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THE TRUTH ABOUT BATS BY NORA HESTON TARTE
Bats get a bad rap! The flying mammals have long been linked to blood-sucking and infectious diseases, but the truth is these unique creatures are good for the Central Valley, providing many benefits to its residents. First, lets debunk the myths. Yes, bats can carry rabies (as can any warm-blooded mammal), and part of the fear comes from the fact that 90 percent of U.S. rabies cases originate with bats. However, of all bats tested for rabies—i.e. the sick and weak—only six percent test positive, and overall, less than 1 percent of bats are carriers. In fact, experts speculate that the reason human deaths from bat rabies are high is because humans aren’t aware of the rabies risk. In reality, bats do more good than harm. Let’s check it out!
WHAT TO DO IN YOUR GARDEN THIS MONTH CLEAN UP Winterize your backyard by putting away garden tools, emptying the gas from the mower, and draining hoses. Then store everything in a dry place. Make a list of items you may need to replace.
1. Whether you’re allergic to bug bites and
stings, or simply are not a fan of creepy crawly things, bats may just be your best friend. Bats eat bugs, and different types of bats have different favorite meals. For example, pallid bats, which reside in the Central Valley, prefer to eat non-flying bugs such as spiders, scorpions, and crickets. A small bat can eat up to 3,000 bugs per night, including disease-carrying mosquitoes.
2. They are dying out faster than we want them
to. Much like the bee epidemic, losing bats wouldn’t be a win for the ecosystem. Disease is 78
SAN JOAQUIN MAGAZINE
| DECEMBER 2019
mostly responsible for the decline in bat populations, however, displacement due to new construction is also sometimes to blame. Bats make up more than one-fourth of all mammal species on the planet, but some of the 1,000+ species are endangered.
3. Bats help the environment in more ways
than one. Dependent on the species, bats are responsible for fertilizing crops with their guano, pollinating plants, and even helping to spread seeds to grow more plants. Like honeybees, they are a vital—and fragile—part of our ecosystem. SJM
PLACE row covers over vulnerable plants such as lettuce. Hardier vegetables will survive a California winter without coverings. PLANT shrubs, trees, perennials, and bulbs including foxglove, snapdragons, and pansies PRUNE back plants that are overgrowing.
