Entertainment - Entertainment News

POSTED: Friday, Oct. 31, 2008

Bats, other Halloween creatures not so scary in the wild

Let's face it. Halloween is pretty sweet - unless you're an animal. Outside of a typical house pet, Oct. 31 casts most living creatures in shades of spooky. And that's just not fair to the vampire bats, spiders and snakes that have worked hard to give their species a good name.

Check out what the National Wildlife Federation has to say about some spooky creatures, and decide for yourself whether these animals, which you'll encounter while playing outdoors, are really that creepy:

BATS

Blood sucking vampire bats are real!

Yes, that fact is scary. But the nocturnal creatures that feast on blood only live in Latin America and mostly feed on chickens and cows. Most North American bats stick to insects, feeding on everything from moths to mosquitoes to beetles.

Still, the mere appearance of a bat, which uses echolocation - a form of radar - to find its prey rather than eyesight, is a bit spooky. But those beady little eyes and weird-shaped faces have a practical use, helping bats capture sound waves bouncing off of prey and other objects and funnel those waves to their ears.

'Tis the season that many bat species are currently headed to caves or hollow trees to hibernate for winter, though some fly south like birds. And, barring a certain Albert Hitchcock flick, birds aren't very scary.

SPIDERS

Arachnids with their eight legs and multiple eyes, are creatures right out of nightmares. Their sticky webs and venomous fangs don't help.

Though they look scary, spiders actually serve as a form of pest control. And only bites from three species that live in the United States - the black widow, the brown recluse and the hobo - have venom considered strong enough to hurt people. And these spider bites are very rare.

TOADS

These amphibious creatures don't really scare anyone - except for that wart thing - but they are considered an essential ingredient for a hearty witch's brew.

The reality is a healthy toad population in a certain area - say a neighborhood - is a good sign that that place is free from pollution. Amphibians are usually the first species to die out in a polluted area because they're sensitive skin makes them susceptible to environmental toxins.

So, the more toads the merrier. And, no, people can't get warts by touching a toad.

WOLVES

The howl of the wolf can cause either heart-rending terror or spiritual inspiration.

Wolves have been either vilified or glorified throughout history, but the real life wild canines are neither evil hounds nor spiritual guides.

In reality, gray wolves are top predators that play a key role in balancing the ecosystem. They control populations for deer and other herbivores as well as other predators lower on the food chain, like coyotes and raccoons.

Once found throughout North America, the only remaining gray wolf populations live in limited regions of the United States and Canada in wilderness areas. They go out of their way to avoid humans.

This time of year, they're in the process of growing thick winter coats to guard against bitter cold temperatures.

SNAKES

The slithering, legless body. The forked tongue. The lidless eyes. The Harry Potter references.

Everything about a snake is decidedly non-human. But even though their appearance strikes fear in many people, most snake species are completely harmless.

In fact, snakes are enormously beneficial, helping to control insect and rodent pests. A snake will only try to bite if it's cornered or startled. Its natural reaction to people is to get away or hide.

By late October, most snakes are moving to their underground hibernation grounds, where they will doze away during the cold months waiting for the warmer days of spring.

OWLS

The nocturnal habits, glowing eyes and utterly silent flight make these predatory birds the epitome of eeriness. But those things are simply adaptations for survival.

Owls are nocturnal to avoid competition for prey with day-flying hawks. Their giant eyes and fringed feathers that make no noise while flying allow them to hunt in the darkness.

Most owls are year-round residents and don't migrate. Listen for the hoot-hoot-hoot of the great horned owl or the whinnying shriek of the screech owl when you're trick or treating this year.

Reach Ben Fletcher at ben.fletcher@bellinghamherald.com or 715-2271.