Learn about ‘Bats Of The United States’

“Bats of the United States” by Michael J. Harvey, J. Scott Altenbach, and Troy L. Best, 1999, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, softbound, 64 pages: Recommended for fourth grade and up, this book begins with an introduction in which the authors mention that the Chinese word fu, meaning “bat,” also means “good luck.” Canadian bat species are also included in this book, as they are all present in the United States as well.
A short bit on bat biology starts the actual book and contains a photograph which points out all the different parts of a bat’s body. One of the interesting facts here is that the smallest bat in the world weighs about .07 ounces, the weight of a dime. The largest U.S. bat weighs 2.5 ounces.
Echolocation or sonar is next explored. Strangely, this section abruptly ends in the middle of a sentence, but there is more information to be had. The benefit of bats is astounding, according to this book: a single colony of gray bats near Chattanooga, Tenn., eats more than 220 tons of insects in that area per year. The feeding behavior of insect-eating bats, non-insect-eating bats and vampire bats is revealed, in addition to the fact that in some countries people actually eat bats.
In the section on migration and hibernation, the authors tell us that a number of bat species may hibernate together, and that in the summer, pregnant or nursing females of various species also gather. This is to create heat for the young. The authors also go into methods for keeping unwanted bats out of one’s house and how to attract bats to one’s yard.
In addition, the reader will learn about the then-current status of bats in the United States. While this information may not be as relevant today as it was in 1999, it still is of interest to the bat lover. The 54 species of bats found in the U.S. are listed by scientific family, and many are then examined in some detail, with color photographs and maps of their range.
Prepared for non-profit distribution, this book is available from http://www.speleobooks.com with any order. You may also find it at the Little Rock office of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission; or mail your request to Rebecca M. Wilhite, Administrative Secretary, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, #2 Natural Resources Drive, Little Rock, AR, 72205; or e-mail Wilhite at or call (800) 364-4263 Ext. 6331.
Lee’s take: The text is easy to read, yet packed with information.
J.J.’s take: The photos are numerous and enlightening.

LEE AND J.J. MACFADDEN are twins and voracious readers living in Bristol Tennessee. E-mail them at .