My disclaimer…

The examples of items—that were either used in the mothing stations I designed or that I observed at other mothing events being used by others—are provided to the readers of this post to convey a visual representation of either the item used in a mothing station or the concept of mothing itself.

In many instances, I repurposed items I already had for the mothing stations I designed. Nevertheless, I did have to search the internet for some of the mothing station items that I used and listed below.  When I dove into mothing this summer, I quickly came to realize that some of the items I thought I needed for the mothing stations I designed were not readily available in my area.

Additionally, I would like to say that I am not suggesting that you go out and purchase any of these items. In fact, I also want to clearly state here that I am not getting paid—or compensated in any way— to promote or endorse any specific product(s), business(s), or online shopping platform(s).

I am sharing this list of items with you in the spirit of friendship, knowldege, empowerment, and transparency about mothing and all that I learned from my mothing experiences.

One last thing…

I would like each of you to have the best shot possible at having a really exceptional, fun, phenomenal mothing experience. Consequently, if this list can save you some research time, while giving you an overall idea of what mothing entails, than I will have accomplished my primary goal and purpose for this post.

My teacher’s heart will be full and satisfied.

Here is my “Top 16” mothing items list for your review:

1. LED UV Light Bulb

2. Plug-In Clamped Work Light

3. Plastic Spring Clamps

4. UV LED Black Light Bar

5. LED Black Light Floodlight Options

6. Portable Charger with USB ports

7. Reusable Zip Ties

8. Binder Clips

9. LED UV Black Light Flashlight

10. Grommet Setting Kit

11. Extra Grommets

12. PVC Pipe & Fittings

13. Livestock Panels

14. Portable Power Station by Jackery

15. Entolight LED UV Black Light by Entoquip

16. LepiLED Light Source by Dr. Gunnar Brehm

Wrapping it up…

It is really a fascinating world out there after the sun sets.  If you are curious about mothing, please try it!  You will not be disappointed!

Happy Mothing! 

P.S. If you would like to learn more about mothing basics for beginners, click on the link below:

“Mothing Basics”- written by a Beginner for Beginners by Camille M. Rich, Texas Master Naturalist

• “Male Mesoxaea texana on the South Texas Sand Sheet”
• “Female Mesoxaea texana on the South Texas Sand Sheet”
• “Making more Mesoxaea texana on the South Texas Sand Sheet”
• “Mesoxaea texana nectaring on Waltheria indica on the South Texas Sand Sheet!”
• “Tepanec Long-horned Bees Nectaring on Coma on the South Texas Sand Sheet,” by C. M. Rich, Texas Master Naturalist

The post Mothing Supplies for Your Review and Consideration: Examples and Links appeared first on El Mesteño Ranch and Arboretum.

Are you curious about “mothing?” What is it? How does one go about doing it?

Are you tired of trying to navigate the logistics of outdoor activities in the heat of the day? 

Are you curious about exploring the nature stories that unfold in your yard after dark? 

Are you looking for educational activities to prepare and conduct with curious individuals in your life that love to explore and investigate the outdoors?

Well, if you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you just might be the perfect candidate ready for an introduction into mothing. 

This past summer, I dove into the topic—and participatory science activity—of mothing.  Consequently, I have acquired a set of basic mothing skills, if you will, and have summarized them here. 

Mothing, in my own words, involves hunting for night pollinators after dark. It requires knowing where to look for them, a means of attracting them to you, and methods that can help ensure the best possibility for you to snap a picture of them–either with your cellphone or a camera–to try and identify them.

Spoiler alert: Much to my surprise, and delight, there are so many more night pollinators out after dark—not just moths! There are beetles, bees, flies, and ants, just to name a few. Actually, to be honest with you, I might have developed an incredible fascination, and “Citizen Scientist” preoccupation, with beetles after my deep-dive into mothing, but I digress.

My very basic summary of mothing comes from what I have learned during my recent, intial experiences creating mothing stations in my backyard and attending both private and community mothing events held on private property, in state parks, and nature centers. I had the opportunity to learn from experienced “Moth-ers” that know a whole lot more about the topic of mothing than I do. Their guidance and willingness to share helpful hints, tips, and tricks with me is much appreciated.

Having said all of that, I would like to present to you my take aways from my inaugural summer of mothing as a participant in the National Moth Week Global Citizen Science event: “Moth Week 2023.”

Mothing basics for beginners: My overview…

My overarching takeaways on mothing and mothing set ups that I have learned from my recent, beginner mothing experiences, including spending time in the field with entomologists and an expert in this field of study are as follows: 

• Have fun exploring night pollinators and the entire ecosystem that comes to life after dark in your own backyard!

• The ultraviolet light source that you use to attract moths is crucial. More wattage does not necessarily equal more moths (or other night pollinators) at your mothing set up. 

• There are many types of lights you can use for your mothing experience. 

• The sheet that you are using for your mothing station must be stretched as taut as possible against whatever structure, frame, or support system you have come up with to use for mothing.

• Envision old school bed-making where you put the sheets on the mattress—stretched firmly and tightly—so that you could proverbially bounce a quarter off of the mattress.

• The mothing station that was most preferred by an Entomologist at a private event was one in which the mothing sheet was pulled tautly between two poles using the grommets that had been set in the fabric. The grommets allowed the fabric to be stretched tightly and securely to a frame.

• Grommets were what I happened to use to stretch the sheet tautly across the mothing station preferred by the visiting Entomologist. I just happened to have a grommet setting kit on hand from other projects, and I thought that it might work for this application.

• However, instead of grommets, you could use also use a sewing machine to put reinforced buttonholes at various places along your mothing sheet edges. These reinforced buttonholes would also give you the opportunity to use a cord to loop through the buttonholes so that you could stretch your mothing sheet tightly against your mothing structure, frame, or support system you have selected for mothing. [I saw buttonholes in action at a community mothing event. They appeared to work very well.]

• I did learn of a “Holy Grail” LED light that is now on the top of my “mothing set up” bucket list of items. I got to see it in action at a community mothing event. It is called an LepiLED by Dr. Gunnar Brehm. A link to this item will appear at the end of this article.

• I also learned of another type of LED light specifically designed for mothing from an experienced “Moth-er.” I saw this light in action at a community mothing event but did not realize that it was a special light at the time. It emits two wavelengths of UV light at the same time—designed to mimick moonlight. The light is made by a company called Entoquip, and their propriety light is called an Entolight. A link to this item will appear at the end of this article.

• “National Moth Week Global Citizen Science” has a Video Library entitled, “Mothing with Carl.”  Very informative!!! Here is a link where you can access the video library, “Mothing with Carl”: https://nationalmothweek.org/video-library/

• In addition to moths, there are so many other interesting insects out after dark:  Beetles, bees, flies, and ants, just to name a few. All of these insects place a crucial role in the process of night pollination.

Would you like to try and make a mothing set up?

Here is a list of resources I used, or observed in use, for mothing stations:

• Support structures made from livestock panels, PVC pipe, clothesline, and ladders, just to name a few.

• LED UV Black Lights

• Bolt cutters to cut livestock panels. 

• Hacksaw to cut PVC pipe.  (Not a single mothing station I created and used—or saw being used—had the pvc components glued together.  Simply sliding or pushing them into place was sufficient for this mothing application.)

• Sheets from thrift stores.  The whiter and heavier the fabric, the more the white seems to “pop” under UV light.  Also, the heavier the weight / gauge of the fabric, the better it seems to stand up to elements and the fasteners being used to hold it in place once stretched as tight as possible.

• Zip Ties – Reusable

• Binder Clips – Various Sizes

• Plastic Spring Clamps – Various Sizes

• Headlamp

• Flashlight

• LED UV Black Light Flashlight

• Cellphone or camera to snap pictures of night pollinators that visit your mothing station.

• Grommet Setting Kit and Hammer / Mallet.

• Extra Grommets

• Eye Protection and Ear Protection when using Hammer / Mallet.

• Heavy Duty Cords / Rope- for example, cotton cord, twine, bungee type cord, parachute cord, clothesline, or other type of cord / twine that will be used to help affix the sheet to your structure(s).

• Tent Stakes and Hammer / Mallet.  If wind is an issue at your mothing set up location—meaning the wind might knock over your mothing set up design—you will need to secure it to something.  If all you have is the ground to work with, hopefully it will be some sort of surface that you can pound a tent stake into.  Then, using some form of fastener, for example a reusable zip tie, you can secure the mothing set up(s) to the stake(s).

• Safety Pins.  If your mothing set up has an artistic aspect to it, and the fabric needs to be held firmly in place for the design concept to be achieved, sometimes a good old-fashioned safety pin works very well for tidying up loose fabric ends, and so forth. 

• Extension Cords – varying lengths depending on how far away your mothing set up will be from your electricity source.  I found that at least one extension cord is needed per mothing set up.

• Reflective Tape – There are times when you might find yourself mothing with other individuals that have brought their equipment to a mothing event. When this happens, sometimes equipment can get inadvertently misplaced—especially in dark conditions where you are using a flashlight or headlamp to navigate. Therefore, I used reflective tape as a means to identify my equipment from that of friends and fellow “Moth-ers.” This made it easier to help get all of my equipment packed up and put away after mothing events.

• Surge Protectors – These will allow you to plug in multiple light sources for each mothing set up.

• Portable Power Station– I do not have one of these, but I have seen others use them quite wonderfully for mothing.  They are fantastic in that you are no longer bound by the requirements of staying within a proximal distance of your electricity source.

• Portable Charger with USB Port(s) – This smaller scale portable battery source is perfect for plugging in a low wattage LED light.  For example, a UV LED Black Light Bar with at least a 5-foot cord. 

How do you identify the night pollinators that come to your mothing station?

Where I go to find the answers…

Let’s say that you decide to try mothing.  You make your mothing station and are successfully able to attract night pollinators to your mothing sheet at your mothing station.  You snap a picture —or two, or three—of a night pollinator, but you have no idea what it is.   Now what?  How do you identify your discovery?

Like many of us that have been mothing and have a moth show up at our mothing station, or any other night pollinator show up at our mothing station for that matter, you will probably be just as curious about your discovery as we are.  It is highly likely that you will want to know what you have discovered.  This is where my favorite means of identifying insects comes into play—iNaturalist.

When using iNaturalist, I am given the opportunity to enlist a global community of Citizen Scientists’ to help me identify the night pollinators that visit my mothing station via uploading my observations (my pictures) into this online platform.

For those of you not familiar with iNaturalist, I offer, here, an abbreviated overview of what it is and what it is all about.  Briefly, iNaturalist is a nonprofit social network that enables individuals to record and share observations of living things—across the globe—either from iNat’s website on their laptop / desktop or via iNat’s mobile application on their cellphone or other electronic device—iPad, for example.   

Here are a few iNaturalist links for some of the species that have shown up at my mothing stations over the last few months:

• Butterflies and Moths (Order Lepidoptera)
• Beetles (Order Coleoptera)
• Honey Bees, Bumble Bees, and Allies (Family Apidae) 
• True Weevils (Family Curculionidae) 
• Flies (Order Diptera) 
• Grasshoppers, Locusts, and Allies (Suborder Caelifera) 
• Texas Ants’s Check List 
• Dragonflies (Suborder Anisoptera) 
• Typical Leafhoppers (Family Cicadellidae) 

Wrapping it up…

As I bring this article to a close, I have tried to give you as succinct an overview of mothing as I possibly could.  This article was written after spending well over 100 hours researching, designing, creating, assembling, installing, monitoring, and enjoying mothing stations in several locations. 

If you add in an additional 20 hours of time traveling to other mothing events that were near me to learn from individuals that have much more experience than I do at mothing, I have easily spent weeks of my life dedicated to learning all I could about my latest, new participatory scientist activity referred to as “mothing.”

I have learned so much, and numerous opportunities and doors have opened up for me because of mothing.  Perhaps, for me, the best part of mothing has been making new acquaintances that share the same passion for nature and the natural community around us.  I look forward to getting to know them better as time moves forward.

In retrospect, I guess my biggest “aha” moment was seeing how many other insects are out after dark.  There are so many cool flies, beetles, ants, and even the occasional native bee, that come out after dark. Who knew?  I, for one, did not. 

It is really a fascinating world out there after the sun sets.  If you are curious about mothing, please try it! 

You will not be disappointed! 

Happy Mothing! 

P.S.   Don’t forget your UV black light LED flashlight! Scorpions glow under black light. Mesquite sap glows under black light. Lichen glows under black light, and even some caterpillars glow under black light!

My disclaimer about examples of items mentioned in this post:

• The examples of items included in the list of items and resources—that were either used in the mothing stations I designed or that I observed at other mothing events—are provided to the reader of this article to convey a visual representation of either the item used in a mothing station or the concept of mothing itself.

• I did have to search the internet for some of the mothing station items and resources that I used.

• Links to items found in internet searches for mothing items will be provided in another article that I have written on this topic. This article will be accessible to you, via a button with an embedded link, at the end of this post.

• I am not getting paid to promote or endorse any specific product(s), business(es), or online shopping platform(s), but when I dove into mothing this summer, I quickly came to realize that some of the items I thought I needed for the mothing stations I designed were not readily available in my area.

• I am not suggesting that you go out and purchase any of these items.

However, …

If the lists and examples I am sharing with you can save you some research time and help you get an overall idea of mothing so that you feel confident and competent to try mothing, then I will have accomplished my goal and purpose for this article.

If you would like a “deeper dive” into items for mothing stations, please click on the link directly below for a related post:

• October 2024
• September 2024
• August 2024
• May 2024
• March 2024
• December 2023
• September 2023
• August 2023
• June 2023
• May 2023
• November 2022
• November 2021
• August 2021
• February 2021
• September 2020
• June 2020
• May 2020
• March 2020
• February 2020
• October 2019
• September 2019
• August 2019
• June 2019
• May 2019
• April 2019
• March 2019
• February 2019
• January 2019
• December 2018

The post “Mothing Basics”- written by a Beginner for Beginners by Camille M. Rich, Texas Master Naturalist appeared first on El Mesteño Ranch and Arboretum.

OWLS

On fuzzy-edged feathers, flight is effortlessly taken—gliding. Dipping.  Diving.

Wing beats are soundless—stealthy.  Swooping.  Soaring.

Listen to the powerful silence—remarkable.   Calming.   Reassuring.

Syllables whispered out into the dark—song. Sing.  Rejoice.

By CmR

Throughout the ages, much has been written and noted about the owl.  Many cultures have revered, or even feared, the owl. Some even subscribing to the notion that owls are signs of impending doom or death.  I would agree with that if I happened to be a rodent, perhaps.  Otherwise, I believe the superstition surrounding owls to be great fiction. 

Out on the South Texas Sand Sheet, my trail cameras have captured Eastern Screech-Owls, and even a few Great Horned Owls, over the years. Despite zero trail camera appearances, I have also observed Barn Owls on numerous occasions. Each owl encounter, whether via trail camera footage or an in-person observation, has presented an exceptional opportunity to learn more about these nocturnal birds of prey.

As both a student and a steward of the South Texas Sand Sheet, I have prioritized preserving and maintaining habitat for owls. Additionally, I have tried my best to be a great learner—to observe and absorb as much as I possibly can about them. Now, the final piece of my participatory scientist’s educational journey on owls, to date, is for me to share what I have learned about them with you.

Over the course of many years of consistent camera trapping to document fauna at the watering hole, owls have made numerous cameo appearances after dark. They have graciously supplied me with lessons on how they turn their head towards sounds in the dark, their own version of a tail waggle, the way they shake their wet feathers to dry off, even to how careful they are when they kind of crouch down and lean over to get a sip of water.

What I think it comes down to…

My overall takeaway from years of owl experiences via my “trail camera relationship” with them is this: The presence of an owl on your property can be a sign of a balanced ecosystem—a healthy habitat whereby owls take up residence on a property and make it their home.  All they need is a nesting site, a food source, and a steady water supply. 

Native American beliefs…

“In Nature, everything has its own place and purpose. Humans must work at entering the natural environment in ways that demonstrate cooperative thinking in accordance with the wisdom of Nature.   When you meditate on giving thanks, first give thanks for Mother Earth and all the living things: the four-legged ones, the winged ones, and everything that has been touched by the Great One, including even the rocks and the trees.”

“Meditations with The Cherokee:  Prayers, Songs, and Stories of Healing and Harmony,” by J. T. Garrett, Ed. D.  Published by Bear & Company, Rochester, Vermont, 2001.

“Owl is a creature of the night and has been symbolically associated with wisdom because it can see what others cannot.  It is the only bird that flies in total silence…Owl is symbolic of discernment…”

“Shamanic Experience:  A Practical Guide to Psychic Powers,” by Kenneth Meadows.  Published by Bear & Company.  Rochester, Vermont.  1991, 2001, and 2003.

Mesteño Mini Movie featuring owls of the South Texas Sand Sheet:

Birding and feather experts weigh in…

     “19 species in 11 genera, all in the family Strigidae except Barn Owl in Tytonidae.  Owls are mainly nocturnal predators, distinctive, with large eyes facing forwards and surrounded by facial disk.  All have hooked bills and needle-sharp talons, used for catching animal prey. Forage mainly by perching and listening or watching for prey, and different species specialize in different prey: Many smaller species are insectivores, larger species take mainly mammals…Owls do not build nests, most species nest in cavities or crevices and readily accept man-made structures such as birdhouses: some use old nests of other birds or squirrels.”

“The Sibley Guide to Birds, Second Edition,” written and illustrated by David Allen Sibley.  Published by Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 2014.

“Barn Owls (Tytonidae) and Typical Owls (Strigidae):  Leading primaries are often curved near the tip.  All flight feathers of the wing have a fuzzy appearance.  Strong barring or spotting is always present.  [Note:  Some hawks and kites also have fuzzy wing feathers, but to a much lesser degree.]”

“A Guide to North American Species Bird Feathers,” by S. David Scott and Casey McFarland.  Published by Stackpole Books, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, 2010.

How do they fly so quietly?

“Owls achieve almost noiseless flight and can swoop down on their prey unheard. Two factors work together to accomplish this. First, large wings and a light body enable the owl to support itself easily and quietly in flight. A heavy-bodied bird requires hard-working wings that tend to be noisy. If you have ever heard a startled quail take flight, you have some idea of the noise some birds’ wings can make. Second, most owls have comb-like serrations on the leading edge of wing feathers that break up the turbulent air that typically creates a swooshing sound. Those smaller streams of air are further dampened by a velvety texture unique to owl feathers and by a soft fringe on a wing’s trailing edge. These structures together streamline the air flow and absorb the sound produced by the owl’s beating wings. Owls also have whisker-like feathers that cover the beak area and they have feathers covering their feet all the way to the talons. This is yet another adaptation owls have to be more silent flyers.”

Online Source: Texas Parks & Wildlife:  Introducing Birds to Young Naturalists:  Owls

Calls of the Eastern Screech-Owl:

“Tremolo song a long, whistled trill on one pitch, up to three seconds long. All calls given by both sexes, but female voice slightly higher-pitched than male.”

“The Sibley Guide to Birds, Second Edition,” written and illustrated by David Allen Sibley.  Published by Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 2014.

Owl Species in Texas:

“Barn Owl, Flammulated Owl, Western Screech-Owl, Eastern Screech-Owl, Great Horned Owl, Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, Elf Owl, Burrowing Owl, Barred Owl, Long-eared Owl, and Short-eared Owl.

Online Source: Texas Parks & Wildlife:  Introducing Birds to Young Naturalists:  Owls

Owls in my yard…

As I bring this article to a close, I would like to share a bit about my urban experiences with owls. You see, I have lived at the same residence for over twenty years. It has not been until the last five to eight years—that as large tracts of remaining brush have been cleared around me to make way for new subdivisions and commercial centers—I have heard owls in my own backyard. Some of the owls stayed for a few days, and some of the owls even stayed long enough to raise their young.

Can you spot the owlet in the photograph above?

Talk about fantastic camouflage!

Noteworthy guests in my backyard and the neighborhood I live in have included the Great Horned Owl, Barn Owl, and Eastern Screech-Owl.  I once even had Eastern Screech-Owls nesting in a tall, dead Crepe Myrtle that that I never cut down, because it provided superb habitat for all sorts of creatures.  Watching their owlets fledge was phenomenal!  A treasured nature story I will never forget!

What can we do to help owls?

• Owls can suffer poisoning (and potentially death) from eating poisoned prey.
• Use traps rather than poisons to control rodents.
• Reduce the use of insect pesticides.
• Leave dead trees, including dead palm trees, available for owls to both roost and nest in.
• Stay alert for owls on roads, or near roadsides, at night.
• Add a nest box specifically designed for owls to your property.
• Reduce unnecessary lighting at night in and around your property.

Related, published articles by Fellow Texas Master Naturalists:

• Rio Grande Valley Chapter Texas master Naturalist: Anita’s Blog — “The Dark of Night” by Anita Westervelt
• Rio Grande Valley Chapter Texas Master Naturalist: “Tiger of the Treetops” by Diane Hall

Text sources / resources for this article:

• “A Guide to North American Species Bird Feathers,” by S. David Scott and Casey McFarland. Published by Stackpole Books, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, 2010.
• “Meditations with The Cherokee:  Prayers, Songs, and Stories of Healing and Harmony,” by J. T. Garrett, Ed. D.  Published by Bear & Company, Rochester, Vermont, 2001.
• “Shamanic Experience:  A Practical Guide to Psychic Powers,” by Kenneth Meadows.  Published by Bear & Company.  Rochester, Vermont.  1991, 2001, and 2003.
• “The Sibley Guide to Birds, Second Edition,” written and illustrated by David Allen Sibley.  Published by Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 2014.

Online sources / resources for this article:

• Texas Parks & Wildlife: Introducing Birds to Young Naturalists: Owls
• Audubon: 13 Fun Facts About Owls
• iNaturalist on Screech-Owls
• iNaturalist Barn Owl Observations
• iNaturalist Great Horned Owl Observations
• iNaturalist Owls of the World Observations
• The Cornell Lab: All About Birds: Barn Owl
• The Cornell Lab: All About Birds: Eastern Screech-Owl
• The Cornell Lab: All About Birds: Great Horned Owl

Photo Credit: M. A. Jackson

The post Owls on the South Texas Sand Sheet by Camille M. Rich appeared first on El Mesteño Ranch and Arboretum.

Badgers live predominantly solitary lives in a variety of habitats from plains, to prairies, to farmland, or at the edges of woods and thorn thickets.

Badgers dine on ground squirrels, rats, gophers, and mice. Sometimes, they eat snakes, birds, and reptiles, as well.  

“The American badger has a flat body with short legs and a triangular face with a long, pointed, tipped-up, nose. It has long brown or black fur with white stripes on its cheeks and one stripe running from its nose to the back of its head. It has small ears on the side of its head and long, sharp front claws.” Source: Nature Works (NH PBS)

“The American badger mates between July and August, but the embryos don’t really start to grow until December or February…The female gives birth in March.  She has 1 – 5 babies in an underground nest lined with grass.” Source: Nature Works (NH PBS)

You may learn more about the American Badger at the following sites:

• Texas Parks & Wildlife on Badgers
• U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service on Badgers
• iNaturalist Observations for the American Badger
• iNaturalist Observations for Mustelids (Family Mustelidae)

The post The American Badger by Camille M. Rich appeared first on El Mesteño Ranch and Arboretum.

After capturing this cool, little bat twice now on trail cam video, I was curious to learn a little more about bats in the state of Texas. Consequently, I began a basic fact-finding mission by checking the Texas Parks & Wildlife (TPWD) Website for bat information. I was able to locate the TPWD Bat Webpage at the following web address:

https://tpwd.texas.gov/education/resources/texas-junior-naturalists/bats

After reading through the information on this TPWD webpage, along with navigating through and reading information contained in some of the articles that were included in the links on the TPWD Bat Webpage, I learned some really interesting, helpful things about bats. They are as follows:

• Texas is home to 32 of the 47 species that live in the United States of America.
• The largest known colony of bats in the world is Bracken Cave Preserve near San Antonio, Texas.
• The largest urban bat colony in the United States can be found in Austin, Texas, at the Congress Avenue Bridge.
• Bats need drinking water sources that are clean and easy to access—meaning no obstructions that would make it difficult for them to fly in and drink water.
• Bats are protected by the state of Texas. This state protection for bats includes both urban and natural habitats.
• Most bats do not have rabies. However, we should avoid activities where we could get bitten. Safety for us and for the bats! A win-win.

• Mexican free-tailed bats are found to be the most common bat found throughout Texas.
• The Texas State Legislature named the Mexican free-tailed bat as the “state flying mammal” in 1995.
• Mexican free-tailed bats are migratory, and they spend their winters in Mexico.
• Mexican free-tailed bats can fly up to 100 miles, round trip, in just one ((1) evening in search of food. 
• Mexican free-tailed bats are great for insect control for both humans and agricultural crops, because they can eat up to two-thirds of their body weight in insects each night!

Thank you for visiting the El Mesteño Ranch website!

Please stay tuned for more incredible bat footage as I keep a good thought (and fingers crossed) that this little bat—and many, many more of its friends—become regular vistors at the water’s edge!

SOURCE:

Texas Parks & Wildlife Bat Webpage: “The Crowded Skies on Texas Summer Nights,” A Year in the Life of a Mexican Free-tailed Bat,” and “Bat-Watching Sites in Texas.”

The post The little bat returns to the watering hole! appeared first on El Mesteño Ranch and Arboretum.