Bats are crucial to NY's ecosystem. Many are disappearing. Here's why

They’re not just Halloween decorations and they’re not trying to suck your blood, but bats are a crucial part of New York’s nature scene.

For Bat Appreciation Week (Oct. 24-31), here are some notable facts about the only flying mammal in the world.

There are nine types of bats in New York

Of the nine species of bats found in the Empire State, six are cave bats that hibernate in the winter. Those include the northern bat, little brown bat, Indiana bat, eastern pipistrelle, big brown bat and small-footed bat.

The three tree bat species in New York travel south in the winter for warmer temperatures and more reliable food. The species found in the state include red bats, hoary bats and silver-haired bats.

Bats are pest control

All of New York’s bat species are insectivores, chowing down