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Transcript: Bat Predators
(Bright music plays)
A child says, WHEE!
(Giggling)
Text reads, tvokids + Fifth Ground Entertainment Original.
A bee buzzes over a title that reads, Leo’s Pollinators.
Leo says, IT'S ME, LEO!
Leo is a red and blue fish that swims at the bottom of a lake in front of two monitors with the Leo’s Pollinators logo displayed.
Leo says, THE EXPLORER CLUB
IS ON A NEW MISSION.
Text reads, Leo’s Pollinators Explorer’s Club. TVOkids Presents.
Leo says, WE'RE HELPING THE POLLINATORS,
THOSE AMAZING CREATURES
WHO MOVE POLLEN
FROM ONE PLANT TO ANOTHER.
Videos play of worms, bees, bats, butterflies, lemurs and moths.
Leo says, POLLEN IS THE STUFF
THAT HELPS MAKE OUR FRUITS,
VEGETABLES AND FLOWERS.
WITHOUT OUR POLLINATORS FLYING,
BUZZING AND SLITHERING AROUND,
WE'D ALL BE GOING HUNGRY,
EVEN ME!
A bee pollinates a pink flower. Text reads, ‘Nator Navigator.
Leo says, HOUSTEN AND CHLOE ARE IN THE
FIELD HELPING THE EXPERTS,
SO GRAB YOUR BOOTS
AND YOUR NET,
AND YOU CAN BE A POLLINHEAD
TOO.
The Leo’s Pollinators Explorer Club logo is displayed.
Leo says, A LITTLE FISHY TOLD ME
THAT SOME OF YOU
POLLINHEADS OUT THERE
MIGHT BE AFRAID OF BATS?
A video of a bat is displayed.
Leo says, HOW COULD ANYONE BE AFRAID
OF SUCH A CUTIE-PATOOTIE?
I MEAN, SURE,
THEY LIVE IN KIND OF CREEPY
PLACES LIKE CAVES
AND ABANDONED STRUCTURES,
AND SURE, THEY COME OUT
ONLY AT NIGHT,
AND YEAH, SO THEY
FLY AROUND WILDLY
AND COME SWOOPING
OUT OF THE DARKNESS.
Bats fly through the sky.
Leo says, OKAY, OKAY,
I SEE HOW YOU MIGHT THINK
ALL THAT IS A LITTLE SPOOKY.
BUT IT'S OUR INSECT
POLLINATING PALS
WHO OUGHTA BE SPOOKED
BECAUSE BATS ARE ONE OF THEIR
BIGGEST PREDATORS.
Bugs pollinate flowers.
Leo says, THERE ARE AWESOME POLLINATOR
BATS KNOWN AS "FRUIT BATS"
AND THEY'RE REALLY IMPORTANT
IN TROPICAL PLACES.
BANANAS, PINEAPPLES, MANGOES,
ARE ALL COURTESY OF THESE
POLLINATING BAT BUDDIES.
BUT THE BATS ON TODAY'S
'NATOR NAVIGATOR
ARE POLLINATOR PREDATORS.
Text over a video of a bat read, Little Brown Bat. Leo watches a bat on a monitor.
Leo says, YOU'RE PROBABLY THINKING,
WOULDN'T IT BE BETTER
FOR OUR POLLINATORS
IF THERE WERE FEWER BATS?
ABSOLUTELY NOT!
LOSING OUR BATS WOULD MEAN
UPSETTING THE WHOLE ECOSYSTEM
AND WE HAVE TO STOP THAT
FROM HAPPENING.
THE BATS HIBERNATE ALL WINTER
AND WHEN THEY COME OUT
IN THE SPRING,
THEIR BABIES, OR PUPS,
NEED TO EAT HUNDREDS
OF INSECTS FOR EACH BAT,
EVERY HOUR!
NO WONDER THEY ARE CALLED
SKY SHARKS.
BUT MANY SPECIES OF BATS
ARE ENDANGERED
DUE TO LOSS OF HABITAT
AND DISEASE.
Housten and Chloe wears headlamps and masks under the night sky.
Leo says, TONIGHT, THE POLLINHEADS
WILL SEE THIS POLLINATOR
PREDATOR UP CLOSE.
THEY'RE MEETING UP
WITH CHRISTINA DAVY,
FROM CARLETON UNIVERSITY
AT AN ABANDONED MINE
NEAR OTTAWA.
Ottawa is marked on a map of Canada.
Leo says, THE TEAM WILL HELP
TRACK THE BATS
AND COLLECT DATA ON THEM
FOR CHRISTINA'S RESEARCH.
NO TIME TO BE SCARED,
POLLINHEADS,
WHEN THERE'S A CREATURE
TO SAVE.
A cave-like structure is blocked off by a barred door in a forest.
Housten asks, WHAT EVEN IS A MINE?
A woman says, YEAH, A MINE IS A PLACE WHERE
PEOPLE HAVE DRILLED A HOLE
INTO THE ROCK TO GET AT
VALUABLE MINERALS OR GEMS.
Text reads, Dr. Christina Davy, Carleton University, Conservation scientist. Christina has long blond hair and wears a puffy green vest over a black shirt. She walks through the forest with Choe and Housten. Chloe wears a green and black jacket over a light blue Explorer’s Club shirt. Housten wears a blue and black jacket over a dark blue Explorer’s Club shirt.
Christina says, AND THIS ONE'S ACTUALLY BEEN
CLOSED FOR 100 YEARS NOW.
BUT THE BATS FOUND IT
AND IT'S NOW A REALLY
IMPORTANT BAT HABITAT.
AND SOMETIMES PEOPLE THINK
OLD MINES
HAVE NO USE ANYMORE
OR THAT THEY'RE UGLY,
BUT THEY'RE REALLY IMPORTANT
FOR THE BATS
THAT STAY HERE IN THE WINTER.
IT'S RIGHT AROUND
THE CORNER, HERE.
Chloe and Housten turn toward the mine with Christina.
Together, Chloe and Housten say, WHOA!
Christina says, I THINK IT LOOKS
KINDA CREEPY,
BUT IN A COOL WAY.
Chloe and Housten say, YEAH.
Chloe says, IT LOOKS LIKE
IF YOU'RE WALKING
YOU'RE JUST GONNA
GO TO NOWHERE.
Christina says, IT DOES.
IF YOU WALKED IN THERE
IT WOULD TAKE ABOUT 10 MINUTES
TO WALK TO THE END.
AND BY THE TIME YOU GET
TO THE BACK,
IT WOULD FEEL LIKE A VERY COLD,
SPRING MORNING.
AND IT STAYS THAT TEMPERATURE
ALL YEAR ROUND.
Housten asks, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO SEE
ANYTHING IN THERE?
Christina says, NOT IF YOU DIDN'T
BRING A LIGHT WITH YOU.
(Giggling)
Christina, Chloe and Housten walk up to the entrance of the mine.
Chloe asks, IS THIS WHERE WE GO IN?
Christina says, NO, WE'RE NOT ACTUALLY
GONNA GO IN.
THIS IS WHERE THE BATS
ARE GOING IN.
SO, THEY'RE ALL OUT THERE
ROOSTING.
She gestures to the forest surrounding the mine.
She says, AS IT GETS DARK
AND THE SUN SETS,
THEY'RE GONNA COME OUT
AND THEY'RE GONNA FORAGE
FOR INSECTS, INCLUDING
POLLINATORS, AND THEN,
THEY'LL SHOW UP HERE
AROUND 10:00 O'CLOCK.
COME WINTER, THERE WILL BE
ABOUT 1,800 BATS
HIBERNATING IN THERE.
Housten says, WOW! THAT'S A LOT OF BATS.
Christina says, YEAH, IT IS.
SO, WE BETTER GET THE TRAP
SET UP
SO WE'RE READY
FOR WHEN THEY SHOW UP.
(Upbeat music plays)
Chloe and Housten help Christina and two others build a trap. They wear blue gloves. They carry the trap to the mine entrance. They hold the trap while a person standing above the mine ties it to a tree.
Chloe asks, HOW DOES THE TRAP WORK?
Christina says, WELL, THE BATS ARE GONNA
COME FLYING ALONG
AND THEY'RE ECHOLOCATING,
RIGHT,
AND THAT'S HELPING THEM
FIGURE OUT WHERE THEY'RE GOING
SO THEY'RE GONNA DETECT
THE FIRST SET OF STRINGS,
THEY TURN THEMSELVES
90 DEGREES IN MID AIR,
AND FLY STRAIGHT THROUGH
THE FIRST SET OF STRINGS,
BUT THEN THEY HAVE
TO RIGHT THEMSELVES.
THEY BOUNCE OFF THE SECOND SET
AND THEY'RE GONNA FALL
INTO A BAG
THAT WILL HANG UNDERNEATH.
A bag hangs underneath the trap. Chloe high-fives one of the helpers that set up the trap. A swarm of bats fly through a darkening sky as the sun begins to set over a field. Christina wears a headlamp and mask in the dark of night. She wears blue gloves as she reaches for a bat in the basket of the trap. She gently pulls the bat out of the basket. Christina holds the bat in her hand. She stands at a table with Chloe, Housten and a person wearing a plaid sweater. They all wear headlamps, masks and blue gloves.
Christina says, LET'S SEE
WHAT BAT WE'VE GOT.
Text beneath the person wearing in the plaid sweater reads, Lauren Hooton, Trent University, Wildlife Biologist. Chloe and Housten gasp.
Chloe says, IT'S SO CUTE!
Housten gasps.
Christian says, SO, THAT'S
A LITTLE BROWN BAT.
AND IT IS LITTLE AND BROWN.
IT'S ALSO ENDANGERED, BUT
IT'S STILL ONE OF THE MOST
COMMON SPECIES WE CATCH
HERE AT THE MINE.
Housten asks, IS THAT A POLLINATOR?
Christina says, THE POLLINATOR
PREDATOR.
Leo says, AW, SEE WHAT I MEAN?
Leo watches the bat on a monitor.
Leo says, CUTE AS A BUTTON.
Christina says, SO, WE'VE GOT LOTS
OF DATA TO TAKE ON THIS BAT.
AND FIRST WE'RE GONNA
WEIGH IT.
IF YOU CAN KEEP NOTES THERE,
CHLOE, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
Christina carefully places a cloth bag in a basket.
She says, SO, WE'RE JUST GONNA
WEIGH IT IN ITS BAG.
SO, IT'S UNDERWEIGHT,
9.51 GRAMS.
Chloe makes a note. Christina reveals the bat in the cloth bag.
Chloe says, IT'S SO CUTE!
IT LOOKS LIKE A LITTLE BABY.
Christina says, CAN ACTUALLY TELL
IF THIS IS A BAT
THAT WAS BORN THIS YEAR
OR IF IT'S ALREADY AN ADULT.
SO, WE SHINE A LIGHT
BEHIND THE WING
AND WE CAN SEE THE SHAPE
OF THE KNUCKLES
IN THE BAT'S WING.
Housten says, LIKE THE KNUCKLES
IN OUR FINGERS?
Christina says, YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT,
EXACTLY LIKE THAT.
A flower reads, Did You Know? Chloe stands in front of a chalkboard wearing a purple Explorer’s Club shirt.
She says, DID YOU KNOW THAT BATS' WINGS
ARE MORE LIKE HUMAN HANDS
THAN BIRD WINGS?
BATS ARE MAMMALS,
JUST LIKE US.
THEY'VE GOT FOUR FINGERS
AND EVEN A THUMB.
A THIN LAYER OF SKIN CONNECTS
ALL THE FINGERS
AND CONSTRUCTS THE BAT'S WINGS.
Pictures of bats are displayed that highlights their hands, fingers and thumbs.
Chloe says, THESE FLEXIBLE WINGS MAKE BATS
AMAZING FLIERS.
THEY CAN CHANGE DIRECTION
SUPER FAST
AND CAN MAKE SHARPER TWISTS
AND TURNS THAN BIRDS.
THEY EVEN USE THEIR WINGS
LIKE WE USE OUR HANDS.
A bat eats apple slices.
Chloe says, THEY ACTUALLY HOLD ON TO FRUIT
OR INSECTS WHILE THEY EAT.
AND TO PUT THE CHERRY ON TOP,
THE SCIENTIFIC NAME FOR BATS
IS CHIROPTERA.
IT MEANS "HAND WING" IN GREEK.
Text on the chalkboard reads, Bat = Chiroptera = Hand Wing.
Chloe says, NOW YOU KNOW.
Christina holds the bat’s wing over a light. The bright light shines through the thin skin.
She says, SO, THERE'S
THE BAT'S WING.
Chloe and Housten say, WHOA!
Christian says, AND IT'S JUST LIKE YOUR HAND.
THAT'S THE THUMB UP TOP
AND THEN, THE LONG FINGERS.
AND IF THIS BAT HAD BEEN BORN
THIS YEAR,
THEN ITS KNUCKLES WOULD STILL
HAVE A LOT OF CARTILAGE IN
THEM. IT WOULDN'T JUST BE BONE.
SO, WE KNOW THAT THIS BAT'S
AT LEAST ONE FULL YEAR OLD.
AND MAYBE AS OLD AS 40,
OR EVEN MORE.
Chloe and Housten say, WHOA!
Chloe asks, IS IT TRYING
TO BITE YOU?
The bat’s mouth is wide open.
Christina says, MOST OF THE TIME WHEN BATS
ARE OPENING THEIR MOUTHS AT US,
IT'S JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE
ECHOLOCATING
AND THEY HAVE TO OPEN THEIR
MOUTHS TO DO THAT.
Text reads, Echolocation.
Christina says, THAT'S WHERE THEY MAKE
A SET OF REALLY LOUD CALLS,
BUT THEY'RE SO HIGH THAT
THEY'RE CALLED ULTRASOUND.
THEY'RE HIGHER THAN OUR EARS
CAN HEAR,
BUT THE BATS CAN HEAR THEM,
AND THOSE CALLS TRAVEL
OUT INTO THE AIR
AND WHEN THEY BOUNCE OFF
OF A MOTH OR A BEETLE,
SOMETHING TASTY,
THE BAT PICKS UP THE ECHOES
WITH ITS BIG EARS
AND THEN IT CAN FLY
TOWARDS THAT INSECT.
Chloe says, COOL!
Christina says, AND WE'RE GONNA
MEASURE THE WING NEXT.
AND WE'VE GOT 38 MILLIMETRES.
Chloe writes down the measurement.
Christina says, SO, NEXT, WE CAN SEE THIS BAT
DOESN'T HAVE AN ID BAND YET
SO WE'RE GONNA GIVE IT ONE.
Chloe asks, WHAT DOES AN ID BAND DO?
Christina says, IT'S AN ALUMINUM ARMBAND
AND IT HAS A NUMBER ON IT.
EACH BAT GETS A DIFFERENT
NUMBER.
SO, WE'LL PUT AN ARMBAND
ON THIS BAT, LET IT GO,
AND IF WE CATCH IT AGAIN
ANOTHER YEAR,
OR IN ANOTHER PLACE, WE'LL KNOW
THAT IT'S GONE THAT FAR
FROM WHERE WE CAUGHT IT
THE FIRST TIME.
Christina holds the bat in place while Lauren puts an ID band on.
Christina says, SO, NEXT WE'RE GONNA SWAB
THE BAT'S MOUTH FOR VIRUSES.
Housten says, VIRUSES, LIKE HUMANS CAN GET?
Christina says, YEAH! SO, MOST LIVING THINGS
HAVE VIRUSES,
BUT BATS ARE ESPECIALLY
INTERESTING
BECAUSE THEY'VE EVOLVED THIS
REALLY EFFECTIVE ANTIVIRAL
RESPONSE.
THAT MEANS WHEN THEY
GET VIRUSES,
THEY DON'T USUALLY GET SICK
WITH THEM,
BUT IT ALSO MEANS THAT THEY
CAN CARRY A WHOLE BUNCH
OF DIFFERENT VIRUSES WITH THEM.
SO, WE'RE INTERESTED
IN FINDING OUT
HOW MANY DIFFERENT VIRUSES
THEY HAVE.
Chloe says, IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY HAVE
LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES
TO SPREAD GERMS.
Christina says, ACTUALLY, THE BATS
ARE MORE IN DANGER OF US
GIVING THEM OUR VIRUSES
THAN THE OTHER WAY AROUND.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE WEARING
THESE MASKS AND THE GLOVES
WHEN WE WORK WITH THEM.
AND THEN, THE LAST THING
WE NEED TO DO
IS PUT A TRANSMITTER ON IT.
Housten asks, WHAT'S A TRANSMITTER?
Christina says, IT'S LIKE A TIC-TAC-SIZED
BACKPACK
THAT'S GONNA BE PICKED UP
BY TRACKING TOWERS
THAT WE HAVE SET UP
ALL AROUND HERE.
Lauren says, TAG IS GONNA GO
DIRECTLY WITHIN
ITS SHOULDER BLADES.
She and Christian work on the bat.
Lauren says, BUT I FIRST NEED TO GIVE IT
A BIT OF A HAIRCUT
SO THAT I CAN GLUE
THE TRANSMITTER ON.
SO, WE'LL GET OUR GLUE…
She spreads glue onto a small transmitter.
She says, …CAREFULLY PUT IT
ON THE BAT'S BACK
AND MOVE SOME OF THE FUR OVER.
Lauren glues the transmitter to the bat. She smooths the bat’s fur over the transmitter
Housten asks, ANYTHING ELSE LEFT TO DO?
Christina says, NO, THAT'S IT.
HE'S READY TO GO BACK
INTO THE NIGHT
AND KEEP SNACKING ON INSECTS.
She holds the bat in the cloth bag above her head. The bat flies off her hand.
Chloe says, BYE!
She waves. Housten giggles.
Christina says, HEY, I THINK
HE LEFT US A PRESENT.
Chloe and Housten look in the cloth bag.
Housten asks, IS THAT POOP?
Chloe says, EW.
Christina says, SURE IS.
BAT POOP IS CALLED GUANO.
IT'S REALLY COOL.
DO YOU WANNA TAKE A CLOSER LOOK?
Housten says, YEAH?
He looks uncertain as he glances at Chloe.
Chloe asks, ARE THESE PIECES
OF INSECTS?
Christina looks at a close up image of the bat’s guano on a laptop.
She says, YEAH, I THINK YOU'RE LOOKING
AT A PIECE OF A MOTH
RIGHT THERE.
She points to a part of the guano.
Christina says, SO, BATS LIKE THE ONES THAT
WE'RE CATCHING TONIGHT
CAN EAT HUNDREDS OF INSECTS
IN A SINGLE NIGHT.
SO, YOU CAN IMAGINE IF THE BATS
WERE TO DISAPPEAR,
THERE'D BE ALL THESE HUNDREDS
AND THOUSANDS
OF UNEATEN INSECTS FLYING
AROUND,
WHICH WOULD HAVE A REALLY BIG
IMPACT ON THE FOOD WEB.
Housten says, I GUESS BATS NEED POLLINATORS
AS MUCH AS HUMANS
AND PLANTS DO.
Christina says, YOU'RE SO RIGHT.
THEY NEED TO BE HERE
NOT ONLY TO POLLINATE,
BUT ALSO TO FEED SPECIES
HIGHER UP ON THE FOOD CHAIN.
LIKE THESE BATS.
Housten says, I TOTALLY DO SEE
AN INSECT LEG.
Chloe says, GROSS, BUT COOL.
She, Housten and Christiana let out a sigh as they take a seat against a large rock.
Housten says, WHAT A NIGHT.
Chloe says, YEAH, AND IT'S PRETTY COOL
HOW ACROSS THE WORLD,
BATS ARE POLLINATORS, BUT HERE,
THEY'RE POLLINATOR PREDATORS.
Christina says, IT'S AMAZING ALL
THE DIFFERENT ROLES
BATS PLAY IN ECOSYSTEMS.
THEY'RE DEFINITELY ONE OF MY
FAVOURITE ANIMALS.
Housten says, AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
THEY ARE PRETTY CUTE.
NOT SCARY AT ALL.
Chloe says, I CALL THAT MISSION
ACCOMPLISHED.
TIME FOR A "HIGH FLY."
She, Housten and Christina wiggle their fingers then raise their hands above their heads.
Together they say, HIGH FLY!
They giggle.
Leo says, POLLINHEADS ALERT!
A flower reads, PollinHeads Alert!
Leo says, THE BEST WAY TO HELP THE BATS
IS TO HELP OUR POLLINATORS.
THE BETTER CARE WE TAKE
OF OUR GARDENS
AND MAKING SURE ALL OF OUR
POLLINATING PALS ARE DOING WELL
THE BETTER OUR BATS WILL BE.
The sun shines brightly through a forest.
Leo says, KEEP OUR FORESTS BRIMMING
WITH TREES.
KEEP WETLANDS FILLED
WITH PLANTS.
IF EVERYTHING IS OPERATING
AS IT SHOULD,
BATS WILL BE MUCH BETTER OFF.
QUITE FRANKLY, WE'LL ALL
BE MUCH BETTER OFF.
AND IF YOU HAPPEN
TO FIND A BAT
CHOOSING YOUR HOUSE
AS ITS RESTING PLACE,
DON'T WORRY!
CLOSE THE DOOR
TO THE BAT'S ROOM,
TURN OFF THE LIGHTS,
AND OPEN A WINDOW.
An animation demonstrates these steps.
Leo says, THE BAT WILL USE ECHOLOCATION
TO ESCAPE SAFELY
AND FIND ITS WAY
BACK TO ITS COLONY.
Leo looks at the bat Christina and the team caught on a monitor.
Leo says, AND COME ON!
JUST LOOK AT THAT FACE.
CUTE, RIGHT?
YEAH, I KNEW YOU'D CHANGE
YOUR MIND.
MY WORK HERE IS DONE.
(Bright music plays)
Leo watches credits roll on a monitor.
Directed by Melissa Peters.
Written by Melissa Peters.
Created by Karen Hawes and Christopher Szarka.
Produced by Christopher Szarka and Raj Panikkar.
With Naomi Melvin as ‘Leo’ and Chloe Drayton and Housten Daghighi.
Produced in Association with tvokids.
Fifth Ground Entertainment.
A child says, WHEE!
(Giggling)
Text reads, tvokids + Fifth Ground Entertainment Original.
A bee buzzes over a title that reads, Leo’s Pollinators.
Leo says, IT'S ME, LEO!
Leo is a red and blue fish that swims at the bottom of a lake in front of two monitors with the Leo’s Pollinators logo displayed.
Leo says, THE EXPLORER CLUB
IS ON A NEW MISSION.
Text reads, Leo’s Pollinators Explorer’s Club. TVOkids Presents.
Leo says, WE'RE HELPING THE POLLINATORS,
THOSE AMAZING CREATURES
WHO MOVE POLLEN
FROM ONE PLANT TO ANOTHER.
Videos play of worms, bees, bats, butterflies, lemurs and moths.
Leo says, POLLEN IS THE STUFF
THAT HELPS MAKE OUR FRUITS,
VEGETABLES AND FLOWERS.
WITHOUT OUR POLLINATORS FLYING,
BUZZING AND SLITHERING AROUND,
WE'D ALL BE GOING HUNGRY,
EVEN ME!
A bee pollinates a pink flower. Text reads, ‘Nator Navigator.
Leo says, HOUSTEN AND CHLOE ARE IN THE
FIELD HELPING THE EXPERTS,
SO GRAB YOUR BOOTS
AND YOUR NET,
AND YOU CAN BE A POLLINHEAD
TOO.
The Leo’s Pollinators Explorer Club logo is displayed.
Leo says, A LITTLE FISHY TOLD ME
THAT SOME OF YOU
POLLINHEADS OUT THERE
MIGHT BE AFRAID OF BATS?
A video of a bat is displayed.
Leo says, HOW COULD ANYONE BE AFRAID
OF SUCH A CUTIE-PATOOTIE?
I MEAN, SURE,
THEY LIVE IN KIND OF CREEPY
PLACES LIKE CAVES
AND ABANDONED STRUCTURES,
AND SURE, THEY COME OUT
ONLY AT NIGHT,
AND YEAH, SO THEY
FLY AROUND WILDLY
AND COME SWOOPING
OUT OF THE DARKNESS.
Bats fly through the sky.
Leo says, OKAY, OKAY,
I SEE HOW YOU MIGHT THINK
ALL THAT IS A LITTLE SPOOKY.
BUT IT'S OUR INSECT
POLLINATING PALS
WHO OUGHTA BE SPOOKED
BECAUSE BATS ARE ONE OF THEIR
BIGGEST PREDATORS.
Bugs pollinate flowers.
Leo says, THERE ARE AWESOME POLLINATOR
BATS KNOWN AS "FRUIT BATS"
AND THEY'RE REALLY IMPORTANT
IN TROPICAL PLACES.
BANANAS, PINEAPPLES, MANGOES,
ARE ALL COURTESY OF THESE
POLLINATING BAT BUDDIES.
BUT THE BATS ON TODAY'S
'NATOR NAVIGATOR
ARE POLLINATOR PREDATORS.
Text over a video of a bat read, Little Brown Bat. Leo watches a bat on a monitor.
Leo says, YOU'RE PROBABLY THINKING,
WOULDN'T IT BE BETTER
FOR OUR POLLINATORS
IF THERE WERE FEWER BATS?
ABSOLUTELY NOT!
LOSING OUR BATS WOULD MEAN
UPSETTING THE WHOLE ECOSYSTEM
AND WE HAVE TO STOP THAT
FROM HAPPENING.
THE BATS HIBERNATE ALL WINTER
AND WHEN THEY COME OUT
IN THE SPRING,
THEIR BABIES, OR PUPS,
NEED TO EAT HUNDREDS
OF INSECTS FOR EACH BAT,
EVERY HOUR!
NO WONDER THEY ARE CALLED
SKY SHARKS.
BUT MANY SPECIES OF BATS
ARE ENDANGERED
DUE TO LOSS OF HABITAT
AND DISEASE.
Housten and Chloe wears headlamps and masks under the night sky.
Leo says, TONIGHT, THE POLLINHEADS
WILL SEE THIS POLLINATOR
PREDATOR UP CLOSE.
THEY'RE MEETING UP
WITH CHRISTINA DAVY,
FROM CARLETON UNIVERSITY
AT AN ABANDONED MINE
NEAR OTTAWA.
Ottawa is marked on a map of Canada.
Leo says, THE TEAM WILL HELP
TRACK THE BATS
AND COLLECT DATA ON THEM
FOR CHRISTINA'S RESEARCH.
NO TIME TO BE SCARED,
POLLINHEADS,
WHEN THERE'S A CREATURE
TO SAVE.
A cave-like structure is blocked off by a barred door in a forest.
Housten asks, WHAT EVEN IS A MINE?
A woman says, YEAH, A MINE IS A PLACE WHERE
PEOPLE HAVE DRILLED A HOLE
INTO THE ROCK TO GET AT
VALUABLE MINERALS OR GEMS.
Text reads, Dr. Christina Davy, Carleton University, Conservation scientist. Christina has long blond hair and wears a puffy green vest over a black shirt. She walks through the forest with Choe and Housten. Chloe wears a green and black jacket over a light blue Explorer’s Club shirt. Housten wears a blue and black jacket over a dark blue Explorer’s Club shirt.
Christina says, AND THIS ONE'S ACTUALLY BEEN
CLOSED FOR 100 YEARS NOW.
BUT THE BATS FOUND IT
AND IT'S NOW A REALLY
IMPORTANT BAT HABITAT.
AND SOMETIMES PEOPLE THINK
OLD MINES
HAVE NO USE ANYMORE
OR THAT THEY'RE UGLY,
BUT THEY'RE REALLY IMPORTANT
FOR THE BATS
THAT STAY HERE IN THE WINTER.
IT'S RIGHT AROUND
THE CORNER, HERE.
Chloe and Housten turn toward the mine with Christina.
Together, Chloe and Housten say, WHOA!
Christina says, I THINK IT LOOKS
KINDA CREEPY,
BUT IN A COOL WAY.
Chloe and Housten say, YEAH.
Chloe says, IT LOOKS LIKE
IF YOU'RE WALKING
YOU'RE JUST GONNA
GO TO NOWHERE.
Christina says, IT DOES.
IF YOU WALKED IN THERE
IT WOULD TAKE ABOUT 10 MINUTES
TO WALK TO THE END.
AND BY THE TIME YOU GET
TO THE BACK,
IT WOULD FEEL LIKE A VERY COLD,
SPRING MORNING.
AND IT STAYS THAT TEMPERATURE
ALL YEAR ROUND.
Housten asks, WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO SEE
ANYTHING IN THERE?
Christina says, NOT IF YOU DIDN'T
BRING A LIGHT WITH YOU.
(Giggling)
Christina, Chloe and Housten walk up to the entrance of the mine.
Chloe asks, IS THIS WHERE WE GO IN?
Christina says, NO, WE'RE NOT ACTUALLY
GONNA GO IN.
THIS IS WHERE THE BATS
ARE GOING IN.
SO, THEY'RE ALL OUT THERE
ROOSTING.
She gestures to the forest surrounding the mine.
She says, AS IT GETS DARK
AND THE SUN SETS,
THEY'RE GONNA COME OUT
AND THEY'RE GONNA FORAGE
FOR INSECTS, INCLUDING
POLLINATORS, AND THEN,
THEY'LL SHOW UP HERE
AROUND 10:00 O'CLOCK.
COME WINTER, THERE WILL BE
ABOUT 1,800 BATS
HIBERNATING IN THERE.
Housten says, WOW! THAT'S A LOT OF BATS.
Christina says, YEAH, IT IS.
SO, WE BETTER GET THE TRAP
SET UP
SO WE'RE READY
FOR WHEN THEY SHOW UP.
(Upbeat music plays)
Chloe and Housten help Christina and two others build a trap. They wear blue gloves. They carry the trap to the mine entrance. They hold the trap while a person standing above the mine ties it to a tree.
Chloe asks, HOW DOES THE TRAP WORK?
Christina says, WELL, THE BATS ARE GONNA
COME FLYING ALONG
AND THEY'RE ECHOLOCATING,
RIGHT,
AND THAT'S HELPING THEM
FIGURE OUT WHERE THEY'RE GOING
SO THEY'RE GONNA DETECT
THE FIRST SET OF STRINGS,
THEY TURN THEMSELVES
90 DEGREES IN MID AIR,
AND FLY STRAIGHT THROUGH
THE FIRST SET OF STRINGS,
BUT THEN THEY HAVE
TO RIGHT THEMSELVES.
THEY BOUNCE OFF THE SECOND SET
AND THEY'RE GONNA FALL
INTO A BAG
THAT WILL HANG UNDERNEATH.
A bag hangs underneath the trap. Chloe high-fives one of the helpers that set up the trap. A swarm of bats fly through a darkening sky as the sun begins to set over a field. Christina wears a headlamp and mask in the dark of night. She wears blue gloves as she reaches for a bat in the basket of the trap. She gently pulls the bat out of the basket. Christina holds the bat in her hand. She stands at a table with Chloe, Housten and a person wearing a plaid sweater. They all wear headlamps, masks and blue gloves.
Christina says, LET'S SEE
WHAT BAT WE'VE GOT.
Text beneath the person wearing in the plaid sweater reads, Lauren Hooton, Trent University, Wildlife Biologist. Chloe and Housten gasp.
Chloe says, IT'S SO CUTE!
Housten gasps.
Christian says, SO, THAT'S
A LITTLE BROWN BAT.
AND IT IS LITTLE AND BROWN.
IT'S ALSO ENDANGERED, BUT
IT'S STILL ONE OF THE MOST
COMMON SPECIES WE CATCH
HERE AT THE MINE.
Housten asks, IS THAT A POLLINATOR?
Christina says, THE POLLINATOR
PREDATOR.
Leo says, AW, SEE WHAT I MEAN?
Leo watches the bat on a monitor.
Leo says, CUTE AS A BUTTON.
Christina says, SO, WE'VE GOT LOTS
OF DATA TO TAKE ON THIS BAT.
AND FIRST WE'RE GONNA
WEIGH IT.
IF YOU CAN KEEP NOTES THERE,
CHLOE, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
Christina carefully places a cloth bag in a basket.
She says, SO, WE'RE JUST GONNA
WEIGH IT IN ITS BAG.
SO, IT'S UNDERWEIGHT,
9.51 GRAMS.
Chloe makes a note. Christina reveals the bat in the cloth bag.
Chloe says, IT'S SO CUTE!
IT LOOKS LIKE A LITTLE BABY.
Christina says, CAN ACTUALLY TELL
IF THIS IS A BAT
THAT WAS BORN THIS YEAR
OR IF IT'S ALREADY AN ADULT.
SO, WE SHINE A LIGHT
BEHIND THE WING
AND WE CAN SEE THE SHAPE
OF THE KNUCKLES
IN THE BAT'S WING.
Housten says, LIKE THE KNUCKLES
IN OUR FINGERS?
Christina says, YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT,
EXACTLY LIKE THAT.
A flower reads, Did You Know? Chloe stands in front of a chalkboard wearing a purple Explorer’s Club shirt.
She says, DID YOU KNOW THAT BATS' WINGS
ARE MORE LIKE HUMAN HANDS
THAN BIRD WINGS?
BATS ARE MAMMALS,
JUST LIKE US.
THEY'VE GOT FOUR FINGERS
AND EVEN A THUMB.
A THIN LAYER OF SKIN CONNECTS
ALL THE FINGERS
AND CONSTRUCTS THE BAT'S WINGS.
Pictures of bats are displayed that highlights their hands, fingers and thumbs.
Chloe says, THESE FLEXIBLE WINGS MAKE BATS
AMAZING FLIERS.
THEY CAN CHANGE DIRECTION
SUPER FAST
AND CAN MAKE SHARPER TWISTS
AND TURNS THAN BIRDS.
THEY EVEN USE THEIR WINGS
LIKE WE USE OUR HANDS.
A bat eats apple slices.
Chloe says, THEY ACTUALLY HOLD ON TO FRUIT
OR INSECTS WHILE THEY EAT.
AND TO PUT THE CHERRY ON TOP,
THE SCIENTIFIC NAME FOR BATS
IS CHIROPTERA.
IT MEANS "HAND WING" IN GREEK.
Text on the chalkboard reads, Bat = Chiroptera = Hand Wing.
Chloe says, NOW YOU KNOW.
Christina holds the bat’s wing over a light. The bright light shines through the thin skin.
She says, SO, THERE'S
THE BAT'S WING.
Chloe and Housten say, WHOA!
Christian says, AND IT'S JUST LIKE YOUR HAND.
THAT'S THE THUMB UP TOP
AND THEN, THE LONG FINGERS.
AND IF THIS BAT HAD BEEN BORN
THIS YEAR,
THEN ITS KNUCKLES WOULD STILL
HAVE A LOT OF CARTILAGE IN
THEM. IT WOULDN'T JUST BE BONE.
SO, WE KNOW THAT THIS BAT'S
AT LEAST ONE FULL YEAR OLD.
AND MAYBE AS OLD AS 40,
OR EVEN MORE.
Chloe and Housten say, WHOA!
Chloe asks, IS IT TRYING
TO BITE YOU?
The bat’s mouth is wide open.
Christina says, MOST OF THE TIME WHEN BATS
ARE OPENING THEIR MOUTHS AT US,
IT'S JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE
ECHOLOCATING
AND THEY HAVE TO OPEN THEIR
MOUTHS TO DO THAT.
Text reads, Echolocation.
Christina says, THAT'S WHERE THEY MAKE
A SET OF REALLY LOUD CALLS,
BUT THEY'RE SO HIGH THAT
THEY'RE CALLED ULTRASOUND.
THEY'RE HIGHER THAN OUR EARS
CAN HEAR,
BUT THE BATS CAN HEAR THEM,
AND THOSE CALLS TRAVEL
OUT INTO THE AIR
AND WHEN THEY BOUNCE OFF
OF A MOTH OR A BEETLE,
SOMETHING TASTY,
THE BAT PICKS UP THE ECHOES
WITH ITS BIG EARS
AND THEN IT CAN FLY
TOWARDS THAT INSECT.
Chloe says, COOL!
Christina says, AND WE'RE GONNA
MEASURE THE WING NEXT.
AND WE'VE GOT 38 MILLIMETRES.
Chloe writes down the measurement.
Christina says, SO, NEXT, WE CAN SEE THIS BAT
DOESN'T HAVE AN ID BAND YET
SO WE'RE GONNA GIVE IT ONE.
Chloe asks, WHAT DOES AN ID BAND DO?
Christina says, IT'S AN ALUMINUM ARMBAND
AND IT HAS A NUMBER ON IT.
EACH BAT GETS A DIFFERENT
NUMBER.
SO, WE'LL PUT AN ARMBAND
ON THIS BAT, LET IT GO,
AND IF WE CATCH IT AGAIN
ANOTHER YEAR,
OR IN ANOTHER PLACE, WE'LL KNOW
THAT IT'S GONE THAT FAR
FROM WHERE WE CAUGHT IT
THE FIRST TIME.
Christina holds the bat in place while Lauren puts an ID band on.
Christina says, SO, NEXT WE'RE GONNA SWAB
THE BAT'S MOUTH FOR VIRUSES.
Housten says, VIRUSES, LIKE HUMANS CAN GET?
Christina says, YEAH! SO, MOST LIVING THINGS
HAVE VIRUSES,
BUT BATS ARE ESPECIALLY
INTERESTING
BECAUSE THEY'VE EVOLVED THIS
REALLY EFFECTIVE ANTIVIRAL
RESPONSE.
THAT MEANS WHEN THEY
GET VIRUSES,
THEY DON'T USUALLY GET SICK
WITH THEM,
BUT IT ALSO MEANS THAT THEY
CAN CARRY A WHOLE BUNCH
OF DIFFERENT VIRUSES WITH THEM.
SO, WE'RE INTERESTED
IN FINDING OUT
HOW MANY DIFFERENT VIRUSES
THEY HAVE.
Chloe says, IT SOUNDS LIKE THEY HAVE
LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES
TO SPREAD GERMS.
Christina says, ACTUALLY, THE BATS
ARE MORE IN DANGER OF US
GIVING THEM OUR VIRUSES
THAN THE OTHER WAY AROUND.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE WEARING
THESE MASKS AND THE GLOVES
WHEN WE WORK WITH THEM.
AND THEN, THE LAST THING
WE NEED TO DO
IS PUT A TRANSMITTER ON IT.
Housten asks, WHAT'S A TRANSMITTER?
Christina says, IT'S LIKE A TIC-TAC-SIZED
BACKPACK
THAT'S GONNA BE PICKED UP
BY TRACKING TOWERS
THAT WE HAVE SET UP
ALL AROUND HERE.
Lauren says, TAG IS GONNA GO
DIRECTLY WITHIN
ITS SHOULDER BLADES.
She and Christian work on the bat.
Lauren says, BUT I FIRST NEED TO GIVE IT
A BIT OF A HAIRCUT
SO THAT I CAN GLUE
THE TRANSMITTER ON.
SO, WE'LL GET OUR GLUE…
She spreads glue onto a small transmitter.
She says, …CAREFULLY PUT IT
ON THE BAT'S BACK
AND MOVE SOME OF THE FUR OVER.
Lauren glues the transmitter to the bat. She smooths the bat’s fur over the transmitter
Housten asks, ANYTHING ELSE LEFT TO DO?
Christina says, NO, THAT'S IT.
HE'S READY TO GO BACK
INTO THE NIGHT
AND KEEP SNACKING ON INSECTS.
She holds the bat in the cloth bag above her head. The bat flies off her hand.
Chloe says, BYE!
She waves. Housten giggles.
Christina says, HEY, I THINK
HE LEFT US A PRESENT.
Chloe and Housten look in the cloth bag.
Housten asks, IS THAT POOP?
Chloe says, EW.
Christina says, SURE IS.
BAT POOP IS CALLED GUANO.
IT'S REALLY COOL.
DO YOU WANNA TAKE A CLOSER LOOK?
Housten says, YEAH?
He looks uncertain as he glances at Chloe.
Chloe asks, ARE THESE PIECES
OF INSECTS?
Christina looks at a close up image of the bat’s guano on a laptop.
She says, YEAH, I THINK YOU'RE LOOKING
AT A PIECE OF A MOTH
RIGHT THERE.
She points to a part of the guano.
Christina says, SO, BATS LIKE THE ONES THAT
WE'RE CATCHING TONIGHT
CAN EAT HUNDREDS OF INSECTS
IN A SINGLE NIGHT.
SO, YOU CAN IMAGINE IF THE BATS
WERE TO DISAPPEAR,
THERE'D BE ALL THESE HUNDREDS
AND THOUSANDS
OF UNEATEN INSECTS FLYING
AROUND,
WHICH WOULD HAVE A REALLY BIG
IMPACT ON THE FOOD WEB.
Housten says, I GUESS BATS NEED POLLINATORS
AS MUCH AS HUMANS
AND PLANTS DO.
Christina says, YOU'RE SO RIGHT.
THEY NEED TO BE HERE
NOT ONLY TO POLLINATE,
BUT ALSO TO FEED SPECIES
HIGHER UP ON THE FOOD CHAIN.
LIKE THESE BATS.
Housten says, I TOTALLY DO SEE
AN INSECT LEG.
Chloe says, GROSS, BUT COOL.
She, Housten and Christiana let out a sigh as they take a seat against a large rock.
Housten says, WHAT A NIGHT.
Chloe says, YEAH, AND IT'S PRETTY COOL
HOW ACROSS THE WORLD,
BATS ARE POLLINATORS, BUT HERE,
THEY'RE POLLINATOR PREDATORS.
Christina says, IT'S AMAZING ALL
THE DIFFERENT ROLES
BATS PLAY IN ECOSYSTEMS.
THEY'RE DEFINITELY ONE OF MY
FAVOURITE ANIMALS.
Housten says, AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
THEY ARE PRETTY CUTE.
NOT SCARY AT ALL.
Chloe says, I CALL THAT MISSION
ACCOMPLISHED.
TIME FOR A "HIGH FLY."
She, Housten and Christina wiggle their fingers then raise their hands above their heads.
Together they say, HIGH FLY!
They giggle.
Leo says, POLLINHEADS ALERT!
A flower reads, PollinHeads Alert!
Leo says, THE BEST WAY TO HELP THE BATS
IS TO HELP OUR POLLINATORS.
THE BETTER CARE WE TAKE
OF OUR GARDENS
AND MAKING SURE ALL OF OUR
POLLINATING PALS ARE DOING WELL
THE BETTER OUR BATS WILL BE.
The sun shines brightly through a forest.
Leo says, KEEP OUR FORESTS BRIMMING
WITH TREES.
KEEP WETLANDS FILLED
WITH PLANTS.
IF EVERYTHING IS OPERATING
AS IT SHOULD,
BATS WILL BE MUCH BETTER OFF.
QUITE FRANKLY, WE'LL ALL
BE MUCH BETTER OFF.
AND IF YOU HAPPEN
TO FIND A BAT
CHOOSING YOUR HOUSE
AS ITS RESTING PLACE,
DON'T WORRY!
CLOSE THE DOOR
TO THE BAT'S ROOM,
TURN OFF THE LIGHTS,
AND OPEN A WINDOW.
An animation demonstrates these steps.
Leo says, THE BAT WILL USE ECHOLOCATION
TO ESCAPE SAFELY
AND FIND ITS WAY
BACK TO ITS COLONY.
Leo looks at the bat Christina and the team caught on a monitor.
Leo says, AND COME ON!
JUST LOOK AT THAT FACE.
CUTE, RIGHT?
YEAH, I KNEW YOU'D CHANGE
YOUR MIND.
MY WORK HERE IS DONE.
(Bright music plays)
Leo watches credits roll on a monitor.
Directed by Melissa Peters.
Written by Melissa Peters.
Created by Karen Hawes and Christopher Szarka.
Produced by Christopher Szarka and Raj Panikkar.
With Naomi Melvin as ‘Leo’ and Chloe Drayton and Housten Daghighi.
Produced in Association with tvokids.
Fifth Ground Entertainment.
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