About the Colorado Bat Society
Our Mission
...is to foster public appreciation of bats and to support the conservation of bat populations in Colorado. We are a federally tax-exempt, nonprofit corporation founded in 1990.
Why Conserve Bats?
CBS Founder and President, Rick Adams, explains.
Board of Directors
Meet the scientists and activists behind the Society.
Contact Us
All you need to correspond with the Colorado Bat Society.
Why Conserve Bats?
by Rick Adams, Founder and President
This is a common question posed by those who are unaware of the plight of
bats. Of the 5200 species of mammals in the world, almost 23% (> 1200 species)
are bats. Because of their great diversity and versatility, bats live in almost
all habitats on earth and are important in the balance of ecosystems. For example,
most bats in North America are insect eaters (called insectivorous) and are
the only serious nighttime foragers on mosquitoes and many species of agricultural
pests that cause millions of dollars of damage each year. A single little brown
bat can eat up to 600 mosquitoes in an hour.
In other parts of the world bats are important pollinators and seed dispersers of many important plant species. In Arizona and southwards into Mexico, the endangered
Sanborn's long-nosed bat is the primary pollinator of Saguaro, Organ Pipe and Cardone cacti. If this bat species were to go extinct, reproduction in these keystone cactus
species would decline drastically, inevitably leading to the collapse of the southwestern desert ecosystem. Bats are also the primary pollinators of Agave plants, which are
used to make tequila. Bats are also the primary dispersers of seeds for many tropical plant species, and it has been shown that bat dispersed seeds are critically important
to the reestablishment of tropical rain forest after clear cutting and/or burning has occurred.
Despite their well documented importance to the balance of almost all ecosystems, bats continue to be feared and killed outright (sometimes in the thousands) due to ancient,
but still commonly held, myths and unfounded human fears. Bats are actually quite gentle mammals that carry few diseases, are meticulously clean, and are one of the most highly
evolved of mammals. Although a diverse group, bat numbers are in drastic decline worldwide. Bat Conservation International estimates that approximately 45% (more than 400 species)
of bats should be listed as endangered. CBS hopes to do its part in helping to stop the decline of bat populations in Colorado. If you are concerned and interested in promoting
the conservation of bats, perhaps becoming a member of the Colorado Bat Society is for you!
Board of Directors
|
President/Founder |
Contact Us
Colorado Bat Society |
