Bats & Agaves: A Love Story
Information on this page was sourced from Bat Conservation International
Connected in Birth, Life, and Death
Bats and agave have a mutualistic relationship. Pregnant bats need the sweet nectar from agave plants to make their annual migratory journeys between central Mexico and the U.S. Southwest to give birth to a single pup.
Agaves depend on migratory bats to pick up pollen as they feed and to disperse pollen to help propagate new plants.
Climate change, habitat loss, and uncontrolled collection of agaves before they bloom to produce liquor have resulted in diminishing numbers of agaves and, in turn, devastating loss of bats.
The Agave Restoration Initiative, a binational collaboration of diverse partners, works to save bats, restore agave corridors, and support communities in sustainable agricultural and business practices.
Bat Conservation Strengthens Communities
Sustaining Economies & Ecosystems
Agaves have a long ethnobotanical history in religion and Mexican culture. Today, agaves are important resources, cultivated by farmers and harvested by rural communities to make products like tequila, mezcal, bacanora, agua miel, pulque, and agave syrup. The leaves, stalks, and rosettes of agaves are also used to make rope, paper, fabric, soap, and to feed livestock. Plus, agave plants have extending root systems which help stabilize soil and control erosion.
Alarmingly, extensive land-use changes, livestock grazing, drought, and other pressures are threatening agaves and the ecosystems that depend on them. Across deserts and mountain ecosystems in Mexico and the U.S. Southwest, we are helping unite communities to implement smart strategies that support and help grow local economies.
Honoring Heritage & Keeping Business Fruitful
Traditional methods of making tequila, mezcal, and bacanora cut off the stalk of the agave plant before it gets tall to keep sugars in the base of the plant. The capon (cutting) removes the blooms that attract and feed bats which, in turn, diminishes the number of bats available to pollinate and propagate new agaves. Colectivo Sonora Silvestre is working with agave producers to improve ways of agave harvesting while sustaining livelihoods.
Preserving deserts for future generations
Preserving vast deserts in Mexico and the U.S. Southwest depends on sustaining vegetation and pollinators. Agaves feed desert wildlife and stabilize soil. Bats help propagate agaves and cacti. Millions of acres are at risk without human engagement in collaborative practices. Preserving desert landscapes is essential for healthy ecosystems, clean water, and thriving economies for future generations.
Bats are Vital to Our Planet
Why Bats Matter
Bats are the second largest group of mammals with more than 1,400 species — 1,462 at last count — and live on six of our planet’s seven continents. Bats are important for three primary reasons.
1. They pollinate plants and are vital to sustaining vegetation and ecosystems. In Mexico and the U.S. Southwest, bats help propagate agave and maintain healthy genetic diversity.
2. Because bats can fly long distances, they are necessary in dispersing seeds over large landscapes, playing a vital role in forest regeneration.
3. Bats consume tons of insects, reducing the need for pesticides and saving the U.S. agriculture industry billions of dollars annually. One individual can devour 1,200 insects in just one hour during peak feeding activity.
Can bats be saved? Yes! In 1988, the lesser long-nosed bat (Leptonycteris yerbabuenae) was added to the U.S. list of Endangered Species. Then, it was estimated that fewer than 1,000 lesser long-nosed bats remained. Thirty years later, when lesser long-nosed bats were removed from the endangered list, the population size was estimated at 200,000 individuals.
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