“Listen to them, the children of the night. What music they make!” -Bram Stoker’s Dracula No doubt, many have heard the chirping calls of the historically misunderstood bat! With around 1,400 recognized species of bats around the world, Canyonlands is home to nearly 16 species! These mammals are unique– they're the only mammal that can sustain actual, true flight thanks to their specially adapted forelimbs! They also use echolocation, the ability to locate objects by reflected sound. Don’t worry, these night flyers aren’t echolocating for humans, just bugs! Contrary to stories, art & movies, only 3 out of the 1,400 bat species actually drink blood. For centuries bats have been seen as malicious, but these insectivores are huge players in pest control and help stop diseases like Zika and Malaria. They also pull double-duty as pollinators! If you like agave, bananas, mangos and avocados (to name a few), thank a bat! Unfortunately, the scariest thing about bats is that they’re in trouble. White Nose Syndrome, a fungal disease in North American bats has dramatically decreased bat populations, killing millions of these critical creatures. White Nose Syndrome is spread by interactions with infected bats, touching surfaces of cave walls that have traces of the fungus, or even by humans transporting the disease through contaminated caving gear. Infected bats exhibit unnatural behaviors like waking up mid-hibernation and burning fat stores while looking for food that isn’t there, leading to starvation. Luckily, many sites offer visitors the chance to explore caves in a safe and clean way. Carlsbad Caverns National Park and Lava Bed National Monument provide soap mats for shoes before adventuring underground to see these amazing critters! Learn more: https://www.nps.gov/articles/what-is-white-nose-syndrome.htm Another “spooky,” season connection! Keep following along for more October fun! #SpookySeason #BatWeek #WhiteNoseSyndrome #BatAppreciation 📸: NPS