Discover Maryland's Bats

Hoary Bats
Photo by: Dr. J. Scott Altenbach

Click to Hear Hoary Bat Call
(.wav file - Opens with Windows Media Player)

Bats! OK, so the mere thought of them gives you the Stephen King creeps and sends you running for cover.

Try thinking of them as furry purple martins clearing the night skies of insects that damage crops and gardens and spread diseases. Bats are the major predator performing this ecological miracle during the night shift. Just one bat can eat over a thousand insects each night.

The only problem is that bat populations of all species are declining throughout North America. Whether you’ve just discovered bats living in your house or you want to put up a bat box, you can be part of the conservation solution.

An 8th grader at Cockeysville Middle School was interested in doing something to help endangered species as part of his school project.  He chose the Indiana Bat. Click here to read Aaron's essay on how people can help endangered bats.