Some folks are quick to dismiss bats as simply ‘scary’ (and the association with Halloween doesn’t help things). But during Bat Appreciation Month, consider their valuable contributions to the ecosystem. Bats around the world help to control bug populations (including agricultural pests), pollinate important plants, and disperse seeds–helping to regenerate lands that have been overharvested or otherwise damaged. In fact, what’s truly scary is how much we’d miss bats if they were gone. In North America, a disease called white-nose syndrome has killed millions of bats since it was identified in 2006–and scientists are working hard to find a way to help bats recover. One easy way to help bats is to build or buy a bat box for your property, and provide them with a safe space to roost.
A species worth defending
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
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Mother s Day
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It’s NASA’s 60th birthday
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Into the woods
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The party’s just starting
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A goldie gala
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Green is the new black
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Lanterns alight in Pingxi
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Going head-to-head with winter
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Heceta Head Light, Florence, Oregon
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An oceanic valentine
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Bringing together history and technology
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A whale of a picture
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Watch your step
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International Beaver Day
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Ski touring in Austria
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Seasonal lights dazzle in Japan
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A rock in a wild place
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Muskoxen in Dovre-Sunndalsfjella National Park, Norway
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It s ∞ Day!
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And they’re off!
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Gardens by the Bay nature park, Singapore
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Take the stairs
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A winter light show
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Reflecting on one of the world s strangest rivers
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Travel Sunday: Sintra, Portugal
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Bear Hole Brook, Catskill Mountains, New York
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Queen Elizabeth s Platinum Jubilee
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Dyavolski Most
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Corfe gets creepy
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Deep in the North Woods wetlands