Why is it that bats are often portrayed as vicious, scary creatures that want to suck your blood? The reality is that very few bats will ever carry 
rabies, and many bats are actually very cute. Beyond their cute appearance though, bats are actually incredibly beneficial to our environment. Here are some reasons why you should be happy to see these little creatures flying around.
They make great pest exterminators
Many bats eat insects as a primary food source, helping to keep bug populations under control. This reduces the amount of harsh pesticides used on crops which is not only good for you, but it helps reduce pollution as well. Bats greatly reduce the number of crops damaged or destroyed by pests. It has been estimated that somewhere between $3.7 and $54 billion worth of pest control services are saved in the United States by bats, per year. Bats are known to eat the bugs that attack crops like pecans, rice, cotton, corn, coffee, tomatoes, and many others.
Bats help produce our favorite foods
Much like bees, bats actually pollinate flowers as they feed on their nectar. The pollination that occurs from bats traveling flower-to-flower helps the plants to produce the fruit and seeds needed to continue growing. Bats have been documented pollinating over 700 types of plants, many of which we use for food and medicine – such as bananas, avocados, dates, peaches, and more.
These are just a couple of the reasons – among many – why bats are such a great asset to our environment. So the next time you see one of these critters flying around, don’t be scared, be happy for what they do for us every single day. If you have any questions about bats or just want more information, give Critter Control® a call today.
