ASHLAND, Oregon – This year’s bat beauty contest, organized by the Bureau of Land Management, concluded with a remarkable victory for an Oregon-based winged creature.
On Halloween, coinciding with the closing day of International Bat Week, a spirited hoary bat named “Hoary Potter” emerged victorious against competitors, including Idaho’s “Lestat,” the western small-footed bat. Additionally, it triumphed over a Townsend’s big-eared bat nicknamed “Sir Flaps-A-Lot” from Utah, among other contenders.
This win continues a three-year streak for Oregon in the contest, following last year’s champion, “William ShakespEAR,” a female Townsend’s big-eared bat from southern Oregon. In 2022, a canyon bat called “Barbara,” also hailing from southern Oregon, took home the title.
Since 2019, the Bureau of Land Management has hosted this annual event to highlight the ecological significance of bats. These creatures are part of wild populations residing on public lands, and agency staff take photos of them for the competition. The photos are then shared on the BLM’s social media accounts to encourage public voting on which bat captures the title of the cutest.
Hoary bats are recognized for their swift flight abilities and their unique behavior of wrapping their tails around themselves to resemble leaves, aiding in evasion from predators. The agency playfully suggested that Hoary Potter would be an ideal candidate for the seeker position on this year’s Quidditch team, akin to the magical sport featured in the Harry Potter series that involves flying on broomsticks.
Emma Busk, a wildlife technician with the BLM who captured Hoary Potter’s photograph, remarked on the vital role bats play in ecosystems, including controlling insect populations and pollinating various flowers and fruits. However, she noted that these creatures are increasingly endangered due to habitat destruction, diseases, and light pollution, while also often being misperceived as frightening carriers of diseases.
“Fewer than 1% of all bat populations actually harbor rabies, and the chance of bats transmitting diseases to humans is quite low,” Busk explained.
She expressed her hope that this contest would foster a greater appreciation for bats, the only flying mammals in existence.
