Dominic and Trista Harmon are doing their part to help the unofficial Halloween mascot -- the lowly bat.

Some species of batsare in decline.

The sitatuion is so serious that the the Harmons enlisted the help of the Natural Resources Conservation Service to help these frightfully helpful creatures.

As part of a cooperative conservation effort, the NRCS is working with the SD Bat Working Group on updating the SD Bat Management Plan. The plan is designed to identify risks to bats, develop objectives and strategies to conserve bats and to educate people about them, and make management recommendations associated with protecting bats and their habitats in South Dakota.

"In the long run, we're hoping there will be an increase in awareness of bats in South Dakota," says Silka Kempema of South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks, Pierre.

The Harmons, of rural northwest Mellette County, are focusing on environmentally friendly solutions to help their ranching operation. In 2004, local NRCS staff helped the Harmons organize a management plan for their ranch. They worked with NRCS specialists to maximize the ability of the property to produce forage for livestock while improving the health of the resources. As an organic producer, they want to increase bats on their ranch as a natural method for fly control around their cattle herd.

The Harmons built both bird and bat houses near stock water tanks, corrals, and the headquarters with the goal of attracting bats that utilize insects for food.

Bats of all types are helpful to humans in many ways. They consume enormous amounts of insects daily. They eat the beetles, moths, and leafhoppers that cost landowners billions of dollars in damages each year. Some bats serve as pollinators.

For more information, please visit the Web sites of Bat Conservation, International at www.batcon.org or the South Dakota Bat Working Group at www.nathist.sdstate.edu/SDBWG/SDBWG.html.  

Source: South Dakota NRCS