April 17 is International Bat Appreciation Day.  Bats are found most everywhere on the planet, except for polar regions and deserts.  They are the only flying mammal.  There are more than 1400 species of bat in the world.  The smallest is the Kitti’s hog-nosed bat (or bumblebee bat), which weighs less than a penny.  The largest bat is the flying fox, with a wingspan over six feet.

There is much misinformation about bats, leading people to fear them.  But bats are actually an important part of ecosystems.  Like some other flying creatures, bats are pollinators.  We rely on bats to pollinate a number of plants, including mangoes, bananas, and cacao.  So, without bats there would be no bananas, no mangoes, and, most alarming of all, no chocolate.  Next time you enjoy a banana split with chocolate sauce, please remember to be grateful to bats. Bats are helpful in other important ways.  For instance, a single bat can eat more than 1000 mosquitoes in an hour.

Those wishing to celebrate Bat Appreciation Day might research the topic until a new fact, previously unknown to the searcher, is found.  There are a number of documentaries about bats, available on streaming services or at your local library.  Those wishing to see bats where they live could visit the Bat Barn at the University of Florida in Gainesville.  Happy International Bat Appreciation Day!