Bats fly back to their roosts after a night of hunting in a “leapfrogging” pattern that allows them to maximise their time out and stay safe from predators, researchers have found. A team from Cardiff University and the University of Sussex developed a mathematical model using “trajectory data” that tracked the flight of greater horseshoe […]
Tag: bats
Bats Hold Vital Clues for Cancer Prevention as Scientists Study Their ‘Extraordinary’ Immunity
A new study shows that bats evolved to avoid cancer and the data may uncover how humans can treat or prevent viruses as well as cancer. A rapid evolution in bats, the only winged mammal, may account for their “extraordinary” ability to both host and survive infections and even to avoid cancer—and that success is […]
New research shows bats feast as insects migrate through Pyrenees
Bats gather to feast as nocturnal insects fly through mountain passes in the Pyrenees each autumn, new research shows. University of Exeter scientists identified seven bat species and 66 insect species (90% of which were moths) in the Pass of Bujaruelo, near Spain’s border with France. The paper, published in the journal Royal Society Open […]
Bat activity lower at solar farm sites, study finds
The activity level of six bat species was significantly reduced at solar farm sites, researchers have observed. Their findings, published today in Journal of Applied Ecology, have the potential to impact and inform planning legislation and policy so that the benefits of solar power are reaped without impacting wildlife. Renewable technologies are important in meeting […]
5 of the Cutest Rescue Bats Ever!
Bats, often misunderstood and underappreciated, play a vital role in our ecosystems as pollinators and pest controllers. While they might not receive the same attention as more conventionally cute animals, many rescue organizations around the world are dedicated to rehabilitating and nurturing these unique creatures. 1. Statler Source: The Dodo/YouTube Born at a zoo […]
Etsy and eBay Are Selling Dead Bats and Scientists Are Concerned
Dead bats preserved with their wings stretched out and fit for hair barrettes are now being sold on Ebay and Etsy online. National Geographic reported that last October alone, over 500 listings of dead bats appeared on Etsy and 71 on eBay and a few on other platforms. While many of the advertisements mentioned Halloween, […]
Madagascar’s unique wildlife faces imminent wave of extinction, say scientists
From the ring-tailed lemur to the aye-aye, a nocturnal primate, more than 20m years of unique evolutionary history could be wiped from the planet if nothing is done to stop Madagascar’s threatened mammals going extinct, according to a new study. It would already take 3m years to recover the diversity of mammal species driven to […]
Thousands of Bats in Houston Needed Rescuing From Freezing Temps, Hundreds Released Today
Roughly 2,000 bats are still recovering after suffering hypothermic shock during last week’s freeze that sent them falling from the Waugh Bridge. Today, however, hundreds of them will be released back into nature. On Friday, just two days before Christmas, Houston, much like the rest of the country, got smacked with winter weather that included […]