How Citizen Scientists Uncovered an Endangered Bat Species in Arizona: A Remarkable Discovery!

For a long time, people noticed strange creatures buzzing around in the Arizona night sky, suspected to be pollinators. Thanks to a citizen science project, scientists recently confirmed the presence of the endangered Mexican long-nosed bat in the state.

Scientists have been curious if these bats live in Arizona due to their migration patterns. However, without DNA evidence, they couldn’t distinguish the Mexican long-nosed bat from its close relative, the lesser long-nosed bat. This lack of proof meant that the Mexican long-nosed bat was only known to be present in Mexico, Texas, and New Mexico.

Using citizen science, researchers set up bird feeders filled with nectar in Portal, Arizona, hoping to collect DNA samples from the bats. To their delight, the DNA from the Mexican long-nosed bats was found! This discovery means these bats do indeed call Southeastern Arizona home.

Now that we know they are in the area, it’s crucial to locate their roosts. Protecting these areas from human traffic is essential for their survival and monitoring their population. This effort is still in the planning stages, as the bats were just discovered.

Kristen Lear, who leads the Bat Conservation International’s Agave Restoration program, emphasizes the big question now: “What must we do to ensure the bat continues to thrive in these areas?”

How Many Mexican Long-Nosed Bats Are Left?

The Mexican long-nosed bat has been listed as endangered since 1988, with only about 1,000 individuals at that time. Although their numbers have improved somewhat, they’ve still faced serious population declines, losing around 50% of their population over recent decades. Today, estimates suggest there could be around 200,000 Mexican long-nosed bats in the U.S. and Mexico combined.

Sadly, due to habitat loss, only three confirmed roosts remain – one in Mexico and two in the U.S., both protected by federal law. The recent discovery of bats in Arizona raises questions about their movement—are they roosting, or just passing through?

The main food source for Mexican long-nosed bats is nectar, which makes them vital pollinators. But their food sources, particularly agave, along their migratory routes are dwindling. This decline poses a significant threat to their survival, and without further conservation efforts, their future looks grim.

What Is Being Done to Save the Mexican Long-Nosed Bat?

The good news is that Mexican long-nosed bats are now also found in Arizona. However, this doesn’t mean their numbers will automatically increase; their habitat needs protection to support their survival. Efforts are underway across the U.S. and Mexico to cultivate more agave plants, ensuring a steady supply of nectar for these bats.

Due to the demand for high-quality tequila, agave harvesting has become problematic. Many plants are picked before they can flower, which hampers the bats’ food supply. Moreover, the lack of genetic diversity in agave plants makes them vulnerable to disease. Bats help maintain this diversity through pollination, but habitat disruption means fewer bats to do this vital work.

Climate change adds another layer of difficulty. Many agave plants struggle in hotter temperatures with insufficient rain. To combat this, new agave farms are being established near bat habitats. This strategy aims to support both the bats and the plants they rely on.

Human activities can disturb bat roosts, potentially causing the bats to abandon their homes. There’s also concern about white-nose syndrome, a deadly fungus that can affect bats during hibernation, making them wake too early when food is scarce.

To counter this, public access to roosting sites has been restricted, to encourage the bats to return. The more disturbances there are in their habitat, the more likely their population will decline, which is a path we must avoid.