• There are approximately 1100 species of bats in the whole world-that’s ¼ of all the mammal species in the world.

• 43 species live in the United States and 34, yes 34 of those live right here in Texas!

• The Mexican free-tailed bat is the official state flying mammal of Texas.

• The Mexican free-tailed colony in Bracken Cave is the largest bat colony in the world. 20 million (yes I said “million”) bats live here in the summer! These bats eat an estimated 200 tons of insects each summer.

• They have been known to fly as high as 10,000 feet - airplanes fly at that altitude!

• They have been clocked flying at speeds between 30-80 mph.

• Depending on the species, a bat can live up to 44 years.

• Thanks to bats we have medicines, vaccines, navigational aids for the blind and have developed military equipment using information through the study of bats and dolphins and echolocation.

• The average body temperature of a non-hibernating bat is 89 - 100.6

• Bats use 9 flight muscles to fly - birds have only 2.

• Along with tons of insects, bats also eat fruit which helps to pollinate and disperse seeds that are important to reforestation of the rainforest. A full 98% of rainforest regrowth comes from seeds that have been spread by fruit bats. We cannot stress enough that we need bats for a healthy planet!

• Bats are protected by law. Texas law states that it is illegal to “hunt a bat; or sell, offer for sale, purchase, offer to purchase, or possess after purchase, a bat or any part of a bat, dead or alive.” This is a class C misdemeanor.

• Never disturb a roosting bat, especially in the winter when they are hibernating.

• If you find a bat visit Bat World Sanctuary or call the DFW Wildlife Coalition hotline at 972-234-9453.

• If you must handle a bat: never use bare hands! Protect yourself with heavy gloves.

For more neat information about bats and their habitat, including great places in Texas for bat viewing, check out:

Bat Conservation International

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department