Though we may not always see them, and we rarely hear them, bats are integral to life in Montana. This week, I had the opportunity to chat with Kyle Watson from Titley Scientific. Kyle has been with Titley for two years, and she spent an hour with me, letting me ask every possible question I could think of. I left with a heap of new information and many more questions, as is common in the world of bat science. Titley Scientific is an Australian company that works to make detection equipment, specifically for bats. They specialize in making both passive and active acoustic detectors to record bat sounds and use the data for conservation.
Bats are very chatty creatures, but we would never know this by watching them fly above. Their communication exists in the ultrasonic range, which is far above what we can hear with the human ear. Bats make the most noise when they are hunting by using echolocation. When a bat is hunting for food, they emit pulses and ultrasonic calls that bounce off of their prey and help them discern its location, size, and texture. As they get closer to their food of choice, they emit these pulses more rapidly until they make one last sound, called the feeding buzz, that gives them the most precise location of dinner.
These sounds are recorded in one of two ways. You can use a passive acoustic recorder, which you might strap to a tree and return later to collect. This might be used to generally tell if there are bats in an area. You can also use an active recorder. This is a great option to pull out when you know that there are bats in the area at the current time, and you want to see their communication and presence.
Once the audio is captured, it is then turned into a file that shows a graph of the sound, similar to the one below.
Biologists use the data captured during the bat’s foraging moments to identify their species. In some cases, the sounds can be converted to a much lower frequency using a technology called heterodyne, which makes a copy in a lower range that humans can hear. Though it is captivating to hear bats this way, it actually isn’t how bats are identified. Instead, they are identified through a spectrogram. A spectrogram takes the sound file from the recorder and transforms it into a data dot on a graph. A bat call to us is really just a series of dots. Each bat species will make a graph that is specifically theirs. For example, the most common species of bat in Montana will make a checkmark graph plot.
Bats are difficult to research because much of their communication is nonsensical to biologists. They can even make two sounds at the same time in completely different pitches. Biologists are continuing to work to understand bats, in order to provide protection and deepen their understanding of different factors that affect bats. In addition to biologists researching bats, there are many things that folks in towns like Missoula can do to be bat conscious.
First, it is helpful to know the facts. In Missoula specifically, bats are abundant. We actually have 15 different species of bats living in Montana! Due to the fact that bats can be sneaky and we don’t often hear them, there is much more happening in the bat world than we can even begin to imagine. Oftentimes, it is all happening in your backyard!
Many people feel nervous about the idea of bats being around. Will they bite me? Don’t they all have rabies? Might they attack my pets? You may be glad to know a few facts to put your mind at ease! Less than 1% of bats carry rabies. Compare this to the fact that, on average, 20% of raccoons carry rabies, as reported by the National Institute of Health. Many of the fears about bats come from the vampire bats and the idea that they bite humans and suck their blood. The only place that vampire bats have been found in America is on the Texas and Mexico border. And more importantly, vampire bats do not bite humans. Fewf! Obviously, bats should not be handled as is the case with all wild animals, but you can rest assured that bats are not coming for you. They are much more interested in those pesky mosquitos that swarm on warm summer evenings.
Speaking of mosquitoes, bats play a vital role in keeping insects at bay that are decimating plant species and cause harm to humans. Did you know that mosquitos are the #1 most dangerous animal in the world? They actually have by far the greatest impact on human health. It is hard to imagine how many more mosquito issues we would have without bats!
One of the ways we can support bats in urban areas is providing habitat for them. Bats need habitat and options to succeed in an area. The more housing options there are, the more bats. Similar to humans!
Not only does building bat houses provide necessary space for bats to exist, it also can be a fun addition to your yard. Think, more bats to watch and fewer mosquito bites!
If this article has sparked your interest in bats, you may want to check out MUD’s upcoming workshop to Build Bat Houses. We are teaming up with Titley Scientific and The National Wildlife Federation to provide an opportunity for you to discover the fascinating world of bats and build your own bat house at Missoula Urban Demonstration Project! In partnership with the National Wildlife Federation, this workshop explores the vital role local bats play in our ecosystem. Through hands-on activities, you’ll learn about these incredible creatures and have the chance to create a safe, welcoming bat house to take home. You’ll leave with a deeper understanding of bats and a sanctuary for them to thrive.Bat House Building Workshop: October 27th. Sign-up for our workshop here!
0 Comments