As some indication of what an advantage a species has if it can fly, consider this: there are approximately 9,000 species of birds on the planet, and about 4,000 species of mammals, of which almost 25%, or a little over 900, are bats!
 That being said, you'd think we might see them all the time, and we probably do see more of bats than we realize. Bats are strictly nocturnal and are usually well hidden during the daylight hours. When the sun sets, they come out of their roosts, sometimes by the millions, to feed, mostly on insects.
Most bats that we do see are small, averaging only a couple of inches in length and with correspondingly short wingspans. However, a couple of months ago, Liberty volunteer Rebecca Moffet rescued a member of the largest bat species in North America right in the East Valley. Mastiff bats (Eumops perotis) are members of the free-tailed bat family and are found in a few southwestern states from California to Texas.
 The Western Mastiff is mainly a cliff dweller living in smaller colonies of from 30 to about 100 individuals. Weighing 2 to 2.5 ounces and having a wingspan of almost 2 feet and a body from 4 to 6 inches long, they are the largest species in North America. Feeding on moths and other flying insects at night, some of their active echolocation "pings" are actually audible to human ears as they fly through the night sky. Go to this website for a cool recording of the Mastiff's chirp!
In recent years, the Western Mastiffs have declined dangerously as human activity has destroyed habitat and pesticides have entered their food chain. A loss of appropriately sized ponds required by these large flying mammals has also contributed to their decline. It has been calculated that the Mastiff needs almost 98 square feet of unobstructed open water to properly drink as it flies. Despite their large size and somewhat fearsome look, the Mastiff bat is probably the bat least likely to be aggressive towards humans. They truly are "gentle giants."
 The Mastiff found by Rebecca does not appear injured, but probably got lost in a storm, as it was found under a car in the Mesa-Gilbert area after a soaking rain. It will be released as soon as it's healthy and the weather is appropriate!
It's very important to remember that if you ever find a bat that isn't in a colony or is in any other way exhibiting any atypical behavior, DON'T touch it! This is for your safety and the bat's. Since bats in the Arizona area are considered a rabies vector species, if any human comes in contact with a bat, the creature will have to be euthanized and examined for the rabies virus. If you happen to find a bat, call Liberty Wildlife immediately and give the little guy a chance.
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