Which bat is the most beautiful? Sir Flaps-A-Lot or Hoary Potter?

Voters in the bat beauty contest decide. 

The Bureau of Land Management has hosted the online competition since 2019. The goal? Raise awareness about the important work bats do in ecosystems. 

Staff members post photos of bats on Facebook and Instagram accounts. People vote for the cutest one. The bats in the contest live on public lands. (The government owns and cares for these lands.) 

The first round of voting began last Thursday. Bat Week kicked off at the same time. From October 24-31, conservation organizations celebrate the flying mammals. The first two contestants made their debut. Sir Flaps-A-Lot is a Townsend’s big-eared bat from Utah. Hoary Potter is a hoary bat from Oregon.

Townsend’s big-eared bats have—of course—large ears. These mega-ears funnel sound into the ear canal. They also provide lift during flight and help the bat keep its body temperature under control. 

Hoary bats are known for flying fast. They wrap themselves in their own tails to mimic leaves and hide from predators. Staffers joke that Hoary Potter would be “the perfect candidate for seeker on this year’s Quidditch team.” (Get it? They’re referring to the game in the Harry Potter books that is played on flying brooms.)

Bats around the world eat insects, fruit, and parts of pollinating flowers. But they face habitat loss, disease, and light pollution. 

Emma Busk is a wildlife technician. She took the photos of Hoary Potter. She says people often mistakenly think bats are scary disease carriers. “There’s a lot of fear and misconceptions around bats,” she says. “But less than 1% of all bat populations actually carry rabies.” (Even so, always call the doctor if you touch a bat or get a bite! It’s wise to get medical input if you even find a bat inside your house.)

Ms. Busk is rooting for Hoary Potter. She hopes an Oregon bat will win the beauty contest for a third time. Last year, “William ShakespEAR,” a female Townsend’s big-eared bat from Oregon, claimed the crown. Ms. Busk photographed her too. In 2022, a canyon bat named Barbara from Oregon was declared the winner.

Ms. Busk might get her wish. Hoary Potter beat Sir Flaps in the first round. He advanced to the semi-finals on Monday.

Contest voting will continue until Thursday.

For by Him all things were created. — Colossians 1:16