCONSIN’S RESOURCE FOR ALL ANIMALS www.petjournalmidwest.com
BATTY FOR BATS 2012 by Adam Pankratz, NEW Zoo Intern and Angela Kawski, Education Coordinator, North-East Wisconsin Zoo Pet Journal Contributors People around the world are celebrating bats this year. That’s right, bats! By proclamation of the United Nations Environment Programme, 2011-2012 is International Year of the Bat. Even though they have the unique distinction of being the world’s only flying mammal, bats’ secretive nature can make their importance easy to overlook. These often-misunderstood creatures are of incredible importance to a wide range of ecosystems all over the world. With over 1200 species inhabiting every continent except Antarctica, bats play a crucial role in pollination, seed dispersal, and insect control, while also helping to maintain biodiversity worldwide. The 1200 species of bats account for almost a quarter of all mammal species on the planet! Simply examining the amazing diversity among bat species gives us an idea of their intrinsic value. For example, Southeast Asia’s Bumblebee bat is the smallest mammal on Earth, weighing in at less than two grams! On the other hand, the title of the world’s largest bat belongs to the Giant Golden-Crowned Flying Fox, which possesses a wingspan measuring five feet! One of Africa’s most impressive migrations involves eight million straw-colored fruit bats, as they travel over 1250 miles each year.
Photo Courtesy of Legacy Studios
Whether or not we realize it, bats play an important role in the lives of each and every one us. For example, insecteating bat species help control populations of insects that we view as pests, including those annoying mosquitoes and the other, pesky insects that feed on crops. A large colony of 1.5 million bats can even consume over 11,000 pounds of insects in just one night!
see BATS on page 14.
Family Pet Food Center Chalet and Mini Chalet Black Oil Sunflower 50 lbs. Bag
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19
Bird Feeder CS101/CS102 $ 99
Sale 4 $ 99 Reg. 8
Nyjer Thistle 50 lbs. $3299
Sale prices valid thru 4/14/12. See ad on page 4 for more offers.
Mini Sunflower Tower Bird Feeder CS130 $ 99
Sale 3 $ 99 Reg. 8
Family Pet Food Center
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Pulaski Warehouse, Inc. 5777 Quarry Dr. Pulaski 920 822-3536 2 - 1/2 miles south of Pulaski on Hwy 32 or 2 miles north of 29 on Hwy 32, then 3/4 miles east of Hwy 32 on Quarry Dr. Not all products available at Pulaski Location.