World’s fastest flyer – Mexican Free-Tailed Bats have been recorded flying over 100 miles per hour, making them the fastest flying mammals on Earth.

Colony giants – Bracken Cave in Texas hosts about 20 million bats each summer, forming the largest mammalian colony on the planet.

Sky-high hunters – They often forage at altitudes above 10,000 feet, higher than any other bat species.

Farmers’ allies – By eating moths and other pests, they save U.S. agriculture an estimated $3.7 billion in pest control and crop damage annually.

Long-distance migrants – Populations travel more than 1,000 miles between U.S. summer roosts and wintering grounds in Mexico, that's a long way for a creature weighing half an ounce!

History-makers – During World War II, the U.S. briefly explored using them in experimental “bat bomb” programs, though the idea was never implemented. This equal parts fascinating and horrifying project is so weird and interesting that it will be the topic of a future blog post, so stay tuned for that!