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Flying Fox Rescue/nationalgeographic.com

Today is the first day of summer, and one of my favorite harbingers of this season is the arrival of the bats wheeling overhead as dusk darkens into night each evening. There have been some real challenges to the bat population around my parts over the past few years, and just judging by our reckoning, there are definitely fewer bats the last two summers than in previous years. This is such bad news, because they do such a great job at lowering the mosquito population, which with such a wet spring, is destined to be horrific this year. C’mon BATS!!! We need you!

Around the country and internationally, Bat Rescue can give you hints and suggestions to support the floundering bat population near you. Research wesbites, international sanctuaries, resources for educators, even pans to make your own  bat house, can all be found on their “bat links” pages. Your support can help try to restore some balance to the ecology…and more bats means less need for toxic DEET-filled bug sprays…or calamine lotion. I’d sure love to be less itchy this summer.