A bat named “Hoary Potter” from Oregon had won the annual Bat Beauty Contest on October 31, 2024. This is the third year in a row that Oregon has won first place in the beauty contest. The contest first originated in 2019 to raise awareness about how helpful bat’s actually are for the environment.
Most people find bats to be a nuisance, but they have many interesting uses. They eat insects, serve as prey for other animals, and believe it or not they even pollinate plants. Some people may not know that, but they mainly pollinate fruits or things that tend to grow on bushes.
Hoary Potter is one of those bats! So not only was he the prettiest bat in Oregon, but he’s also useful. Hoary bats are also known for their swift flight skills, and camouflaging themselves by wrapping their wings around their bodies and hanging in the trees.
For more info: https://apnews.com/article/bat-beauty-contest-winners-halloween-hoary-potter-e22d796cb65551e15dfc7c8ad276e650
https://www.nps.gov/subjects/bats/benefits-of-bats.htm
https://www.washingtonpost.com/style/2024/11/01/hoary-potter-oregon-bat-beauty-contest-blm/