Dear Texas Farmers & Ranchers,

Texas bats provide farmers and ranchers over 1-billion dollars in pest control annually through control of the corn-borer and armyworm moths, but they desperately need your help.

The Mexican free-tail, the Official Flying Mammal of Texas, is our most common species. They consume staggering numbers of insects nightly, primarily agricultural pests. The free-tailed bats of Central Texas alone consume close to 250 tons of insects on an average summer night. Nevertheless, these bats are in alarming decline. For example, a population decline in Eagle Creek Cave was documented from over 25 million in 1963 to just 30,000 six years later. Human disturbance and vandalism, especially during maternity season, is likely the single most serious causes of this decline. Grossly exaggerated media stories about rabies have led to the intentional destruction of large colonies. Sadly, Texas, boasting the most farms and ranches in the entire US, is one of only 7 states that offers no protection for bats during maternity season. Because of this, entire nursery colonies are often destroyed when they roost in buildings. The less bats we have, the more damage we incur to our Texas crops. We realize that humans should not share their living or work space with wildlife, but there are humane, safe and effective means to remove bats from buildings that do not involve killing. That is where we need your help. Our proposed draft of a critical new Bill to offer better protection for our Texas bats is below. If you agree that this bill needs to be passed, please send an email with permission to use your name in support of this bill. Send to [email protected]. That is all we are asking from you – nothing more at all.

P.S. Links to the scientific articles cited in the video can also be found below.