It’s no secret that bats have had an unfair rap these days. Rather than turning up your nose to bats and running off in the other direction, it is crucial to recognize the good work that bats do to keep the delicate balances of ecosystems in check for both animals, plants, and humans. Without bats, some of your favourite foods and the most common ingredients used in recipes would not be available to you. To counteract the bad press and unfair disadvantages that bats face, they often have protected statuses with steep punishments for disrupting their environment and their role in the ecosystem. Find out more about the benefits of bats in the pollination process and who to call for wildlife control in Coquitlam if you require bat removal. 

Efficient Pollination Is Essential 

For the Earth to maintain regular functioning, pollination is required for survival. There are thousands of plants across the globe, and almost all of them require some form of pollination. However, the primary focus of pollination conservation has been on bees. Bee movies, comics, campaigns, shirts, and merchandise beg people to save the bees. These bee campaigns are still in brute force even now. Fewer grassroots or commercial efforts are mobilized behind keeping the bats safe, particularly in current political climates, but it’s no fault of the bat. 

Of all the plants that require pollination from animals, bats are responsible for over 500 species. When bats pollinate plants, the process takes on a particular term called chiropterophily, which comes from the Greek. To pollinate plants, bats don’t simply race out of their caves and, by luck, run into a patch of flowers. Instead, they have unique senses and skills that help them complete the job quickly and effectively. 

• Bats have a strong sense of smell that helps locate pollen 
• Bats use echolocation to find flowers 
• Bats eat insects around flowers to reduce pest populations 
• Bats are furry, so they carry a lot of pollen from plant to plant 

Balanced Ecosystems Are Essential 

Pollination is not the primary goal, but it is a solid secondary accomplishment. Bats fly from one area to another, using echolocation or their heightened sense of smell to locate the nectar they need for nourishment. Bats are even known to visit a hummingbird feeder for the nectar from time to time, leaving puffs of pollen in their wake. 

As they move from location to location, they release poop while they fly in each place. This may seem disgusting at first, but it is the dispersal of seeds in bat poop, also known as guano, that helps new plants grow better and bigger. If the same tree drops seeds underneath, it is unlikely many will make it past seedlings because of limited resources. If a bat  drops seeds in another area where light, space, and resources are more plentiful, the chances of survival are far higher. 

Diverse Plants Are Essential 

Humans depend on many diverse plants pollinated by bats for perfumes, medicines, and food. Like humans, bats are particularly attracted to the sweet smells of fruits such as cocoa, guava, mango, and banana. They also enjoy light-coloured night-blooming plants. Not only do bats help create diversity by dropping seeds in different areas, but they also enjoy the nectar of many different flowers and fruits and cross-pollinate while visiting each for a snack.

Contact Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control in Coquitlam if you require expert removal and relocation of bats that have gathered on your property.  Bats can present serious problems for removal and clean-up unless professional services are called to the scene. Help protect some of the most essential pollinators on the planet by having professionals humanely move the bats to a better place.