Batty About Bats

The UA, the Arizona Department of Health Services and the Arizona Game and Fish Department are collaborating to educate the public on rabies exposure prevention and bat conservation.

As Arizona's population grows, so does the urban-wildlife interface – leading to increased encounters with bats.

To educate the public on rabies exposure prevention and bat conservation, The University of Arizona College of Agriculture and Life Sciences collaborated on a new informative publication.

The recently published Cooperative Extension publication "Batty About Bats" provides a general overview of bat biology and behavior, with emphasis on urban environments, on the use of integrated pest management techniques that are in keeping with bat conservation guidelines, and on rabies awareness and prevention.

The UA worked with the Arizona Department of Health Services and the Arizona Game and Fish Department on the publication.

Arizona has 28 recorded species of bats, with populations in desert, grassland, woodland, and urban habitats. The smallest, Western pipistrelle, measures just 2.5 inches long, while the largest, Western Mastiff, measures up to 7.5 inches long.

Arizona bat species include insectivores that feed on a variety of insects and other arthropods, and nectivores that consume pollen and nectar. There are no "vampire" bat species in the United States.

The full-color 16-page guide is written for homeowners, teachers, students, winter visitors and anyone interested in learning more about bats.