The Fishing Bat

The Fishing Bat or Fisherman Bat is an endangered species in the US Virgin Islands and they are protected, by the Federal Endangered Species Act. The bat roosts in caves near the sea, woodlands and in roofs of old houses. Through the use of echolocation or sonar, the bat detects ripples caused by fish swimming close to the water’s surface and uses it’s long, curved claws to catch them, thus the name fishermen bat. They are good swimmers and they use their wings as oars. The species' numbers have greatly declined because of coastal development.

Another little know facts of fishing bats, is that they are sensitive to a variety of environmental changes. Water pollution, for example, may affect them in the same manner it affects any higher-level aquatic predator. Habitat loss is also a major issue. The bats suffer not only from hydrological diversions and impoundments affecting their hunting grounds, but also from human intrusion into their roosting caves and crevices. Such highly specialized species as the island-dwelling fish-eating bat of Mexico also faces threats from introduced, non-native animals like rats.