How Bats Are Keeping Our Backyards Healthy This Summer!

Bats are one of Arizona's most important nocturnal residents.  These animals are most common from the end of March to the middle of October, and serve a very important role in our ecosystem. What makes these animals special, and why is it important for humans to protect them?

READ MORE: What Wildflowers Bloom In Cochise County, Arizona This Spring?

Their Environmental Impact

Arizona is home to 28 species of bat, according to the Arizona Game and Fish Department. These animals are mostly nocturnal and have a huge impact on the environment here in Arizona. Most species of bat can eat up to 1000 insects an hour! That makes them one of the top pest controllers in the state! These guys also take care of disease-carrying bugs. Bats have been shown to reduce the amount of malaria-carrying insects, and in turn save human lives and reduce the spread of disease.

Not only do these guys take care of insects and mosquitoes, but they also pollinate plants and disperse seeds! Bats are important for plant growth and development. Without them, we would see a lot of differences in our plant populations, and the diversity of our vegetation would be limited.

RELATED: How Rabbit Populations Are Recovering In Arizona By 2026

Karthner Caverns

During certain parts of the year, roughly 1500 bats live in Kartchner Caverns. This cave system provides an important home for bats here in Cochise County. In the big room in Kartchner Caverns, bats reproduce, nurse their young, and build new bat populations. Park rangers at Kartchner Caverns have been studying the bat population every summer, and say that their numbers are going strong and may be slowly increasing as years go by.

On April 15th every year, Kartchner Caverns closes tours to their big room, removes light sources, and sets up the space for the bats to return from their hibernation. This room is closed off so the bats can call the space home. During spring and summer months, upwards of 1000 bats call this cave home. On October 15th, when the bats leave to hibernate in other areas, the big room is opened back up to the public.

What Can We Do To Keep Them Safe

According to the Arizona Department of Game and Fish, bats are protected by Arizona law and cannot be collected or killed. If bats are nesting in a harmful place, such as inside your house or shed, Arizona Game and Fish has directions on how to remove them safely, available on their website. It is extremely important to never touch a bat with your bare hands, as they can carry diseases such as rabies. Touching bats also increases their chances of dying, so it is important to leave them alone.

Having bats nesting on your porch or in your yard is actually more benificial then harmful, according to Arizona Game and Fish and The Arizona Bat Resource Group. Bat scat can be used as fertilizer, they can provide important pollination for gardens and flowers, and keep away insects. Having bats in your area helps create a beautiful and healthy backyard.

Backyard Bat Project

If you are interested in being a part of the conservation effort, Arizona Game and Fish has a program called the Backyard Bat Program. This is a free-to-participate study being done on bats, using basic backyard hummingbird feeders. This study is looking for volunteers in southern Arizona to analyze lesser long-nosed bats.

Participants in this study are asked to measure the fluid in their hummingbird feeders as it gets dark and in the morning when the sun starts to rise. Volunteers will then be asked to record this data through the website.

More information about this study is available here: Bat-Study-Info-and-Instructions_2024b.pdf

Bats are an integral part of the ecosystem in Cochise County. They take care of insects, pollinate plants, and disperse seeds. Bats also help minimize human contact with diseases such as malaria, because they are primary predators for mosquitoes and other virus-carrying insects. With all that in mind, are you excited to see our furry flying friends this summer?
Continue reading about animals in Cochise County: The Decline Of Jaguars In Arizona: A Growing Concern.