THE WEIRD & WONDERFUL WORLD OF BATS
This episode of Big Blend Radio’s NATURE CONNECTION Podcast features Alyson F. Brokaw, behavioral and sensory ecologist, and author of “The Weird and Wonderful World of Bats: Demystifying These Often-Misunderstood Creatures.” Watch here in the YouTube player or download the episode on Podbean.
Bats dwell in darkness, inspire fear, and threaten danger. They’ve been viewed as the pawns of evil deities and taken the undeserved blame for the spread of deadly viruses—but have these enigmatic animals gotten a bad rap? In her new book, ecologist and science communicator Alyson Brokaw brings these woefully misunderstood creatures out of the shadows and into the light, showing how weird and wonderful they can truly be.
THE WEIRD AND WONDERFUL WORLD OF BATS is a vibrant and approachable text that reintroduces readers to bats, dispelling their negative reputations and providing a window into their world. Partitioned into easily navigable sections, it explains not only how bats see, smell, and fly, but also how they share, love, and create homes.
As Brokaw proves, these creatures are more familiar than foreign. In fact, bats are a lot like us: they argue with their roost mates, share with their friends, and take care of their young. By better understanding them, we can learn from them—not only to coexist but potentially grow healthier and wiser together.
Brought to life with over 180 personality-filled photographs, THE WEIRD AND WONDERFUL WORLD OF BATS is a striking and informative guide to one of the most complex and compelling members of the animal kingdom.
Top 10 Fascinating Insights from the Book:
– Second Most Diverse Mammalian Group: With over 1,400 species, bats are second only to rodents in mammalian diversity.
– Ecological Powerhouses: Bats play vital roles in ecosystems by pollinating plants, dispersing seeds, and controlling insect populations.
– Masters of Flight and Sound: Bats’ echolocation abilities rival the most advanced sonar technology, allowing them to navigate and hunt with precision in complete darkness.
– Unique Evolutionary History: Bats share closer evolutionary ties with animals like whales and dogs than with birds.
– Diverse Dietary Habits: From fruit and nectar to insects and even small vertebrates, bats have adapted to a variety of diets, each influencing their role in nature.
– Crucial Conservation Role: Several bat species are keystone species, meaning their survival is critical for maintaining their ecosystems.
– Pioneering Research Discoveries: Since 2020, dozens of new bat species have been identified, highlighting the vast, untapped mysteries of the bat world.
– Adaptive Behavior: Bats exhibit behaviors akin to human traits, such as sharing resources and teaching young.
– Longevity and Immunity: Despite their small size, bats are long-lived and possess robust immune systems, which may hold the key to breakthroughs in human medicine.
– Misunderstood Legends: The book dispels myths that have painted bats as ominous figures, revealing their vital importance and endearing qualities.
Alyson F. Brokaw’s professional passion is communicating about the diversity and biology of bats. Since earning her PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Texas A&M University, she has studied wildlife around the world, including Mexico, Belize, Panama, Argentina, and Tanzania, while also publishing multiple articles in peer-reviewed journals on bat behavior and other topics. She is a narrator for March Mammal Madness. You can find Alyson on social media @alyb_batgirl. http://www.alysonbrokaw.com
