Resources
Exaggerated Disease Warnings
Merlin’s Opinion Letter, “Fear of Bats and its Consequences,” was published in the Journal of Bat Research and Conservation. This is a thoroughly documented report on how exaggerated disease claims against bats have harmed bats and efforts to conserve them over the past 47 years—something all who care about bats should know.
Read more →Finding, Protecting, and Restoring America’s Historic Bat Caves
The largest losses of cave-dwelling bats often occur prior to a cave’s discovery by cavers or bat biologists. When looking for bat roosts we simply ask about caves where bats currently live. And too often, those we discover are locations of last resort for bats that have been forced to abandon preferred sites.
Read more →Essential Bat Values
Insect-eating bats save farmers approximately $23 billion in annual agricultural losses in the United States alone. Millions of free-tailed bats from Bracken Cave, Texas eat more than 100 tons of insects nightly, intercepting billions of migrant pests before they can lay eggs, a huge savings to farmers.
Read more →Good Intentions Can Still Leave a Bad Taste
Wrong approaches in defense of bats can be even worse than not defending them at all. Articles, such as the one published in the May 15 issue of Scientific American, “Bats are Not Our Enemies,” are meant to defend bats, but can unwittingly perpetuate needless fear and intolerance.
Read more →Fear of Bats and its Consequences
Merlin’s Opinion Letter, “Fear of Bats and its Consequences,” was published in the Journal of Bat Research and Conservation. This is a thoroughly documented report on how exaggerated disease claims against bats have harmed bats and efforts to conserve them over the past 47 years—something all who care about bats should know.
Read more →Videos
Watch Merlin Tuttle’s latest videos and video archives for more information on bat conservation
Bat Fears in Perspective
The Power of Winning Friends Not Battles
The Importance of Bats
Tuttle Tales Episode 1: Khao Chong Pran
Blog
Stay informed with MTBC’s latest updates, adventures, and Bat Flashes.
Bat Flash! NatGeo’s “Virus Hunters” Spreads Groundless Claims About Bats
11/2/2020 By Merlin Tuttle I viewed the National Geographic documentary series titled, “Virus Hunters,” with substantial disappointment. Warnings of growing […]
Bat Flash! Unveiling the Real World of Bats in a Time of Misinformation
9/15/2020 By Danielle Cordani The avalanche of speculative reports associating bats with COVID-19 seems never ending. However, at a time […]
Improving Bat Houses in America:
Nearly 40 Years of Progress and Still Learning 9/14/2020 By Merlin Tuttle Bat houses are outstanding tools for education. When […]
Exploring Ecuador’s Los Cedros Reserve
4/15/2020 By Teresa Nichta This rainy February, we visited Los Cedros Biological Reserve in Ecuador. Roo Vandegrift, and crew, are […]
Photos
Browse and download Merlin Tuttle’s famous bat photography.
Kitti’s Hognosed or Bumblebee Bat Craseonycteris Thonglongyai
Painted Bat Kerivoula Picta
Merlin Tuttle Measuring Roost Stains Left by Cave Myotis in McCarty Cave
Brazilian Freetailed Bat Tadarida Brasiliensis
Common Blossom Bat Syconycteris Australis
Little Red Flying Fox Pteropus Scapulatus
