Bat photos provided by Michelle McCaulley, Rio Grande
Basin Bat Project, all rights reserved.
There is a cycle in our community that has to do with the seasons at dusk. It begins when our Rio Grande Valley evenings start to warm in spring, pulling us out onto the patio. We look into the purple-orange sky and notice a black flicker here, another there, appearing in herky-jerky fashion. By fall, the air becomes dewy and cool at sunset, and the dancing black flashes are few until finally, they’re gone. This is the coming and going of bats.
Yes, bats. Mice with wings. Strange little critters that frighten some but delight many, including us. They live—or, perhaps the proper term is hang out—on our (ybonesy’s) property in two bat houses that sit on long poles out on the grounds, a sort of summer residence for bats.
Maybe it’s the season, or perhaps fueled by a desire to not take our bat companions for granted, we decided to learn more about these amazing flying mammals. We sent our questions to bat guru Michelle McCaulley, director of the bat program that set up our bat houses and many more like them. Michelle shed light on these nocturnal creatures.
Fifteen Questions with Michelle McCaulley
Q. You have a pretty unconventional job; can you describe your role as it pertains to bats in the community?
A. I see myself as a biologist—that is actually what my degree is in—and an educator and conservationist, not only when it comes to bats in my community but other animals as well.
Q. How did you get involved in this program?
A. My father, Jim McCaulley, had started the Corrales Bat Habitat Program, installing 30 houses with a small grant from US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) Partners Program in 2002. When he passed away in 2005, I was thrilled and honored to continue with this mission. It was also a chance to do what I love, which is to study animals—in this case, bats.
Q. How long has the program been in existence, and how has it been received in the community?
A. The Corrales Bat Habitat Program began in 2002 with 30 houses. In 2006, the name was changed to Rio Grande Basin Bat Project, and it became a non-profit 501 (3)(c) tax-exempt organization. To date there are over 60 sponsored bat houses, primarily in the Village of Corrales but also around the rest of New Mexico. The Village of Corrales passed a resolution about eight years ago in support of the program. Residents have been enthusiastic and very supportive ever since. I usually have a waiting list of willing sponsors who would like to enroll in the Rio Grande Basin Bat Habitat Expansion Program.
Q. Bats are extremely beneficial, which is, I assume, large part of why this program exists. Can you expand on the benefits of bats in a community?
A. Not only do bats consume half of their body weight a night eating insects, they are primary pollinators of some plants. If you like tequila, thank a bat. Bats pollinate the agave from which tequila is derived. Bats are also a good biological indicator for healthy communities. Spraying of insecticides and pesticides is very harmful to bats because the chemicals are stored in a bat’s fat reserves, which could affect how well that bat survives the winter to live another year. The bats that live in NM are insectivorous bats meaning they only eat insects.
Q. We understand that bat season is winding down. What exactly do bats do as the weather gets cooler?
A. There is not a lot known about exactly when and where bats go for winter. We know migrating birds follow the same route each winter and back each summer, but this is not clear for bats. Many species of bats take up winter residence in caves, some in trees and rock crevices. For our bats in Corrales, they could be wintering as close as the Sandia Mountains. They hibernate like many other mammal species, and the weight they have gained in the summer sustains them through the winter. If disturbed during hibernation, bats use more energy and may not have enough reserves to make it through this time. In the end the disturbance could cost the bat its life.
Q. What is the general state of bats in the area? Are they thriving?
A. It is difficult to tell just by the data I have collected from bats using our artificial bat habitat. There would be other ongoing factors to consider, as well more information about bat behavior in our area. I have not compiled the information gathered from this year, but in the past three years, the use of the houses has increased from ~50% to 74% by 2008. The increase could indicate a temperature preference for the artificial habitat or a loss of preferred nature habitat, for example.
Q. We understand there are some pretty major threats to bats in other parts of the world, and that large populations of bats are dying out as a result. Is there a risk that New Mexico bats will be affected?
A. In the past, the pet trade, loss of habitat, and indiscriminate killing of bats have all been threats. However, an even larger threat to cave bats has emerged, especially in the Northeast. Bats are dying from White Nose Syndrome (WNS). WNS was named such because of the white fungus around the noses of bats found emaciated, flying (not hibernating) and dying during winter months. The fungus was also on their wings and other body parts. It is unclear how the fungus is affecting the bats or whether it is the cause of the deaths or a symptom of some larger ailment. At this time WNS has not been documented in NM.
Q. As we head toward Halloween, we’re reminded about the way bats are always associated with this holiday. Is that a plus or minus, in your opinion?
A. I think it’s a plus. The Halloween season is an opportune time to educate people about bats and help dispel some the myths in the process.
Q. What time of year will we see the bats active again?
A. They will return sometime in May. They typically follow the hummingbirds, so when you have a hummer you mostly likely will see bats.
Q. Tell us a little bit about the mating and communal habits of bats?
A. Typically bats mate in the fall but delay ovulation and fertilization. The egg does not release from the female’s ovary to unite with the sperm for fertilization until the following spring. Both sexes congregate for hibernation. In the spring most females bear and raise the young together until the young are furred and ready to fly. Females usually bear one offspring.
Q. Can you talk about bats and disease? I think there’s a fear that bats carry disease, such as Rabies, and that bats can be dangerous. Do bats carry many diseases or is this a myth?
A. Bats, like any other mammal can contract rabies from another infected animal. Only ½ of one percent of bats contract rabies. The best protection from being bitten by any wild animal is to not handle the animal and call a professional for help. Always vaccinate your pets as well. Bats are good combatants again West Nile Virus (WNV) as some of their diet is made up of mosquitoes when this prey is available. Bats will not become infected by WNV by eating an infected mosquito but may be if bitten by a mosquito. Bats are considered a dead end host for WNV because the infected bat will not transmit the disease to humans or any other animal. I am a certified bat rehabilitator in NM, by the way, and so I can be called in when bats are found sick and/or hurt.
Q. Are there similar bat programs in other communities that you know of?
A. To the best of my knowledge, the Rio Grande Basin Bat Project is not only the largest community bat project; according to Bat Conservation International (BCI) we are the only program of our kind. The complied data from each bat year is submitted to BCI and to the USFWS Partners Program. Corrales should be very proud, this is a great honor and a testament to village motto for being animal friendly.
Q. Any resources you’d like to highlight for anyone interested in more information on bats?
A. Yes, please visit my website for more information about bats, bat houses, and our mission. We also offer several gifts that are sure to please the bat lover in your life!
In addition, I work with and am Secretary for Bat World Sanctuary, located in Mineral Wells, Texas. They are largest bat sanctuary, as well as a teaching facility for rehabilitators of insectivorous bats. They care for hundreds of insectivorous and fruit bats rescued each year from inhumane conditions or sometimes from the pet trade.
Q. What is your favorite bat fact or bat story that you can share with our readers?
A. I can’t pick a favorite because everything about bats is remarkable to me. After you get to know a bat, you’ll see that they, too, have their own personalities and are very kind creatures.
Q. Anything else you’d like to share about bats?
A. This is only a tidbit of bat information. I encourage everyone to learn more, not only bats, but all of the other wonderful animals that share your community, state, and planet. Each one is incredible in its own way, worth appreciating and certainly worth protecting. If everyone would play a small part, even in their own community, our planet would certainly be a better place.
Michelle McCaulley runs the Rio Grande Basin Bat Project, which was created by her late father, Jim McCaulley. Michelle planted the idea for the project when, as she recounts on her website, In 1999, I built my parents a nursery style bat house. They installed the house beside the 1/4 acre pond on their property. Their house was occupied the very first spring with over 150 insect munching bats. The house is a successful nursery. The prosperity of this house sparked an unusual idea.
So in January of 2001, my father Jim McCaulley, drafted a preliminary plan for a pilot project to build about 30 bat houses to be installed within the Village of Corrales. The goal was to provide an natural alternative to insect control rather than spraying insecticides, while also providing additional habitat. The plan was reviewed, approved and funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services (USFWS) under the auspices of the Partners for Wildlife program.
Michelle continues the program today, a bat evangelist spreading the truth about the benefits of bats and other wildlife. Thank you, Michelle, for your dedication, energy, and passion to and for these wonderful creatures. We love them!
Delightful post and wonderful pictures! Bats are so delicate and otherworldly looking, so all the more precious. The one thing I miss most living in suburbia is the relative absence of bats, although occasionally on summer evenings one can see the erratic flittings of what may be bats, though not sure if that’s just not wishful thinking. how great that Corrales is a bat-friendly community. Good on you lot! G
LikeLike
A wonderfully informative post. I hope many people have a chance to read this and learn more about these truly unique and vital creatures. There’s so much misunderstanding about bats that it’s great to know there are dedicated folks like you running about!
…and the goblets are totally cool! 😉
LikeLike
I agree, G and Heather, the post is great. So much information about these otherworldly looking (love that description, G!) creatures.
Even though we have two bat houses and participate in the Rio Grande Basin Bat Project, I did not know the history of the project nor how rare it is in this country. I can attest that Michelle works throughout the year on the project, checking in with bat house owners, validating the presence of bats, and fixing bat houses when they get old. In fact, we recently got a replacement bat house for one of ours.
In this community, there are advocates for all types of animals. One woman who is often at Village Council meetings and writing editorials to the local newspaper is someone who I think of whenever I think of coyote advocates. And of course, Michelle is the bat advocate, and there are animal lovers of every stripe. It is natural that someone who loves one type of animal loves all animals. These people are vital to the community, as the community really is about all who inhabit it, not just the people.
But there is also tension. Some people abhor coyotes for killing their chickens (well, whose fault is that, really?) and others kill bullsnakes thinking they’re rattlers, and others fear bats.
So, again, thank you, Michelle, and others like you who’ve dedicated your lives to such worthy causes.
LikeLike
p.s., the goblets *are* great, as are the cards and the stained glass piece. Are those your creations, Michelle?
And what was your impetus for building the bat house on your parents’ property way back when? Were you always a lover of animals as a child?
LikeLike
Dear ybonesy,
Yes, I was raised in Corrales and have lived here over 46 years. We always had all sorts of animals ranging from 11 dogs, cats, chickens, rabbits, horses, cows…what a wonderful childhood.
Stained glass/sandblasting is a past business. I do it now for the joy of it and they are my own designs. The cards are the work of a very dear friend.
I also love to wood work so it was a fun way to help my parents.
Thanks for the wonderful comments!
LikeLike
Michelle, sorry I’m late weighing in but have been on the road since last Saturday. Finally arrived in Georgia late last night and have a few minutes to properly check in.
What a beautiful post. The first thing I note is that you are carrying on the legacy of your father, passing down to future generations what he and your family have learned, separately and together. That alone is to be applauded.
And you all should be proud that Corrales gets behind its bats and the program. That is so encouraging to read. I didn’t know that bats were another “canary in the coal mine” type creature, letting us know when habitats have gone arwy. I see frogs that way in Minnesota, too.
The photographs are wonderful. What kinds of bats are in the photos? And are there particular bats native to New Mexico? Or can you find all bats in all places in the U.S.?
I also have a question about bat houses. I’m pretty sure Liz has one up on one of our oaks. It’s been there for a while but I don’t think it has attracted any bats yet. Do you have any tips for obtaining and putting up bat houses? What might help us to attract bats to our house?
ybonesy mentions that hers are on long poles. I think ours might be nailed to a tree. I love bats. And when I see their erratic flight around our home at night, I know they are eating all those MN mosquitoes. I’ve always liked them.
LikeLike
Michelle, I wanted to add that I wonder if its natural to have a fear of bats before you learn more about them? Is it the way they look? Or maybe just our lack of understanding. When I was growing up, about Junior High age, we moved from Georgia to Pennsylvania. While we were looking for a new home to buy, we stayed with my grandparents on their small farm in East Berlin, Pennsylvania. My sister and I shared a room with a door that went up to the attic. There were bats up there and we would hear them at night. Once in a while they would get into the house. One night I woke up to go to the bathroom and stepped on something that made me scream bloody mercy. It was only my flip-flop. But in the mind of a young girl in strange new surroundings, it was a bat from the attic!
Another more comforting encounter I had with bats was in Arches Park in Utah. I somehow got separated from the group at dusk and lost the cairn trail that led out of the desert hike I was on. So I retraced my steps and sat between two warm boulders, hoping someone would eventually find me if I stayed put. The rangers and group of students I was with did finally come for me about 3 hours later. It was cold, dark, but the sky had a million stars. And I found comfort in the bats that were flying in and out of the arches. I felt less alone somehow. Will never forget their company. I watched them while I waited. It made the time I was lost much more enjoyable.
LikeLike
Michelle,
I am so glad you did this post. Bats have fascinated me ever since that night in our grandma’s house when a bat made it’s way back down from the attic into the house. The commotion that ensued with my mother and grandma corralling the bat with a broom and racket in and attempt to get it back to the attic without releasing any other bats is a fond memory of our time in their house. Later that week grandpa and dad closed up the attic vents for several months to keep the bats from returning and on some level I was saddened because they lost their home.
Later in life I got to know bats a little better and enjoy watching the perform areal acrobatics over a pond or lake as they catch insects at dusk. I often point out to my children the bat houses placed by the Pennsylvania DCNR in our parks when we are out visiting a park.
I appreciated the mention of WNS which is decimating some bat populations in New York, Pennsylvania and their neighboring states. There has been a voluntary call to all cave explorers to stop entering caves until a better understanding can be found regarding the transmission of the disease (there is a thought that the disease may be spread from cave to cave on the clothes and equipment of people exploring these caves). For the most part those friends of mine who explore caves have been complying.
Thank you again for your timely and informative article on bats.
R3
LikeLike
Hi QuoinMonkey,
The first pic is of a Mexican free-tailed bat, they can be found in Corrales and around NM. The pallid bat (middle pic with the large ears), the western red bat and the silver haired bat (left pic of the 3) are also found in Corrales and NM. The little bat licking sugar water was netted in Arizona and is a lesser long nosed bat. This bat is endangered and is a nectar eater.
If you want to attract bats the most common place is to mount your house in a warm area. The goal of our nursery houses is not only to provide habitat but to give the females an alternative nursery. There is no formula to attract bats but females like the houses very warm, 6-8 hours of morning sun, the higher up the better. Most of our houses are at least 14 ft or more. Trees are not the safest place for houses because of predators. You might also check your house to make sure it is still in good condition, no leaks or gaps. Sometimes it a try and try again on a good location! Good luck and let me know if I can be of more help.
LikeLike
Dear QuoinMonkey,
I think fear is based on the misconceptions that surround bats as well as other species. I learned to respect bats, wolves and other animals like bears. I spent some time in Montana studying wolves and learned how really fearful they are of humans. Another misconception about a species that is totally unfounded. During that time I learned to appreciate and understand the behavior of bears. What a treat and time I will cherish forever.
I’m sure the bats were as fascinated with you are you with the. It sounds like an evening that would be a bat biologist’s dream!
Thanks for sharing!
LikeLike
Dear R3.
WNS has been devastating for our nation’s bats. There are some estimates that over 1.5 million bats have been lost. Bat World Sanctuary is spearheading the effort to treat and rehabilitate bats with WNS with some amazing results. All different types of groups have pulled to together on WNS.
Thank you for sharing your memory at your grandmother’s house. Do you know if the bat houses in Pennsylvania had bats?
Thank you for your comments!
LikeLike
QM and R3, I also enjoyed reading your memories of bats. QM, the experience at Arches seems amazing. Maybe bats are a totem animal? Or were then?
BTW, I was curious about the bat totem and what a bat’s presence might signify to a person. Here are some items I found, culled from different sources, many having to do with the qualities of bats:
*Bat flying into your life signifies ego transformation–old ideas and patterns that have been your truth are about to change; death of old fears, rebirth into new light
*Bats reflect a need to confront our fears, bring those fears into light.
*Those with bat medicine have ability to discern hidden messages from people and the environment; also extraordinary sense of direction
*When bat appears in your life, it may signal the need to examine your surroundings, understand what is being offered, and change your patterns to be open to receiving.
*Bats are social animals, so a bat appearing in your life might signal the need to reach out, be more sociable.
Again, these were bits and pieces culled from the web. I’d be curious if they resonate with Michelle or anyone else.
LikeLike
BTW, we think we might have bats living in our attic. We hear a scratchy sound, like something flitting around up there. Not always, but we have wondered about that. Michelle, has Jim mentioned this to you? I sometimes wonder if they move from the bat houses to the attic, in a kind of shared residence way.
Michelle, your childhood does sound great. Did you have 11 dogs all at once?
Also, I keep looking at the photos of the bats. They are so cool looking. I love their wings and that little claw that comes out.
And QM, that fear that people have. Maybe it’s natural, but I think of all the ways in which it gets reinforced as we grow up.
And finally, I was happy to hear that they are having some good results treating WNS. That ailment freaks me out. I read not too long ago about mass extinctions. They looked at a particular frog, and that’s when I learned about WNS in bats. The link below is a synopsis, but I guess you can’t get the full article without a subscription to the electronic New Yorker:
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2009/05/25/090525fa_fact_kolbert
LikeLike
Michelle,
The bat houses did have bats. Most of the houses I have seen were set near water, either streams or lakes. At one park we used to sit on a bridge near the bat house and watch the bats skim over the water as they flew into and out of the beams of our flashlights.
R3
LikeLike
ybonesy, that’s a good point about bats. I had always thought they were spiritually about Rebirth. I like that you added some of the qualities of a Bat totem. That night in Arches park, I felt like they helped me through a dark time where I was pretty scared. And, for the moment, they became Totem helpers.
I think creatures come in and out of our lives in that way. Maybe not always totems, but helping us out along the way. I look for what keeps showing up in my life. On the last writing retreat in Michigan, one of the writers kept running into bees everywhere. Usually a single bee in the oddest of places. They were showing up for him. And he paid attention.
LikeLike
Michelle, thanks for naming the bats. They all have such different little faces. We’ll have to check out our bat house to see if it’s still in good shape. And I don’t know what kind of sun it gets. We live on a pretty shaded lot. Will have to check that out, too. I’m kind of curious now as to what resources are available in Minnesota for bats.
Last night I was out on the porch here at my uncle’s talking on the phone and I thought I heard bats over my head near the roof rafters. Then I realized, I don’t remember what they sound like. Or if they even make a sound.
yb, do you hear your bats? I thought I remembered that you could hear them. Now I’m second guessing myself.
LikeLike
QM,
Here is a link where you can heard different vocalizations from many different bat species.
http://junglewalk.com/sound/Bat-sounds.htm
R3
LikeLike
Hi ybonesy,
Jim mentioned that you most likely have bats in you attic but seem to enjoy them.
Yes, we had 11 dogs at one time. Each one had a place to eat and sleep inside our house. Oe of our dogs was dropped over our 6 ft fence. She was a lovely Australian Shepherd that was my dog, she was a joy and very special…but of course they all were. I wouldn’t know what to do if I didn’t have all sorts of critters to care for. Another great reason to live in Corrales. :o)
LikeLike
Hi R3,
That is wonderful news that the bats were using the houses. It is recommended that houses be mounted near water but we have found they will still use them if they aren’t close to water.
I have also started to record some of the bats calls from the bats using our bats houses. Still in the analysis stages but enjoying listening to them!
Bats are amazing.
LikeLike
The bats in our attic at first scared us. Of course, moving into a new house after living in the old one for 14 years, a lot of things took getting used to. But one of the strangest was sitting in different parts of the house and hearing that scratching up above. So it was freaky at first, but we heard it enough to realize it wasn’t supernatural. It was something moving around. So yeah, we kind of like hearing it now.
QM, I don’t recall hearing our bats. We hear a most haunting fowl sound most summer nights. We believe it is a type of heron that lives in a big tree and uses the big pond. Jim saw it, and he pointed it out to me. It wasn’t a crane, but it had a certain elegance and was big. And when we looked it up, the sound described in the birder book was exactly what we’d been hearing.
Perhaps I wrote about that in some of my writing practices. That could have been where you remember my writing about hearing something that flies.
As for the bats, I listened to the recordings on the link that R3 shared, and no, I don’t think I’ve really ever heard them. Maybe a squeak that I didn’t know to attribute to a bat, but nothing like that.
LikeLike
Michelle, if I wanted to learn more about bats and creating bat habitats in my backyard, where would I go for the information. I live in a large metro area with running water about 20 blocks away, but a large backyard (60 feet by 40 feet) where I could install a bat house or two. I don’t know enough about bats in my area. Any suggestions?
Thanks.
Oh, great article and very informative.
LikeLike
Michelle, it was so refreshing to read your article and the conversations that it has generated. So much positiveness about bats. I needed that. I’ve always admired and appreciated bats on principle but have also feared them. I’d been conquering that fear but had a setback this summer when some close friends had a bad bat encounter. Well, a theoretical bad bat encounter. They woke one morning with a bat hanging from a beam in their bedroom. David put on heavy gloves and gently removed the bat and set it free outdoors. Thought the story was over. But no, a pediatrician friend informed him that if you wake with a bat in your bedroom, you should always have rabies shots because bats’ teeth are so small and sharp that you wouldn’t know if you’d been bitten in your sleep or not. Long story short: David and his wife and their nine-year old daughter all did the long series of shots. Just in case. The local Poison Control helpline confirmed the need as did someone at the Center for Disease Control in Washington (another friend of a friend).
David says, the lesson learned is “Save the Bat” so you can take it somewhere to be tested. No other way to be certain, says David.
While I love David and his family dearly, I think perhaps they over-reacted. What do you think?
(by the way, the bat showed no signs of behaving other than like a normal healthy bat)
LikeLike
Hi Bob,
There are really only a few guidelines for installing a bat house:
Yes, most bats prefer to have a water source close, install your bat house the higher the better, buy or make an approved bat house or with approved bat house plans (not all bat houses are created equal)! install your house in an area that is has an open flyway (so bats can easily enter and exit your house, no obstructions), allow 6-8 hours sun (morning is preferable), don’t spray pesticides, and last but certainly not least check you bat house during the bat season (for occupancy) and after bat season or before next bat season to ensure your house is still is good shape (air tight, if has netting, netting is in good shape, and clean any wasp nests that may have taken up residency). If you don’t have luck the first couple of years attracting don’t give up hope. Try perhaps a different direction or location. I hope this is helpful advice!
LikeLike
Bob,
I’m glad you enjoyed the article. If you would like more information, please email me, I’d be happy to help anyway I can.
LikeLike
Hi Jude,
Thank you for writing about this experience. Unfortunately, bats that are found in a room with a person/s that cannot reliably rule out physical contact, that bat will need to be tested for rabies.
Still only 1/2 of 1% of bats contract rabies. It is always best that if you decide to rescue a downed or injured bat do so wearing thick gloves or call a trained rehabilitator. BatWorld.org is a great place to find information about bat rescue or find a bat rehabilitator. If a bat bites someone, even if it is most likely only out of fear, that bat will need to be test.
This is an unfortunate incident. I have had the post exposure series (a long story :o) ) and can say that I found getting a tetanus shot more painful.
Don’t let your fear take over using common sense when it comes to any wild animal. Bats are intelligent, all have very distinct personalities and wonderful beneficial creatures!
LikeLike
[…] that drop by our door. In two days, it will be the full November Frost Moon (will be bats be hibernating?). It’s blustery and chilly in Minnesota. Part of my heart is still in […]
LikeLike
[…] Other Local Color posts from Minnesota & New Mexico: Mysteries & Myths: In Search Of The Lake Creature, Sidewalk Poetry — Public Art At Its Best, Spirits In The Bosque – Patrick Dougherty Leaves His Mark On Albuquerque, Wet Cement (It Only Takes A Second), virgin cottonwood haiku, A Little Less War, Birthday Of Mabel Dodge Luhan, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Birthday Celebration, A Journey For Bill, A Taste Of Ghost Ranch, Bats, Beautiful Bats! […]
LikeLike
Michelle,
We now live in Rivers Edge 2 by the river. How can we have you help us build a bat house?
Cheryl
LikeLike
Hi Cheryl,
I would e happy to help you build a bat house. I have several plans available. Please contact me @ batbunkhouse@comcast.net and I would be happy to provide more information, plans and help installing your house.
Thanks for your interest.
Michelle
LikeLike
Speaking of bats, I spotted the first bat of the season (here out our back door, anyway) last evening, flying erratically around the patio. Michelle also reported the first bat of the season, too. Bats are back in Corrales. 🙂
LikeLike
[…] Brazilian (more commonly called Mexican) free-tail bats [NOTE: To learn more about bats, visit Bats, Beautiful Bats! a piece about bat evangelist Michelle McCaulley who spreads the truth about the benefits of bats and […]
LikeLike