Sometimes bats can "whoosh" right by you, and not be seen. In this science fair project, you will be able to detect flying bats by listening in on the ultrasonic signals they produce to locate objects in their environment. The bat detector is a useful and fun tool for studying the biology of this nocturnal flying mammal.

Get the facts about bats. Canada is home to nineteen different species of bats. Besides finding detailed physical descriptions of several of these, you'll also learn about some of their unique facts and characteristics. Also included in this Mammal Fact Sheet on bats is information on their habitat and habits, range, feeding, breeding, and conservation efforts. Don't forget to check out the video clips of this interesting flying mammal using the link near the top of the webpage. A list of resources completes the fact sheet.

This video segment from the Nevada Department of Wildlife looks at various species of bats and how they impact the environment.

This video segment from the Nevada Department of Wildlife looks at various species of bats and how they impact the environment. [3:14]

Students will state an argument with evidence, for or against, bats being removed from their environment by writing a letter to the editor and citing evidence for your claim.

In this lesson, students will be able to recognize and ask questions using standard question words while learning about bats. Included in this lesson are samples of student work, and pictures of the lesson in action.

What do bats have to do with coronaviruses? As it turns out, the adaptation to flight may be what turned bats into perfect virus reservoirs. One of these viruses, the new coronavirus, likely jumped the species barrier to humans causing the initial 2019 outbreak in China. This pathway explores the outbreak from the perspective of medical professionals working to accurately diagnose and treat patients, scientists racing to understand the source of the outbreak, and public health officials implementing solutions to control its spread.

Under in the Mud by Laureanna Raymond-Duvernell takes you into the wintering world of ten Wisconsin animals as you listen to her read the book and talk about the animals in it. Learn about how animals hibernate, migrate, and adapt to winter conditions in this beautifully illustrated and creatively rhyming book. After you read, bundle up and head outdoors to find evidence of animals in your own territory preparing for the winter ahead. [37:57]

Ever wonder why bats live in caves? Or why bats don't fly into objects at night? This article describe why bats thrive in the protected shelter a cave provides. It also explains how bats use echolocation to locate food and avoid obstacles.

This video segment from Kentucky Life explores one of the endangered habitats of Indiana bats and describes the benefits of bats to humans. [1:48]

Understand how all mammals are divided into groups by similar characteristics.

A free CK-12 account is required to view all materials.

Part of the National Park Service website, this page provides general info. about the resident bat population, and links to more specific bat info. For the bat enthusiast!

This is the opening page for an online exhibit on mammals. The topics covered in this exhibit include whales, dolphins, bats, humans, chimps, and more.

An in-depth description of bats, including their classification, appearance, habitat, adaptations, reproduction, diet, and other interesting facts. Also includes pictures and sound bytes. [1 min, 59 sec]

Find out why contact tracing is such a crucial part of controlling outbreaks of infectious disease. Tracing back to patient zero during the West African Ebola outbreak shed light on Ebola's zoonotic origins and rapid spread. Contact tracing revealed that one initial "spillover" event-contact between a Guinean child and a bat in 2015-resulted in the largest Ebola outbreak the world had ever seen. [4:23]

In 1988 Southeast Asia faced it's own battle with Nipah, a fruit bat-borne disease that kills more than three quarters of those infected. Nipah is only contracted in Bangladesh between the months of December and March, and this was a puzzle at first. It turns out that it is during these months that date palm sap, a national delicacy, is collected. Fruit bats, too, drink this sap, and the sap is thus the vehicle of Nipah transmission. Jonathan Epstein monitors bats in Bangladesh in an effort to prevent Nipah from becoming a global pandemic. [9:18]