Page 33 - Bats of Oklahoma Field Guide
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Why care about bats in Oklahoma?
Bats play highly beneficial ecological and economic roles. Bats consume mosquitoes, moths and
other night-flying insects, including some that cause extensive agricultural and forest damage.
In Oklahoma, the avoided cost value of bats (reduced cost of pesticide application) is estimated
to range from $6 million to $24 million per year.* They also play a vital role in cave ecosystems,
providing nutrients for other cave life through their droppings, and serve as prey for other animals
such as snakes and owls.
Get involved!
Help protect bats in Oklahoma by purchasing a publication from the Oklahoma Department of
Wildlife Conservation, sending a private donation or buying a Wildlife Conservation Passport,
conservation license plate, fishing license or hunting license in the state. Don’t miss out on the
annual Selman Bat Watch near Freedom, Oklahoma. You will see millions of bats fly over your head
and off into the twilight. For more information on buying products and attending the Selman Bat
Watch, visit wildlifedepartment.com.
* Boyles, J.G., P.M. Cryan, G.F. McCracken, and T.H. Kunz. 2011. Economic Importance of Bats in Agriculture. Science 332 (6025): 41-42
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