Westerly Sun Column: Library Has Books That Will Drive You Batty

Recently I encountered a bat in very tight quarters. I did what any person would do when confronted with this … scream and hide under a desk. Thankfully, my co-worker got me out of the room while attempting to catch the bat with a witch’s hat. It was not my finest moment, but dignity has never been that important to me when it comes to small, wild creatures. While it was a heart-pounding moment for me, I am very aware of how important bats are, ecologically speaking.

According to the Bat Conservation Trust, over 500 plant species rely on bats to pollinate their flowers, including mango, bananas, guava and agave. Bats also help with insect control, because one bat will eat thousands of insects every night. Another invaluable thing that bats do is spread the seeds of some of the fruits they eat as they fly across the sky.

If you want to learn more about bats and their importance, we have some great books for you to check out, like “The Bat: Wings in the Night Sky” by M. Brock Fenton. “Bats: an Illustrated Guide to All Species” by Marianne Taylor and Merlin D. Tuttle is a beautiful book with lovely photographs of these quirky creatures. The authors also describe their behavior, social structure, and life cycle. I think one of the most interesting things is how some bats use echolocation to maneuver their way through the sky. I can attest to the fact that bats are very good at not running into things since I was trapped in a very small room with one!

It’s amazing that there are so many different types of bats with distinct features. There are over 1,400 species of bats worldwide! From the Bumblebee Bat (1.1 inches) to the Giant Golden-crowned Flying Fox (up to 6-foot wingspan!) they really are a wonder of nature. Did you know the Mexican Free-tailed Bat can fly over 75 miles per hour?

Oh, and in case you were wondering, I’m happy to report that the bat was successfully captured and released, and despite my terror he was actually adorable!

by Caroline Badowski, Head of Adult Services