Last month the El Paso Zoo and Botanical Gardens hosted Bat Conservation International for a bat ambassador workshop. A group of two dozen participants completed an online training program that was followed by a bat walk at the Zoo. During the bat walk everyone learned how to use bat detectors. If you have never seen a bat detector they are pretty amazing in how they can attach to a smartphone and then connect with an app to detect bats flying over head. While walking around the zoo the group found several bats that could not be seen in the dark, but could be identified with bat detectors. Every bat species has a unique audible call. The bat calls are picked up by the phone’s microphone and then identified by the detector device working together with the app.

All around the world bats are in trouble because of habitat loss and diseases like white-nose syndrome. Helping to protect bats is extremely important because of the role they play in controlling insects that can impact agriculture and plant pollination. For example bananas, mangoes, cashews, dates, avocadoes, peaches, cloves, and figs (to name a few) rely on bats for pollination.

To learn more about bats during bat week and find all sorts of fun activities, events, and information visit the bat week website.

Photos:

Cover – US Fish and Wildlife
Agave Graphic – Bat Conservation International
All others – Bureau of Land Management