The Oregon Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is pleased to announce the return of the annual Bat Beauty Contest, which showcases Oregon’s unique bat species for a record third straight time.
Join the fun: Vote for Oregon bats in BLM’s annual contest
To properly start this story, you should listen to “Stevie Wonder – Isn’t She Lovely.” So if you want to give it some vibe, I posted it at the bottom. This year’s BLM Animal Beauty Contest begins October 24th, runs through Halloween (October 31st), and concludes with International Bat Week. The event hopes to raise awareness of bat conservation and highlight the important role bats play in Washington’s ecosystem.
Oregon State is proudly represented by two 2024 contestants. Holly Potter, an energetic male Holly bat, and Honey Bunches of Myotis, a long-eared Myotis bat. Hoary Potter will compete in the first round on October 24th, followed by Honey Bunch of Myotis in the second round on October 25th. Both bats were photographed by BLM wildlife technician Emma Busk.
At last year’s competition, Townsend’s long-eared bat, William Shakespeare, of Butte Falls, defeated Allen’s long-eared bat in the final round to be crowned champion. In 2022, Barbara, a canyon bat from Lake County, was crowned champion.
BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land across 11 Western states and Alaska, and this year’s contest will be particularly active as other states aim to thwart Oregon’s reigning champion. is. Voting in the contest is on the BLM National Facebook and Instagram pages and is your chance to support your favorite bat.
Bats are essential to the Northwest ecosystem
Bats are essential to Oregon’s ecosystem, functioning primarily as insectivores (eating insects) and helping control pest populations. Just one bat can prey on up to 1,200 mosquitoes per hour, making bats valuable allies in maintaining environmental health. If you want to support your local bat population, install a bat house in your backyard and create a bat-friendly garden with native flowers that attract insects. The contest starts tomorrow. Oregonians are encouraged to vote for their favorite bats on social media and learn how they can support these remarkable creatures during the upcoming Bat Week. Vote for your favorite bat on the Bureau of Land Management Facebook page starting tomorrow. For more information about Gat Week, visit Batweek.org.
Appearance: Classic Halloween costumes from 1865 to today
Stucker went through the archives and found 50 photos of Halloween costumes from 1865 to today.
Gallery credit: Stacker
