Build a backyard bat house at the Crater

  16 bat species may be found in Arkansas, three of which are endangered.  It is a common misconception that bats are blind.  They actually have good eyesight, but are also nocturnal, meaning they are active at night.  To help them see better in the dark, they use echolocation to make mental “maps” of areas while hunting.  It’s so effective that a bat can even detect a single thread in its path!

  Due to their often-negative portrayal in books, movies, and television, most bats are also thought to carry rabies.  However, according to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, only about ½ of 1% of wild bats actually carry the disease, and most that catch it die fairly quickly.  Bats that have come into contact with humans may be tested by the Arkansas Department of Health, though in these cases only around 10% test positive for rabies.

  Another misconception about bats is that many bats suck blood.  As you might guess, this also is not true!  In fact, 70% of bat species, including all 16 found in Arkansas, eat insects.  Only three known species feed solely on blood, and others may eat fruit.  Insectivore bats play very beneficial roles.  Though most Arkansas bats weigh less than one ounce, colonies may consume hundreds of thousands of pests like cucumber beetles, moths, and mosquitoes every year.  Some bats, like the Little Brown Bat (Myotis lucifugus) appear just before dark, identified by their zigzagging flight pattern as they capture hundreds of insects each night.

  It is illegal to possess bats or keep them as pets in Arkansas, but there are ways to reap the benefits of having them near your home.  On Saturday, August 21, Crater of Diamonds State Park will host a Bat House Building workshop in the park pavilion from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. for anyone wanting to learn more about these fascinating winged mammals.  Participants will also build their own bat houses to attract these beneficial creatures of the night!