Welcoming Bats to NC

Ms. McGuinness and her 3rd Grade class have been busy learning about local Bats - and installing three Bat Boxes on campus!

Did you know? Bats are pollinators!

TRUTH: Bats are extremely clean and groom themselves like cats.
TRUTH: All bats can see. In fact, some bats have eyesight that is three times better vision than hu- mans!
TRUTH: Bats are afraid of humans and generally avoid people.
TRUTH: One insect-eating bat can consume 2,000-6,000 insects in a single night!

Bats play an essential role in pest control, pollinating plants and dispersing seeds. We are excited that 3rd grade are encouraging bats to our school to help the local environment!

Bats typically hibernate in October or November when insects aren’t around and the weather is colder. They emerge in March when insects hatch and the weather is getting nicer. So April was the perfect time of year for the project!

Students learned that bats are declining across the globe. Many bats are needlessly killed because people do not understand the important role bats play in a healthy ecosystem. They read, watched, drew pictures, brainstormed and listened to fun songs about bats!

Full disclosure, this project was nearly an owl-themed project, but fun fact: the team quickly learned that owls love bluebirds. And that would not have gone down well with our recent visitors seen nesting in the new Bird Boxes.

Check out the students’ colorful art below. And take a wander on campus to spot the new bat boxes above C3 and C4.

Huge thank you to the Jacobi Family for donating the bat boxes. And to the custodians for installing them. Our bat heroes!

Find out how you too can help bats on the US Fish & Wildlife Service website.