The Secret Lives Of Bats

Enamored of bats ever since discovering a colony in a cave as a boy, Tuttle realized how sophisticated and intelligent bats are. He shares research showing that frog-eating bats can identify frogs by their calls, that vampire bats have a social order similar to that of primates, and that bats have remarkable memories. Bats also provide enormous benefits by eating crop pests, pollinating plants, and carrying seeds needed for reforestation; they are essential to a healthy planet.

Learn about a year in the life of a little brown bat named Otis. This gorgeous and lyrical picture book follows a year in the life of a little brown bat named Otis as he learns to be a hunter, escape predators, and find a mate. Stunning, realistic illustrations celebrate the beauty of these mysterious creatures as readers learn important facts through an engaging and fascinating story. The book also includes back matter with more in-depth information, a glossary, and further resources.

This extravagantly illustrated handbook features the work of famed nature photographer Merlin D. Tuttle and in-depth profiles of megabats and microbats.

A guide to the forty-seven species of bats found in United States and Canada, including overview of classification, biology, feeding behavior, habitats, migration, and reproduction.

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Sample Book Insights: #1 In 1959, I went searching for bats in a cave west of Knoxville, Tennessee, with my father. We found thousands of gray myotis bats, which were said to not be able to live in caves. #2 In 1959, I went searching for bats in a cave west of Knoxville, Tennessee, with my father. We found thousands of gray myotis bats, which were said to not be able to live in caves. #3 I went searching for bats in a cave west of Knoxville, Tennessee, with my father in 1959. We found thousands of gray myotis bats, which were said to not be able to live in caves. I was determined to find out if they migrated. #4 I went searching for bats in a cave west of Knoxville, Tennessee, with my father in 1959. We found thousands of gray myotis bats, which were said to not be able to live in caves. We found that the bats had declined alarmingly, and we had to explore caves or parts of caves that humans seldom visited.

Bats have been maligned in the West for centuries. Unfair associations with demons have seen their leathery wings adorn numerous evil characters, from the Devil to Bram Stoker’s Dracula. But these amazing animals are ecological superheroes. Nectar-feeding bats pollinate important crops like agave; fruit-eating bats disperse seeds and encourage reforestation; and insect-eating bats keep down mosquito populations and other pests, saving agricultural industries billions of dollars. Ranging in size from a bumblebee to creatures with a wingspan the length of an adult human, found on all continents except Antarctica, and displaying extraordinary abilities like echolocation—a built-in sonar system that enables many bats to navigate in the dark—these incredibly diverse mammals are as surprising as they are misunderstood. In Bat, Tessa Laird challenges our preconceptions as she combines fascinating facts of bat biology with engaging portrayals of bats in mythology, literature, film, popular culture, poetry, and contemporary art. She also provides a sobering reminder of the threats bats face worldwide, from heatwaves and human harassment to wind turbines and disease. Illustrated with incredible photographs and artistic representations of bats from many different cultures and eras, this celebration of the only mammals possessing true flight will enthrall batty fans, skeptics, and converts alike.

Learn about a year in the life of a little brown bat named Otis. This gorgeous and lyrical picture book follows a year in the life of a little brown bat named Otis as he learns to be a hunter, escape predators, and find a mate. Stunning, realistic illustrations celebrate the beauty of these mysterious creatures as readers learn important facts through an engaging and fascinating story. The book also includes back matter with more in-depth information, a glossary, and further resources.