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 […]
Tag: bats

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 […]

Bats are the death metal singers of the animal world, research shows
It has long been known Ozzy Osbourne has a taste for bats. But now it seems the mammals are also fans of his. Bats greet each other with death metal growls, scientists have discovered, and possess a vocal range which far surpasses that of most humans. While they emit ultrasonic chirps to echolocate flying insects […]

Tricolored Bats Recommended to Be Listed as Endangered Species Due to White Nose Syndrome
Tricolored bats could be added to the list of endangered species to protect them as white-nose syndrome depletes their population. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is recommending that the tricolored bats be added to the list of endangered species so that there is a better chance of protecting them from the fungal disease. […]

Have Bats Moved into Your Shed? Signs to Look Out For
While many people wouldn’t choose to have bats roosting in their property, they can make their home in your house more often than you might realise. Sheds are often a popular setting for bats, along with lofts. If you think that you might have bats present in your shed, then it’s worth learning more about […]

Education can change local perception of bats, help conserve species, study says
Increasing knowledge of ecosystem services is key to conserving bats and supporting communities in Indonesia’s North Sumatra province, according to a recent study published in the journal Biodiversitas. Researchers quizzed members of local communities around the Batang Toru ecosystem to understand their perception of bat populations. The researchers found that local communities have limited knowledge […]

You Want to See These 8 Animals in Your Yard
There are some people out there that spend a lot of time and money investing in keeping wild animals and critters from finding a home. There are all sorts of sprays, traps, electronic devices, noise machines, and old-fashioned scarecrows employed in the art of dissuading animals from coming around. Sometimes, some of it is warranted. […]

Seeing through the swarm: How hawks hunt bat prey
Raptors are famous for their ability to home in on prey and attack with precision. But how does this work when they hunt animals that flock, school or swarm, forming bewildering displays that appear to move everywhere all at once? A study published today in Nature Communications reports that Swainson’s hawks (Buteo swainsoni) and some […]