This week, East Coast FM looked at bats…
Did you know…
- The 10 species of bats in Ireland are all protected because their populations have declined due to loss of habitats and insects as their food source
- Bats are found all over the island of Ireland and prefer roosting in wooded areas
- Data from bat monitoring can be used as an indicator of biodiversity
How are bats incorporated into Ireland’s environment?
- Bats are a keystone essential species that help control insects, pollinate plants, and disperse seeds across their environments
- Bats pollinate over 500 plant species, including flowers that bloom at night
- Bats use echolocation to locate insects to prey off of at night, including midges
- Bat populations are declining due to habitat loss from hedgerow removal, light at night, and the use of pesticides to kill insects they eat
How can I participate in bat conservation in my local community?
- Understory, an environmentally centered organization, is hosting a Joy of Bats citizen scientist project for everyone to teach and encourage bat conservation
- Participate in monitoring schemes and bat counts with Bat Conservation Ireland
- Small bat boxes can be placed on trees to create proper roosting places and prevent roosting in houses
Here’s a few websites if you want to know more
- www.understory.ie/projects – Understory’s Joy of Bats Citizen Scientist Project
- https://www.batconservationireland.org/ – Bat Conservation Ireland
- https://www.teagasc.ie/news–events/daily/environment/bats-and-their-habitats.php – Bats and their Habitats, Teagasc Agricultural Food Development Authority
