CHRISTIANSTED — People are going to bat for bats during bat week.
And why not? Halloween is just eight days away, after all.
Bat Week is an annual international celebration designed to raise awareness about the need for bat conservation.
Bats are amazing creatures that are vital to the health of the natural world and economy. Although people may not always see them, bats are hard at work all around the world each night, eating tons of insects, pollinating flowers and spreading seeds that grow new plants and trees.
The VI Bat Team, led by Renata Platenberg, Ph.D., is a local nonprofit that aims to raise awareness and appreciation of bats through research and community education. While the team celebrates bats every day, the world will celebrate bats from October 24 to 31.
Virgin Islanders, citizen scientists and students are encouraged to connect with and follow the VI Bat Team on Facebook and Instagram to learn more about the bats that populate our islands and for information on fun Bat Week activities.
Did you know that bats are the only mammals native to the Virgin Islands? Although bats are so important to our ecosystem, their lives and habitats are increasingly endangered due to environmental change and deforestation.
In conjunction with the VI Bat Team, the Virgin Islands Children’s Museum is helping to share the fantastic world of bats with their members and followers. They have rolled out the Bat Week Art Challenge, encouraging artists to illustrate aspects of bat life such as what they eat, their migration and how people can do their part to conserve bat homes. Art submissions can be sent to the VI Children’s Museum via Facebook or they can be emailed to events@vichildrensmuseum.com
If anyone wants to participate in Bat Week, share photos and videos of bats using the hashtag #VIBatWeek or share information from the VI Bat Team and V.I. Children’s Museum Facebook and Instagram pages.
Please, always remember to capture your batty content safely.
And on October 31, have a Happy and Safe Halloween!
