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submitted 4 days ago by ickplant@lemmy.world to c/bats@lemmy.world
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[-] Mbourgon@lemmy.world 22 points 4 days ago

Fun fact: once a year a 100‘ x 100‘ cave in Mason Texas becomes one of the most populated bat caves (bat nursery), holding anywhere from 2 million to 7 million. In the spring, pregnant bats come to this cave for some reason (they don’t know why) and hang out here until they give birth. Once they do, they spend the next couple of months rearing their young, eventually taking them on flights, and 1-2 months after giving birth the babies are now the same size as their mom, and they all go back to whichever cave they originally came from.

[-] ickplant@lemmy.world 5 points 4 days ago

There is also Bracken Cave, which I believe is different from the one you are referring to (but I could be wrong) in San Antonio, TX. Same thing, up to 20 millions bats make it home for roosting and raising their young. I’m going there this September to watch them emerge for their nightly hunting!!!

[-] Mbourgon@lemmy.world 1 points 4 days ago

Yup, that one’s even bigger! I need to go see that one. Here’s the Mason bar cave info. https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/places-we-protect/eckert-james-river-bat-cave-preserve/

[-] YtA4QCam2A9j7EfTgHrH@infosec.pub 15 points 4 days ago

Thank you for posting these bat fact. I get a lot of bat enjoyment out of them.

[-] ickplant@lemmy.world 2 points 4 days ago

Thank you! It’s nice to know that people enjoy them as I enjoy researching and making them for you all!

[-] Varyk@sh.itjust.works 9 points 4 days ago

Is that for a different species of bats?

The pregnancy can't be that variable within a single species right?

[-] Varyk@sh.itjust.works 2 points 4 days ago

That's cool. Bats are cool.

Thanks

[-] ickplant@lemmy.world 2 points 4 days ago

Yes, these numbers are for different species. There is quite a lot of variation in bats, from tiny insect-eating bats to large fruit-eating ones.

[-] moosetwin@lemmy.dbzer0.com 7 points 4 days ago

with it taking that long for something the size of my fist those things better be coming out as full grown adults

[-] NuWuX@sh.itjust.works 3 points 4 days ago

Sky puppies!

[-] ArtieShaw@fedia.io 5 points 4 days ago

Well, now I'm subscribed to Bat Facts. (Thanks!)

[-] Agent641@lemmy.world 1 points 4 days ago

DCA into bats, got it. 📈

this post was submitted on 24 Jun 2024
216 points (99.5% liked)

Bats

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Bats are cool

Bats are the only true flying mammals. There are over 1,400 species of bats, and they can be found on nearly every part of the planet. Not only are they cute, they are also important...

Studying how bats use echolocation has helped scientists develop navigational aids for the blind. Without bats’ pollination, seed dispersal, and pest control we wouldn’t have bananas, avocados, mangoes, agave, or cacao… that’s right, bats bring us tequila and chocolate!

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