What’s small, tucked away during the day, on pest control duty, and a friend to farmers?
If you said bats, you’d be right! April 17 is International Bat Appreciation Day, and we’re shining a light (gently—bats are nocturnal, after all) on why these often-misunderstood creatures are vital to our ecosystem.

Arizona is home to more than 28 species of bats, and while Hollywood may typecast them as spooky villains, the truth is, they’re everyday eco-heroes. A single bat can eat more than 1,000 insects per hour—yes, per hour! That’s fewer mosquitoes buzzing around your campfire and fewer pests nibbling away at a farmer’s crops.

But bats aren’t just on pest-control duty; they also play key roles in pollinating plants and dispersing seeds. In fact, here in Arizona’s desert, bats help pollinate one of the most iconic plants around: the saguaro cactus. Thanks to these flying mammals, our landscapes stay healthy, colorful, and full of life.

Want to see a bat in action? Spring is prime time. As bats emerge from winter hibernation (a strategy they use to conserve energy when insects are scarce), they take to the night skies in search of food. Just like us, they prefer warm evenings and a good snack.

Pro Tip: Join Kartchner Caverns State Park for a guided bat walk, offered monthly through September! Use a bat detector and learn about the 13 species that live in the park! See the schedule and sign up for a bat walk online.

Despite their impressive resume, bats are facing some big challenges. A fungal disease known as White Nose Syndrome has devastated bat populations in the eastern U.S. and is spreading west. This disease affects hibernating bats and is estimated to have killed over five million of them since its first detection in 2006. As researchers race to understand and fight the spread of this illness, we can all do our part to support bat conservation.

Here are some easy ways you can help these VIPs (Very Important Pollinators):

• Plant a bat-friendly garden. Native flowering plants provide bats with natural food sources.

• Avoid pesticide use. More bugs for bats to eat support healthier ecosystems all around.

• Dim the lights. Reduce light pollution with warm-toned, downward-facing lights on timers to help preserve bats’ nighttime habitat.

• Let them roost. Never disturb bats in natural areas, and consider putting up a bat box to offer safe shelter.

• Never touch a bat with your bare hands. Call a local wildlife rehabber if you find one that looks sick or injured.

• Become a citizen scientist. Join the Bat/Hummingbird Feeder Study by the Arizona Game and Fish Department and help track activity in your area.

• Support the Flowers for Bats campaign. Help the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and USA National Phenology Network track the blooming cycles of agave and cacti—critical food sources for pollinating bats, especially the lesser long-nosed bat, pictured here.

So this Bat Appreciation Day, let’s rewrite the script.

Bats aren’t scary—they’re sensational. They keep our skies clearer, our crops safer, and our deserts blooming. With a little understanding and a few small actions, we can make sure these incredible creatures have a future as bright as the moonlit skies they call home.