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ENVIRONMENT >> PESTS AND CRITTERS
BEST PESTS
The Good, The Bat & The Bugly How to Ensure You’ree Promoting Prom moting an h the Bests Bests and d the Pests Environment for Both W RIT TE N BY C A MERON COBB
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efore whipping out a can of chemicals or swatting away every creature buzzing by, keep in mind that many of the typically assumed “pests” provide a wide variety of benefits. Aside from the sheer enjoyment of getting to view the beauty wildlife offers, there are many advantages to fostering an environment that promotes the foundation of nature instead of disrupting it. One type of local helpful critter is the bat. Bats are very beneficial in the predatory aspect, as they prey on many nocturnal bothersome insects, such as moths, beetles and mosquitos, said Brian Pope, director for the Lubee Bat Conservancy (LBC). Pope said a U.S. Geological Survey conducted in 2011 determined that bat-safe farmers in the U.S.
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OUR TOWN MAGAZINE
MAY/JUNE 2017
saved between $3-53 billion a year by reducing the need for pesticides. Pope said he is always actively working to break the negative, inaccurate stigmas associated with these flying mammals and teach people about how essential they really are. One small bat can eat up to 1,000 insects in a night. “They’re here for a reason,” he said. “Bats are a major part of the ecosystem.” One way to help promote the presence and conservation of bats is to invest in a bat house. According to lubee.org, the LBC builds and installs three types: single, triple and four chamber. The opossum is another benefi ciall animal benefici i l that’s h taken for granted. These critters are experts at tick removal, and according to a study by scientists at