"Bats love to munch on insects like stink bugs and moths. Some farmers are now relying on the mammals for pest control – and ditching chemicals."
"On a clear September night along the San Marcos River in central Texas, a handful of people in headlamps gathered around a small, noisy creature: an evening bat.
Melissa Donnelly, a science specialist with the nonprofit Merlin Tuttle’s Bat Conservation, delicately measured its wing. She caught the chattering bat over the river in a supersized tennis net.
“This is very typical of the species,” Donnelly said, as she held the bat that’s no bigger than a clementine. “They’ve got a lot to say all the time.”
The tiny brown bat is one of millions who fill the Texas skies each night, and collectively eat tons of insects. They’re essential for farms – including where the researchers are working: Swift River Pecans."
Michael Marks reports for KCUR/Harvest Public Media October 27, 2025.
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