They mate in an arena type setting — 25 to 130 bats will gather along tree branches by the river ... Read next BI Tech Memo An icon in the shape of an angle pointing down.

Well, that tree becomes a Major League Baseball bat to be used by Miami's Hanley Ramirez in the Marlins' Opening Night game against the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday (ESPN, 7 p.m. ET).

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Bats help keep forests growing. Without bats to hold their populations in check, insects that munch on tree seedlings go wild, doing three to nine times more damage than when bats are on the scene.

Fluttering overhead at night, quiet except for their squeaks, bats can be easily overlooked, but these small mammals play a big role in the ecosystem. Bats are also at risk. Illinois is home to 13 ...

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or ...

“Although we may not always see them, bats are hard at work all around the world each night — eating tons of insects, pollinating flowers, and spreading seeds that grow new plants and trees.

Master naturalists Mary Beth Lampe (from left), Karen Harden and Tina Olivas walk through the Fort Worth Botanic Garden before placing an ultrasonic microphone to pick up different species of bats ...