BATS: MAKING AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

With more than 1,400 species worldwide, bats are the second largest group of mammals, being found almost everywhere on Earth. They’re also, unfortunately, one of the most misunderstood species. Bats are essential to our environment, providing vital ecosystem services like insect pest consumption, plant pollination, and seed dispersal. And for conservation in Tennessee, one little bat even helped protect nearly one thousand acres of forested habitat adjacent to Grassy Cove along the Justin P. Wilson Cumberland Trail State Park.
NORTHERN LONG-EARED BAT
In 2016, TennGreen Land Conservancy (“Tennessee Parks and Greenways Foundation” at the time) intended to acquire 956 acres known as the Karst Forest at Grassy Cove. This acquisition required a major fundraising effort, including significant private, local, and federal funds. In order to secure a $1.35 million grant from the US Forest Service’s Forest Legacy Program, TennGreen and partners undertook numerous biological surveys identifying rare plants and animals. In 2017, TennGreen’s Karst Forest at Grassy Cove ranked 8th nationally for funding through the Forest Legacy Program.
WHITE-NOSE SYNDROME
Despite bats being vital to our world’s ecosystems, hundreds of bat species face threats to their existence. Northern long-eared bats (pictured), along with many other
Although WNS is primarily spread from bat to bat, humans may spread the disease through infected clothing when recreating in caves. For this reason, the State of Tennessee has gated many caves on public property. To help ensure you aren’t spreading WNS, stay out of gated and closed caves, leave bats alone, and clean your shoes and gear before and after entering open caves.
Want to read about other Tennessee species? Check out our snake and turtle blog post!