They’re Back! (My Bat Friends, That Is) By Elaine A. Powers, Author

Great Horned Owl image courtesy of Wikipedia

In a previous blog on elaineapowers.com, I complained about the lack of bats during my evening swims. I hypothesized that the bats were afraid of the Great Horned Owls nesting in my yard.  (Owls are natural predators of bats.)

A hypothesis is a proposed explanation based on limited information, a starting point for further investigation. My hypothesis, therefore, was that the lack of bats in my yard was the direct result of predatory behavior of Great Horned Owls.

The owls finished their nesting season, successfully fledging their owlets.  With the departure of their young, the pair of owls left my yard. A few nights later, I realized that the bats had returned to my home. I took this as a positive datum that my hypothesis was correct. Of course, this is only one data point, but I feel it is somewhat conclusive.

I will be curious to see, should the owls return, if the bats leave again. I do have excellent owl habitat, along with bat habitat.
The fascinating world of science is always all around us, even in our own backyards.

To learn more about bats and have some fun while you’re at it, please see the comprehensive 47-page workbook My Book About Bats and Rats at our workbooks page.