PORTLAND, Ore.-The Bureau of Land Management is holding its annual Bat Beauty Contest from October 24 through Halloween.
Coinciding with International Bat Week to raise awareness about conservation, the contest finds the most stunning bat photographed on BLM land across the country.
“We hope the contest is fun, and we also hope it increases people’s appreciation of these creatures,” said Donald Manuszewski, BLM-OR/WA Deputy State Director for Communications.
All bats in the Pacific Northwest are insectivorous, meaning they eat pests like mosquitos, beetles, and moths according to the BLM, with just one bat being able to eat up to 1,200 mosquitos in an hour.
The submission from the BLM Offices of Oregon and Washington for the 2023 contest is William ShakespEAR, a Townsend’s big-eared bat from Butte Falls, photographed by Emma Busk, BLM wildlife biologist.
Townsend’s big-eared bats are found throughout Oregon and Washington according to the BLM.
“Bats aren’t just beautiful, they’re also in need of our protection,” said Manuszewski.
