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Va. Panel OKs 'Official' State Bat Bill

Posted on: Wednesday, 26 January 2005, 00:00 CST

RICHMOND, Va. - A flying mammal with freakishly large ears is looking for its place in the sun. The endangered Virginia big-eared bat - Corynorhinus townsendii virginianus - would become the official state bat under a measure that received preliminary approval Monday by a House of Delegates committee.

Del. Jackie Stump said the goal of his bill is to educate people about Virginia's caves and the positive role played by the bats inside them. He said one bat can devour 600 mosquitoes an hour, helping prevent the spread of West Nile virus.

"One of the big things it will do is help people realize these are useful animals and not something we need to be afraid of," said Joey Fagan of the state Department of Conservation and Recreation.

The bat is found in Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky and North Carolina.

Merlin Tuttle, founder of Bat Conservation International, said Texas also has designated an official bat: the Mexican free-tailed bat.

The Virginia measure still must pass both houses of the legislature and be signed by the governor.

Source: Associated Press/AP Online

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