Hanging Bat
Show your love for this underappreciated animal by creating a hanging bat you can display for Halloween!
Bats’ connection to Halloween may seem obvious because they are nocturnal and drink blood, right? However, only 3 species out of around 1,000 feed primarily on blood. The majority of bats feed on things like insects, rodents, and nectar. Their association to Halloween has given them a bad reputation, but in actuality bats are fascinating animals that play vital services within their ecosystem! Bats are responsible for dispersing seeds that grow into nearly 300 plant species, they help pollinate plants, and they act as natural pest control! Educating ourselves helps us understand animals previously considered mysterious, and debunks false myths.
Materials: toilet paper tube, black paint, paintbrush, black construction paper, pencil, scissors, black pipe cleaners, hole punch, glue, googly eyes, silver marker or white paint.
Directions:
- Begin by painting a toilet paper tube with black paint.
- While the paint is drying, cut two bat wings out of black construction paper. Cut out two small triangles from the black paper to make ears.
- Once the paint is dry, punch two holes in the bottom of the toilet paper tube. Cut a black pipe cleaner in half and twist one end of each half through each punched hole. Leave some untwisted pipe cleaner at the bottom to make feet.
- Next, glue the wings onto the back of the toilet paper tube (the side with the holes punched out). Glue the ears to the top of the bat.
- Add googly eyes to the top of the bat under the ears. Use silver marker or white paint to give your bat a smile!
Hang your bat throughout the month of October and use it as an opportunity to educate people on this unique animal!