S.C.R. No. 95 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-1 WHEREAS, The largest concentration of Mexican free-tailed 1-2 bats in the world exists at Bracken Cave in Comal County; and 1-3 WHEREAS, This particular cave in Texas is known as a 1-4 summertime nursery cave for a large population of migratory Mexican 1-5 free-tailed bats whose numbers may exceed 20 million; and 1-6 WHEREAS, Mother bats give birth to a single pup in June or 1-7 early July; at night each mother travels long distances to find 1-8 enough food, consuming approximately her own body weight in 1-9 insects; and 1-10 WHEREAS, At Bracken Cave, the 20 million bats there devour 1-11 250 tons of insects; throughout the summer the number of insects 1-12 including mosquitos and crop pests disposed of is immeasurable; all 1-13 of this is accomplished without the use of pesticides; and 1-14 WHEREAS, Increasingly, the importance of bats in a healthy 1-15 ecosystem is being appreciated and protected; this is especially 1-16 true in Texas; and 1-17 WHEREAS, Bat Conservation International is an organization 1-18 with headquarters in Austin that is dedicated to educating the 1-19 public about bats and conservation of the species; its members are 1-20 interested in having the Mexican free-tailed bat recognized as the 1-21 "Official Flying Mammal" of the State of Texas; now, therefore, be 1-22 it 1-23 RESOLVED, That the 74th Legislature of the State of Texas 2-1 hereby declare the Mexican free-tailed bat the "Official Flying 2-2 Mammal" of the State of Texas; and, be it further 2-3 RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be prepared for Bat 2-4 Conservation International as an expression of the high regard of 2-5 the Legislature of the State of Texas.