BRIDGES FOR BATS: Bridging the gap for bats ... .we'll 
explain on Passport to Texas.

Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

When it comes to housing, bats are adaptable. In Texas, 
for example, millions of Mexican free-tailed bats live 
comfortably in crevices under bridges.

We know from our studies of bats that there's a very high 
percentage, especially in Central Texas that, if you build it they 
will come. :06

About 30 bat attracting bridges go up annually in Texas, 
and Mark Bloschock (bloss-shock), with the Texas 
Department of Transportation, says in order to 
accommodate bats' needs, he has to "listen" to them.

Bats can't speak to us in English, so they can't tell us whether 
this housing that they find in the made environment - or let's 
say the man-made environment - is preferred housing or 
whether it's desperation housing. But when they go in there to 
raise their young in these nursery colonies, we think that it 
must be preferred housing. :18

It generally doesn't cost more to construct bat friendly 
bridges, yet when bats colonize under them, especially in 
agricultural areas, everyone profits thanks to their 
voracious appetite for insect pests. 

And that means the farmers have to spray less insecticides, or 
they spray significantly less insecticides. It's good for us 
because we eat food with less use of insecticides and we eat 
food that's produced cheaper. :11

You don't have to build a bridge in your backyard to 
attract bats; a bat house will do nicely. Find instructions 
for building one at the Texas Parks and Wildlife website. 
We have a link to it at passporttotexas.org.

That's our show ... for Texas Parks and Wildlife ... I'm Cecilia 
Nasti. 



Total sound bite time:		 0:35.0
 Maximum Script time:		 0:50.0	 Suggested show time: 85.0 = 1:25