Bats often get a bad rap. A famous icon of ~spooky season~ and known to be a rabies carrier, these pint-sized pollinators are extremely important to both human and ecosystem health. "Bats are actually important guardians of human health, protecting us from the world’s deadliest animal — the mosquito — by consuming 1,000 per hour,” said Will Harlan, southeast director and senior scientist at the Center. They also protect us from deadly diseases including West Nile virus, and they protect our food crops from insects. And, if you've ever enjoyed a margarita — you can thank bats for being the exclusive pollinator of the agave plant from which tequila is made. Cheers to bats! 🍹 🦇 🦇 🦇 🦇 #spookyseason #itsfrickenbats #batsofinstagram #batsarecool