Access to Food Stores Influence Breeding in Gray Bats

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Female gray bats need access to insect-rich territories to breed, but older females guard these territories leading to delays in breeding. In populations where turf wars have declined, bats can breed easier and earlier if they have food stores available. Most gray bats wait a year before breeding, and if they lack energy to produce a fetus the next spring, they resorb the fetus.

“People fear most what they understand least." Words of wisdom from explorer/American treasure/bat expert, Dr. Merlin Tuttle. As your internet dad/host takes care of her surgically recuperating husband this week, we revisit her visit to Austin. In 2019, Alie headed to the bat capital and sat down with the legendary chiropterologist to discuss wild field stories and close calls and caves and comebacks and bat chatter and what a bat actually is and how big they get and what's up with their smushy noses, why folks are so frightened by them, the evolution of flight, echolocation, getting a bat out of your house, how they sleep upside down, which ones guzzle blood, and the latest on white nose syndrome -- which is not a drug problem. Sit back with a cup of tea or something stronger and get ready for adventure. Indiana Jones can get bent because Dr. Merlin Tuttle is the hero this nation needs.

More Spooktober episodes! alieward.com/ologies/spooktober2021

Learn more about bats & Dr. Merlin Tuttle's photography & work in conservation:

www.MerlinTuttle.org

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