WILLIAMSBURG — Internet-surfing Halloween decorators and wildlife collectors are fueling a growing trade in the preserved corpses of the near-threatened painted bat, adding to the number of threats faced by declining bat populations worldwide.
Although painted bats are caught and killed in their home range of southeast Asia, western nations are driving the market.
The lion’s share of buyers are located in the United States, and many purchasers are unaware that the sellers’ claims of sustainable harvesting are false.
Experts agree that these specimens are collected from declining wild populations.
William & Mary (W&M) Visiting Assistant Teaching Professor Dave Waldien is a biologist who has specialized in bat conservation for more than 25 years. He is currently mentoring a group of undergraduate students who are contributing to bat conservation research.
Hands-on research experiences like these give W&M students the opportunity to work closely with faculty like Waldien as part of the university’s efforts to provide the most personal education of any public university in the United States.
“My interest in bats goes all the way back to when my mom read the book ‘Stellaluna’ to me as a little kid,” said Charlotte Toomey. “Now that I’ve had the opportunity to get involved with research on campus, I’ve learned how bats like Stella are vital to ecosystems around the world, and I’m able to contribute to bat conservation efforts.”
Beneficial bats
“Bats are really unique and special,” said Waldien. “They do many amazing things that are valuable to ecosystems and to humans.”
For example, many species of bats are voracious insectivores. Here in the United States, the furry fliers save farmers billions of dollars in pest control costs every year.
In the tropics, nectar-sipping bat species pollinate crops like bananas, avocados, mangos and agaves, including agaves that are used in tequila. Worldwide, more than 300 species of fruit depend on bats for pollination.
Fruit-eating bats, meanwhile, disperse a wide variety of seeds, including those of nut, fig and cacao trees. With a dispersal range of up to 75 kilometers, bat-aided seed distribution plays a key role in forest regeneration and maintaining the genetic diversity of trees and crops.
Waldien also notes that bats are fascinating in and of themselves. With more than 1,460 species of bats around the world, they’re incredibly diverse.
Bats are also nimble fliers with a penchant for aerial gymnastics. Chiroptera is the order that encompasses all bat species. The name translates to “hand wing,” a description of the complex structure of bat wings that resembles a modified human hand and contributes to their agile mid-air maneuvers.
“They’re amazingly acrobatic in their flight patterns,” Waldien said. “Some of them just do loops around you.”
Bats’ aerial feats have inspired new drone and robotic technology, while their echolocation abilities have influenced the development of compact, efficient sonar systems and ultrasonic canes to aid the visually impaired.
Globally, bat populations are declining
Mature females of most bat species produce only one pup per year. This slow reproductive rate is a major factor in the vulnerability of global bat populations to a range of ongoing threats, including climate change, collisions with wind turbines, persecution spurred by fear and misinformation, hunting for the bushmeat trade and unsustainable guano harvesting.
Waldien explained that the largest driver of bat population declines, however, is habitat loss – particularly due to deforestation and decreased availability of cave roosting sites. Habitat provides species with food, water, shelter and places to raise young, so the loss of these areas has significant impacts on the species who depend upon them.
How can non-scientists help bats?
Waldien states bats need ambassadors to raise awareness of their importance, dispel myths and promote conservation of bats and their habitat.
As all of the bats in the Williamsburg area eat night-flying insects, W&M bat enthusiasts can provide local habitat by planting a bat garden with night-blooming native plants to attract moths and other nighttime insects.
In addition to nectar-producing flowers, it’s best to include host plants to feed moth caterpillars, thus ensuring a steady supply of prey. Minimizing pesticide use can also help to ensure that bats have plenty of healthy snacks to devour.
Nighttime lighting has been linked to declines in insect populations, which in turn decreases bats’ food supply. Additionally, when bats hunt insects that are attracted to outdoor lighting, the bats are more visible to predators. Thus, turning off lights at night or using motion detectors makes areas more bat-friendly.
Installing a bat house can be another effective way to provide habitat for bats, as these structures provide a safe roosting spot for female bats with pups.
Experts advise observing wildlife from a respectful distance. In the event that someone finds an injured or sick bat, the best course of action is to contact a permitted wildlife rehabilitator for assistance. For the protection of both bats and humans, it is important not to handle bats.
Waldien advises taking a closer look at the benefits of bats and learning to appreciate them for their innate charms as well as the services that they provide.
“Even when you look at our local Virginia bats,” Waldien said. “They may seem unremarkable because they’re small and uniform in color, but their capabilities are what won me over. Educate yourself on the diversity of bats around the world, their distinctiveness and their abilities. Never handle them, but be aware of them and get to know them for the special creatures that they are.”