Bats are beneficial by controlling insect populations, pollination and being a crucial part of a cave ecosystem. Bats are often feared, but the benefits they provide should far outweigh our fear of them. (footage courtesy US Fish & Wildlife Service, National Conservation Training Center Creative Imagery) | Missouri Dept. of Conservation

Rush hour at the world's largest bat colony🦇🦇🦇 Millions of Mexican Free-tailed Bats emerge from Bracken Cave Preserve near San Antonio. Bats give birth in June, with pups starting to fly in early August. The colony consumes up to 140 tons of insects each night! Visitation is through Bat Conservation International | Texas Parks & Wildlife Magazine

The world’s more than 1,400 bat species play vital roles in ecosystems, from eating insects, to pollinating plants, and dispersing seeds. Bats are connected to humans and ecosystems in many ways, and all are affected when one link is removed from the chain. | Bat Conservation International