Going Batty for Trick or Treat Night

Video of the bats at the Congress Street Bridge in Austin TX


OK, I know that when kids show up at your door to trick or treat they are expecting goodies. Why not take advantage of a teachable moment, however, and “treat” them to some interesting information about some spooky Halloween favorites?

My little ones were inspired to love bats on a bat boat ride in Austin TX two years ago. You can check out the video link above to see the spectacle of the Austin bats yourself.

When children show up on my doorstep this year, they can pick up a handout about bats from Bat Conservation International which tells them why bats hang upside down, how they move in the dark, what they eat, where they live and many more fun facts on these furry winged friends. Also posted on the door will be information on the endangered Vampire Bat, and a large stuffed Vampire Bat from the World Wildlife Fund. The stuffed bat came with our family donation to “adopt a vampire bat” along with information about the endangered species.

Not to worry little tricksters, I also have a multitude of sour gummy bat candies to dole out!

Here are some fast facts to drive you Batty:

• There are over 1,100 different species of bats in the world!
• Bats are not blind, but some use echolocation (a special sonar system) to fly around in the dark.
• Many small insectivorous bats can eat more than 1000 mosquito-sized insects in one hour!
• Bats are not birds! They are mammals and are warm-blooded, have hair, bear live young and feed their babies milk.
• Vampire bats really do suck blood (but they only take 2 Tablespoons at a time) and a component of their saliva has been recreated artificially and used in medication for human heart patients!