BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — Bats may not be your favorite animal out there, but they are getting a lot of love heading into Halloween.
This week is International Bat Week and on Saturday, bat lovers are hosting the state's annual Bat Festival at the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge in Bloomington.
Wildlife Biologist Jill Utrup says the event has been on hiatus since 2019, so festival officials say they're excited to bring the event back this weekend.
“It’s a chance for folks to learn about bats and all the benefits,” Utrup says.
The event features live demonstrations, games, and a replica bat cave where kids and adults can experience life as a scientist who studies the animals in their natural habitats.
“In the cave, we’re going to have several different species of bats. These are not real bats, but it’s a good way to learn about them,” Utrup explains.
Utrup is very passionate when it comes to dispelling myths about bats and highlighting the benefits they bring to nature.
"They are responsible for saving farmers in the billions of dollars by eating insects.”
Utrup says pregnant bats can eat their body weight in bugs every night — and one of their favorites is mosquitos.
"We have eight species in Minnesota and they are all insectivores so that means they just eat insects."
Worldwide, she says, there are more than 1,400 species of bats and many are pollinators that pollinate fruits like mangos and bananas, and the agave plant that's used to make tequila.
"If we didn't have bats, we wouldn't have tequila.”
Utrup says the concerns about bats and rabies is also greatly exaggerated.
She says humans are more likely to be struck by lightning than to be bitten by a rabid bat.
“Some other animals like raccoons are much more likely to become rabid than bats,” Utrup says.
The event on Saturday will also feature demonstrations that show how installing a bat house in your yard can be a natural solution to bugs like mosquitoes.
For more information on this year’s Minnesota Bat Festival click here.
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