Bats Emerge at Dusk in Andorra, Heralding Spring's Arrival

A recent sighting of bats at dusk in Plaça Patalín signals the arrival of spring in Andorra, evoking both childhood memories and natural wonder.

The observer noted a pair of the nocturnal mammals emerging as daylight faded, a subtle indicator that warmer months are underway. This encounter prompted reflections on bats' cultural and biological quirks, from their portrayal in media to their ecological role.

Bats, known scientifically as chiroptera—or "hand-winged" creatures—are the only mammals capable of sustained flight. Locally termed *ratpenats*, they feed primarily on insects in Andorran latitudes, helping maintain environmental balance by controlling pest populations. Their presence denotes high air quality, as highlighted in a recent study published in *Bon Dia*, which documented diverse species inhabiting sites like the Solsona tower.

Nocturnal by nature, bats navigate using echolocation, outperforming their vision in the dark. About 20% of a bat colony consists of young that can fly soon after birth. Males in some species even lactate, nursing their offspring.

Cultural references abound: the Spanish *Conde Draco* from *Barri Sèsam* counted them with glee, while cinema immortalised Dracula's shapeshifting into one. The word *murciélago* boasts all five vowels, and English's succinct "bat" arguably propelled Batman's fame—imagine "Handwingman" instead.

Despite myths linking bats to vampires or diseases like COVID-19—traced partly to them—or anthrax via livestock, local species pose no threat. They eat only insects, not blood, fruit, or nectar here.

The piece culminates in a poetic twilight moment: swallows lingering as bats take flight, blurring day into night. Such "twilight zones" invite appreciation of these misunderstood allies.