Bats in the Farm

Before dawn, in order to identify which populaton of bats live, fly through and feed in the farm, our friends from Fauna Silvestre tend fine nets between trees in various locations of the land plot because as soon as the sun sets, the bats take flight in search of food. This nets are very fine so the bats are unable to detect them and get caught. The team of biologists untangle very quickly the little flying mammals and put them in cotton bags while it is their turn to be meassured, observed, identified and photographed. After that examination they are set free and fly away immediately.

Angie and Emmanuel observing a bat. Biologists need to cover themselves as much as possible for mosquito protection.

Photo: Fauna Silvestre

Wings, extremities and ears are meassured, time of capture recorded, species, sex and reproductive state identified. Sometimes the bats carry pollen or tiny parasites on their body.

This bat is a Glossophaga sp. Very small in size with a large snout. 

They feed on nectar from the flowers using a long pink tongue.

Here is an Artibeus sp., bigger than the Glossophaga, with powerful jaws and teeth adapted to feed on fruit. Observe the velvety fur and the design of the nose which helps them to receive the echoes of the ultrasonic sounds they emit as they fly. The bat's brain processes this information to construct the surroundings and detect preys.

Bats move a lot. That is why it is difficult to have sharp pictures of this energetic creatures.

Look at the white lines of this bat's face and the beautiful design of its ears. When they are being meassured, bats bite trying to defend and liberate themselves. It is important to wear thick gloves.

The information collected in the field has to be analyzed, compared to guides and even discussed with other experts on the field to correctly identify the species of both Glossophaga sp. and Artibeus sp.  that were examined. A final report will be written by Fauna Silvestre about these amazing animals.

Fot the moment, it is satisfying to know that the farm is part of the bats' habitat. Bats are great pollinators and help to keep mosquito populations at bay which in turn, helps combat some diseases transmitted by those insects.