Batty for Bats: October is Bat Appreciation Month

They aren't out to suck your blood, and they're definitely not rodents, but bats still get a bad wrap and are associated with the spookiest season of all. To learn more about bats, their impacts on the world around us, and how they survive the winter, we spoke with David Mizejewski, a naturalist with the National Wildlife Federation.

Bats aren't just great at pest control, but they're pollination and seed dispersion machines. The various species are overflowing with incredible benefits, literally. Bat scat or guano provides nutrients that other cave-dwelling creatures rely on. While not every species are cave-dwelling, their perks benefit us all, and their slow reproduction rate makes it hard for them to increase their numbers after devastating events.

How you can help:

You can learn more about building a bat house to provide a safe home for your local bats on the National Wildlife Federation's website. You can also learn more fun facts about bats via their blog.