Environmental Center Speaker To Unlock Secrets Of Bat World

NEW PORT RICHEY - What do bats have in common with dolphins?

Do bats hibernate or migrate?

Which bats live in colonies, and which ones go it alone?

What kinds of bats fly the skies of Pasco County?

Which bugs do bats find the best-tasting?

Cyndi Marks of the Florida Bat Conservancy will answer those and other questions when she presents "Gentle Fliers of the Night: Bats of the World."

The program is at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Starkey Environmental Education Center in J.B. Starkey Wilderness Park, just east of Timber Greens Country Club. Pasco County's parks and recreation unit is sponsoring the event.

Nature walks also will be offered at the park this month. Walks will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday and 4:30 p.m. Jan. 25.

To reach the park from State Road 54, go north on Little Road for 2.2 miles, right on River Crossing Boulevard for 1.3 miles, left on Starkey Boulevard for three-tenths of a mile, then right on Wilderness Road. From State Road 52, go south on Moon Lake Road for 6.8 miles, left on DeCubellis Road for three-tenths of a mile, then left on Wilderness Road into the park.

FAST BAT FACTS

•Although some mammals can glide, bats are the only ones that can fly. And bats fly with their hands.

•There are more than 1,000 species of bats. They live everywhere on Earth except Antarctica and the extreme desert regions, but most species live in the tropics.

•In addition to their five senses, many bat species have highly developed ultrasonic biosonar capabilities called echolocation. Like dolphins, bats use it to navigate and catch food.

•Bats eat insects, fruit, nectar, fish and small vertebrates. Only three species feed on blood. One bat can devour up to 3,000 insects a night.

•There are no vampire bats in the United States. They're found only in Southern Mexico, and Central and South America. Vampire bats don't suck blood; they lap it up from a small scrape they make with razor-like teeth.

•Bats are quite timid and ignore people.

•Most bats in Florida prefer to roost in mature or dead trees or in caves. Loss of habitat, however, forces many bats to settle in buildings or other man-made structures.

Source: Florida Bat Conservancy Web site, www.floridabats.org