Nearly a quarter of bat species worldwide are considered endangered or vulnerable because of disruption of forests, over-harvesting of trees they call home, climate change, and disease.

There are 23 species of bat currently listed as critically endangered, meaning they face immediate risk of extinction.

That means thirty percent less chocolate for us to eat!

Economists estimate that without bats controlling insect populations, cocoa bean yields would decrease by 30%.

There are two main types of bats: Megabats (who usually eat fruit) and Microbats (who often eat insects.).

The oldest bat caught in the wild was 39 years old at the age of recapture!

Bats have the longest lives of any similarly-sized mammal.

Baby bats are called pups and can be born one-at-a-time or in small litters of two-to-four pups, depending on the type of bat.

The Golden-crowned Flying Fox is a bat that lives in the Philippines and can grow to have a wingspan of more than five feet!

Bats come in all sizes: The smallest bat, called a bumblebee bat, lives in Thailand and has a wingspan of only six inches.

Mexican free-tailed bats can even reach speeds up 100 mph – that’s more than 40% faster than a cheetah!

Bats are fast, flying 60 miles per hour.

Bats are nocturnal, they sleep during the day and are active at night.

Bats are the only mammal that can truly fly (as opposed to gliding mammals like flying squirrels and lemurs.).

Share these facts about bats with your students and see below for some activities, arts and crafts, writing ideas and other projects for children to learn about bats and bat conservation during Bat Week. As insect eaters, pollinators, and seed spreaders, bats provide critical services for our ecosystem. Bat Week is Oct 24-Oct 31! Use this annual celebration timed with Halloween to teach kids about the important role bats play in nature.

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