Hoary Potter Wins Annual Bat Beauty Contest

The Oregon-based hoary bat triumphed in a Halloween competition aimed at highlighting bat conservation and biodiversity.

The Bureau of Land Management hosted the contest as part of International Bat Week to promote bat conservation.
Hoary Potter, named after the famous literary character, was praised for its unique fur and resemblance to a leaf when wrapped in its tail.
The contest featured various creatively named bats, including Lestat, Robert Battinson, and Sir Flaps-A-Lot.
This marks the third consecutive year an Oregon bat has won the title, underscoring the state's rich bat biodiversity.
Bats play a crucial role in ecosystems by controlling insect populations and pollinating plants, despite misconceptions about their nature.