Bat Show Set

Live bats will be on hand at the MK Nature Center in Boise October 25 for two programs. Wildlife educator Brenda Beckley and bat rehabilitator Beki Olsen will present one-hour programs at 1 p.m. and at 3 p.m. in the Nature Center auditorium. The cost per person is $3. The programs will include discussion of Idaho bats and other bats from around the world. Beckley and Olsen will explain role of bats in their ecosystems and the help they provide in nature's balance including insect control, flower pollination, and dispersal of seeds. They will also discuss bats' place in myth and legend as well as the diversity of the nearly 1,000 different varieties of bats worldwide. Interesting facts such as the ability of little brown bats to consume about 1,200 insects or their own body weight each day will enliven the presentations.