sophisticated sonar (echolocation) for navigating and 

 catching prey; they are exceptionally long-lived and 

 resistant to many diseases. Bat research has contributed 

 to the designing of navigational devices for the blind 

 and aided in the development of vaccines and tech- 

 niques for birth control and artificial insemination. 

 Bats have been used to test the effects of new drugs on 

 bacteria and other microorganisms in blood and in 

 investigating the effects of drugs and alcohol on blood 

 vessels and nerves, on muscle regeneration, and on tis- 

 sue repair. How ironic that the cliche "blind as a bat" 

 refers to an animal that allows us to "see" so much. For 

 the record, most bats have good eyesight! 



Unlike some mammals, bats are true hibernators. 

 In Illinois, they find a suitable environment in caves 

 and abandoned mines from mid-September through 

 early November. Living on deposits of stored fat, they 

 can reduce their basic metabolic rate ( BMR) to a level at 

 which breathing and heartbeat are almost impercep- 

 tible. When disturbed bats are awakened from hiberna- 

 tion, they increase their BMR, exhausting precious fat 

 reserves. The disturbance of hibernating bats can thus 

 result in starvation and death before insects are again 

 available as a food resource. 



Evening bat j e Gardner 



Hoary bat c1987AH Rider, The National Audubon society collection PR 



