Ohio has 10 species of bats. They are insectivorous and can eat up to 1,200 mosquito-sized insects every hour. According to Bat Conservation International, bats are invaluable for pollination, seed dispersal, pest control and fertilization across the world. Scientists estimate that in the U.S. bats are worth more than $3.7 billion a year in reduced crop damage and pesticide use. Worldwide, more than 1,100 bat species exist with fossil records of bats dating back at least 52 million years.
