Why Put Up a Bat House

You are going to get some strange looks and a lot of questions when you tell people about your bat house. So, here is a little info to help you out.

Bats are a “keystone species” that quite literally support our planet. Without them the ecosystems could gradually collapse leading to famine and the extinction of some species. By supporting a healthy bat population, you are doing your part to support the Earth.
As the only mammal capable of powered flight, bats are an important part of the eco system. Since we are asleep while they are working, we are largely unaware of all they do.
They eat a staggering number of insects. A single bat can eat up to 1000 mosquito sized insects an hour. Even a small colony can eliminate 20,000 insects or more per hour!
1. Not all bats eat insects. Bats are the bees of the night. They are attracted to plant nectar and the insects feeding on the nectar. The tiny hairs on their bodies and wings help to spread the pollen as they go from plant to plant.
2. They produce guano. I know, I know. Yuck! But, hey, poops important. Guano is bat gold!! It is high in nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium which are required for plant growth making it excellent fertilizer. Guano acts a natural fungicide and it destroys nematodes. Bat Conservation International calls bats the “farmers of the tropics”. It is estimated that 95 percent of the new growth, found in the rainforest, can be attributed to the seeds dropped by bats in their guano.1
3. No bats = No tequila! Bats are the sole pollinators of the agave plant. 2