Bats help keep forests growing. Without bats to hold their populations in check, insects that munch on tree seedlings go wild, doing three to nine times more damage than when bats are on the scene.

Nature’s pest patrol: Bats consume massive numbers of insects, including mosquitoes and agricultural pests, reducing the need for pesticides and benefiting both crops and the environment. Pollination ...

Janet Debelak Tyburec, of Bat Survey Solutions, measures the ears of an evening bat on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025 at Swift River Pecans in Lockhart, Texas. These bats eat lots of different insects in ...