An easy way to help bats is by bldg bat houses. Learn more ways to support bats, WHC Bats Project Guidance https://t.co/59RJQJzn7i #BatWeek pic.twitter.com/KzrbDIhjwI
— Wildlife Habitat (@WildlifeHC) October 25, 2016
White-Nose Syndrome (WNS) has killed over 6 million bats since it was first discovered in 2006, devastating colonies of cave-hibernating species like the endangered Indiana Bat. Wildlife biologists report population declines ranging from 60 to 98 percent.
The first case in Illinois was documented in 2013.
Whether you're an outdoor enthusiast with a Toyota Tacoma you like to take out fishing and hunting every weekend, or you're a city-slicker who thinks bats are creepy, the decline of bat populations should unsettle you. These tiny flying mammals are capable of eating 500 mosquitoes in a single hour, and also hunt agricultural pests like corn earworms, and spotted cucumber beetles.
So what can you do to save them?
WNS is a fungus that thrives in cold temperatures. When bats hibernate, it slowly spreads through their bodies, depleting their fat reserves. Many do not survive the winter. Those that do, however, can quickly recover as the warm air kills off the fungus -- if they are able to find food and shelter.
That's where you come in, and that's where Toyota Motor Manufacturing, West Virginia, Inc. enters the story. TMMWV has been busy installing bat houses around the factory property. These artificial habitats help bats find safety at a life-or-death transition from their winter roosting sites to summer hunting grounds. For supporting bat survival, Toyota was nominated for a 2016 Wildlife Habitat Council Award.
Visit Elgin Toyota Scion to learn more about conservation, and how even something as simple as driving a more fuel-efficient new Toyota can help make a difference.
