Brown Bat Rescue

Hey there, Creation Explorer!

Can you tell me which mammal is the only mammal that can truly fly?

If you said “bats!” you’re correct! There are over 1,000 bat species, belonging to 18 created kinds (though that number is likely to go down with more research). While mammals such as flying squirrels or sugar gliders can glide over an impressive distance, bats are the only mammals capable of true powered flight.

Here in Ontario, where we’re currently living, there are eight species of bats, four of which are endangered. Like most bats, all eight species eat insects, though one species (the hoary bat) will also eat grass and even smaller bats, and the northern long-eared myotis has been observed “gleaning” (catching non-flying insect prey).

Bats find their prey using echolocation. They emit a high-pitched call (called ultrasound) that bounces off insects. The bat hears the returning call and is able to pinpoint the exact location of its prey, swooping in to gobble it up. Bats also make other sounds, particularly for communication with other bats and their own pups (baby bats).

Many people don’t like bats, but they are an important—and really cool—part of God’s creation. In the United States, it’s estimated that the “pest control” bats naturally perform while eating their prey saves farmers at least 3.7 billion dollars each year! Other bats pollinate plants and spread their seeds far and wide.

Have you ever heard the phrase “blind as a bat”? Well, people say that but it’s not really true. Bats have great vision for seeing in the dark, which is what most species need it for. They can’t see in color (the vast majority of species are nocturnal, after all!) and they don’t see things as sharply as we do, but their vision is perfectly designed for seeing in the dark.

We recently came across a bat while we were exploring God’s creation. The little brown bundle, which we believe was a species creatively named the “big brown bat,” was lying on a pathway. Now bats don’t take off for flight like birds do. They have to drop off of something in order to gain flight. So a bat lying on the ground is stuck and easy prey to predators like cats or racoons.

Now you should never touch a bat as they can (though most don’t) carry diseases that can spread to humans or they can get frightened and bite or scratch you. So it’s best to leave a bat alone unless an adult is around to help you. Here’s what we did to rescue the bat. We stayed well back from it and found a large stick. Trevor held it out toward the bat, and it climbed right on. After we looked at it for a bit (from a safe distance) to admire God’s handiwork, we carried the stick to a tree and watched the bat crawl off the stick onto the tree.

Now you might not be able to rescue a grounded bat, but you can help them by building a bat box (or bat house) to put up in your backyard. This gives them a safe place to roost and raise their pups. Not only does that help bat populations, but it will help control insects in your backyard.

Well, we’re off on another adventure. Until next time, remember that bats, like everything God has made, gives glory to him. “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created” (Revelation 4:11).