Bats A Myth This Hallowe'en
Among ghosts, witches and black cats, what would Hallowe'en be without bats hanging around?
We've found out, along with ecological experts within the company predicting that the only way a person is likely to see a bat in flight this Hallowe'en is if one is roused from its winter hibernation by accident.
And after a less than warm summer which saw many a barbecue aborted, it would seem that the good old British weather is also intent on quite literally putting a seasonal dampner on the so-called spookiest night of the year.
For as temperatures cool, the insects and fruits that most species of bat feed on become less prevalent, forcing bats to go into hibernation or risk wasting vital winter energy reserves hunting for food that simply isn't there.
Indeed, following the colder nights of late, our ecological team believe most bats are likely to have already sought out the protective dwellings where they will spend the next few months in hibernation, with roosting sites most commonly found in trees, underground cavities such as caves and inside roof spaces and other man-made structures.
The prediction that real-life bats are likely to be largely absent from this year's Hallowe'en festivities follows studies carried out by Yorkshire Water's ecological team, in partnership with regional bat groups, which works closely with the significant and varied populations of bats which live amongst the 72,000 hectares of land that the company manages.
Bats are the only mammals capable of true flight, with over 1,100 recognised species present throughout most of the world. Most species feed on insects or fruit, performing vital ecological roles such as dispersing fruit seeds and pollinating flowers. One species - the vampire bat - is so called because its main food source is blood, though this species is only found in the Americas.
In many western traditions, bats are associated with Hallowe'en, and for centuries they have been associated with vampires, such as the one featured in Bram Stoker's classic novel 'Dracula'.
Not all cultures view bats as evil. In western African countries bats are sacred animals thought to be the physical manifestation of souls, whilst in China, bats are considered a sign of long life and good fortune.
