By Alec Fernandes
Cute critters or biting beasts? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
The Bureau of Land Management is hosting its annual Bat Beauty Contest, a quirky competition that raises awareness about the ecological importance of bats while showcasing some seriously adorable contenders.
This year's contest features bats from 12 western states. Hoary Potter, a male hoary bat, and Honey Bunches Myotis, a long-eared myotis bat, are two notable contestants from Oregon, which was also the home of last year's champion William ShakespEAR, a Townsend's big-eared bat. Voting kicked off this week on BLM's Facebook and Instagram pages and runs until Halloween.
The pageant for these flying furballs isn't all fluff – it coincides with International Bat Week, a global initiative to highlight the essential roles bats play in nature. Despite the spooky reputation of these animals, only a tiny fraction carry rabies and various species are vital for pest control. A single bat can devour up to 1,200 mosquitoes in just one hour.
What do you think of these breathtaking beauties? Let us know on our Facebook page!
