L is for Lesser
Long-nosed Bat! While the outlook
for earthly existence isn’t looking good for bats in general (nearly half of
all species are on a ‘threatened’ or ‘endangered’ list), they do still have a
couple things to write home about. For
instance, bats are the only mammals that can fly and some can reach speeds of
14 miles an hour!
 | |
| Organ Pipe |
They are
nocturnal and do all of their eating and traveling at night. And speaking of
traveling, these are truly long-distance migrators! Between central Mexico to
Arizona and New Mexico, their migration is timed with the flowering cycle of their
favorite food sources such as Organ Pipe Cactus, Saguaros, and Agave. Their
slender tongues measure roughly the same length as their entire body and allow
them to draw the nectar from night blooming plants and cacti—and hummingbird
feeders, too if you don’t take them down at night. Believe me, I know! They are terribly messy eaters and will consume (or
spill) the contents of every feeder in one night.
Their
shelters of choice are typically caves and mines, especially as the females
need a place to have their pups (they
only have one) when they first arrive from Mexico in April or May, however
they can be quite resourceful as they’ve been noted roosting under bridges (it’s not like we have any water under there!), in patio rafters and scrub
brush. We actually get so many making their home under certain bridges here
that concerned folks post “Bat Maternity” signs!
That picture gave me the heebie jeebies! And "Bat Maternity" signs? Just when you think you've heard it all, lol.
ReplyDeleteHeehee, not the prettiest critters are they? But they do a great job pollinating! :-)
ReplyDelete