34 species of bats feed exclusively on nectar rather than insects, making them important pollinators for flora vital to the preservation of ecosystems. They pollinate over 500 plant species, like bananas, agave, and mangoes.
But bats are under threat. 85 species of bat are currently listed as endangered. The lesser long-nosed bat and the Mexican long-tongued bat, two pollinating species that migrate from Mexico to Arizona, Texas, and New Mexico, are now considered vulnerable. White-noise syndrome, habitat loss, development, and climate change continue to pose a risk to their species.
That's why Greater Good Charities partners with local wildlife rescue and conservation groups to preserve at-risk bat species—and the environment that depends on them.
The Mexican long-tongued bat and the lesser long-nosed bat both feed on agave, saguaro cacti flowers, and other Sonoran blooms. Their feeding results in spreading seeds that maintain the fragile biodiversity of the area, making them essential to the greater environment.
In 2021, we partnered with Borderlands Restoration Network (BRN) to support their restoration efforts. BRN works to balance out the destruction of agaves for industrial and residential land use in the U.S., as well as the wild harvest of agaves for Bacanora (the regional mescal produced from agaves in Sonora).
Your donations allowed Greater Good Charities to award a grant supporting BRN’s Agaves for Bats program.
With funds from Greater Good Charities, Borderlands Restoration Network has been able to germinate thousands more agave plants from seed, increasing the genetic diversity of plants in the landscape through restoration. Agave seedlings struggle in the wild due to predation and drought. They often need extra nursery help to get started before surviving on their own in the wild.
BRN also worked with young adult volunteers from across the U.S. who came to learn about our work and helped us transplant agave seedlings into larger pots. These groups learned about agaves for bats and were able to engage with the restoration process by potting up baby agave plants.
In Australia, grey-headed flying foxes are vital for forest ecosystem health. Sometimes called “flying night gardeners,” they contribute to the dispersal of seeds and the pollination of more than a hundred plant species. Just like the lesser long-nosed bat and the Mexican long-tongued bat, this species is currently listed as Vulnerable.
When bushfires broke out across Australia, and these bats were suddenly at risk of dying from heat stress, Greater Good Charities partnered with Wildlife Victoria Inc. to purchase ready-to-go veterinary kits and portable water sprayers so trained specialists could rescue and heat treat grey-headed flying foxes.
Without proper federal protection, this aid is crucial for the survival of their species. Your donations are safeguarding the future of grey-headed flying foxes.
Greater Good Charities remains committed to protect at-risk pollinators around the globe, including bees, butterflies—and bats.
Supporters like you help preserve these at-risk bat species and the vital biodiversity of their environment.