Texas Bats

Book excerpt: Texas has thirty-two bat species, more than any other state. Bats rank among the state's most beneficial and fascinating allies. The majority eat insects, with just one colony consuming billions in a single night. Others are essential pollinators of desert plants. No other group of Texas mammals is more diverse or important to the balance of nature. This guide, produced by Bat Conservation International and the Texas Parks and Wildlife department, includes descriptions of Texas's bats, photographs, and range maps. It will convince readers that the bats' fearsome reputation is greatly undeserved.