Bat week: The last week of October is Bat Week. We realize we are a bit late, but we wanted to recognize these wonderful creatures. Bats are often misunderstood, but these heroes of the night are crucial to our planet. They provide essential pest control, pollinate our plants, and disperse seeds for new plants and trees.

Bats remain a frontier of wonder and discovery — from understanding their longevity to inspiring medical marvels.

Bats appeared on Earth 50 million years ago. Today, there are 1,300 species worldwide and 47 species in the US. White nose syndrome, first discovered in 2006, continues to do damage to numerous species.

However, rather than focus on the sad news, we prefer to take a look at two of the more interesting species of bats that share the Earth with us.

The Hoary Bat is considered one of America’s most handsome bats. The wingspan of this species is 16 inches. The bat has white-tipped fur, which makes it look frost-tipped.

This bat can be found through most of Canada and the US and even has a sub-species in Hawaii. They roost in trees and stay well hidden in the leaves during the day.

In the summer, the males of this species can be found west of the Rockies, although they don’t emerge to feed until after dark. Meanwhile, the females are typically east of the Rockies during the summer. In the fall, the bats tend to migrate south, and they head out at dusk, making it easier to spot them.

The Virginia Big-Eared Bat is a subspecies of the Townsend Big-Eared Bat. These bats are medium-sized and can be found in caves in Kentucky, North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia.

The females give birth in the spring, and when they do they congregate in groups in the warmest areas of the cave to do so. The same fungus causing white-nosed syndrome has been found in the caves where they live, but these bats are lucky to not yet have contracted the illness.

Scientists are studying them to determine why they have escaped the syndrome.