Everything’s bigger in Texas, including its bat populations. The Lone Star State has more bat species than any other state and is home to the largest bat colony in the world! The Mexican free-tailed bat, our state’s official flying mammal, is the most common bat found throughout Texas. These creatures play an important role in the Texas ecosystem, from insect control to pollination. Keep reading to learn more about bats and ways you can help them thrive.
Bats may be small, but they play a vital role in conservation.
Planting native plants is a great way to attract bats and other pollinators to your yard. Native plants are already adapted to Texas’ climate and can withstand the high temperatures and regular drought, requiring less water than non-native plants. Bats depend on native plants for food and habitat. For example, moths are a common meal for bats, so choosing native plants that attract moths helps provide a stable food source for local bat populations. Some options are Texas redbud, tufted evening primrose, and red yucca.
You can also choose native plants that bloom at night or stay open at night to provide nectar for our nocturnal friends. Light-colored and fragrant flowers are best for attracting bats. Here are a few options for native Texas plants that bloom at night:
Bat boxes are like birdhouses, just for bats! Also known as bat houses, they come in all shapes and sizes ranging from high-end premade models to do-it-yourself plans. These boxes provide a slim design mimicking the space between bark and a tree trunk, a bat’s ideal nursery.
The National Wildlife Federation’s How to Build a Bat House and Bat Conservation International’s Bat House offer step-by-step plans and tips to build a bat box of your own.
The ideal location for your bat box:
Nested in the eaves of roofs and buildings or secured to tall poles are all common locations for bat boxes.
Synthetic herbicides and insecticides typically contain harmful chemicals that prevent weeds and pests. However, these chemicals can negatively affect bats by degrading habitats where bats live and forage. Exposure to pesticides can also cause behavioral and metabolic changes that impact bat survival and reproduction.
Additionally, bats act as a natural pest control so reducing synthetic pesticides helps bat populations flourish, reducing the need for additional pesticides.
Bats are essential parts of the Texas environment and are extremely beneficial to humans. Unfortunately, bat populations have declined in recent years due to habitat loss, reduction in insect populations, and extreme weather events. Try planting insect-attracting plants, building a bat box, and avoiding the use of pesticides to help bats bounce back.
