Why Bats Live In Caves
ACTIVITY 1
Read the fact below
Bats require and clamor for a safe shelter to sleep during the day since they
hunt for their food after dark. Caves are the perfect dwelling spaces for bats
because they are dark and cool, protected and out of reach from their enemies.
Before the darkness of the evening creeps in, most bat colonies – sometimes
millions of bats within each – begin to stir, flap their wings around the cave
in a randomized frenzy and leave at about the same time which is quite a sight
to behold as they emerge into the evening sky. Bats are beneficial to society
as one bat could devour a thousand insects every night, including moths, pesky
beetles and mosquitoes. In fact, some people encourage bats to live near their
property by mounting bat houses painted in black to soak up the sun’s warmth
and attract bats. They prefer living alongside bodies of water like sloughs,
lakes and ponds so they could eat insects quickly by the time their eggs
hatch. Rather than fearing the presence
of bats, we should be reassured by the fact that the creature is harmless and
its presence indicates a healthy environment.
ACTIVITY 2
Answer the questions below
1. Why do bats live in caves?
2. How do colonies of bats assemble before heading out of caves?
3. In what ways are bats valuable to society?
4. Why do bats like staying near rivers, lakes and swamps?
5. How do some people encourage bat population?