The European Bat Night is celebrated annually in over 30 countries around the world. The agreement for the protection of bats in Europe (EUROBATS) has been in force for Bulgaria since 1999, the Ministry of Education and Culture reminds.
Bats are small animals of the class Mammalia. The distinguishing feature about them is that their front limbs have grown into wings. Bats are the only mammals capable of active flight, although some species can fly short distances. In Bulgaria there are 33 species out of a possible 35 in Europe and all of them are insectivorous. Bats are very useful because many of the insects they feed on are agricultural pests. In urban settings, they help fight mosquitoes, as one little brown bat can eat about 1,200 mosquitoes in an hour.
Bats are one of the most widespread groups of mammals. The ability to fly helped their "displacement" in different parts of the planet. They inhabit all continents except Antarctica, the northernmost parts of Europe, Asia and America and some remote islands. Bats have adapted to the most diverse lifestyles and occupy extremely diverse ecological niches.