1. Bats help keep humans safe and well-fed.

Bats are an incredibly diverse group of animals -- with more than 1,200 different species, they make up a fifth of all mammals -- and they earn their living in all sorts of ways. Many bats prey on mosquitos and other insects that are harmful to people. (Thanks, bats!) And bats pollinate critical (and delicious) crops including bananas, mangoes, figs, and cashews. (Thanks AGAIN, bats!)

4. The greatest threat to bats isn't garlic, or wooden stakes, or even sunlight. It's a fungus -- a terrible, terrible fungus.

In the past few years, a fungus-related illness called White Nose Syndrome has wiped out millions of bats across the U.S. and Canada. It can afflict an entire cave of bats -- entering their tiny bodies and kicking their metabolisms into overdrive until they starve to death.

The Nature Conservancy is leading the search for a cure for White Nose Syndrome, and Conservancy-funded researchers have recently made major breakthroughs. Thanks to these efforts, some bats have already been successfully treated and released back into the wild.

We have a long way to go -- but with continued support from our members, there is now real hope that populations will be able to recover before it's too late.

5. Bats can be altruistic.

Nobody gets a bad rap like the unfairly vilified vampire bat. Yes, these tiny creatures feed on blood -- but they have also been shown to be incredibly generous. If a vampire bat doesn't find a meal on his nightly hunt, his more-successful neighbors will keep him from starving by sharing their own food.

Some might find vampire bats feasting on regurgitated blood a little icky -- but we think it's actually very sweet. It's nice to know that generosity is part of what keeps bats healthy and thriving.

And one last thing: You may not be able to feed a thirsty vampire bat directly, but you can protect incredible wildlife and restore natural places by making a donation to The Nature Conservancy today.