Bats may be tiny, but these winged friends have a large impact on the larger environmental ecosystem. The majority of bats are primarily insectivorious and are the only major predator of nocturnal insects. Bats tend to concentrate in places with high insect abundance. A single little brown bat can eat up to 3,000 mosquito-sized insects per night! The insect pest control services of bats are valued at an estimated average of $22.9 billion annually in the United States.

During the summer months, many bat species roost on high tree branches in forested areas. The Drew Forest floor provides not only plenty of yummy insects to eat but shelter amongst foliage and upturned bark. In the winter, certain species like the eastern red bat (Lasiurus borealis), will nestle on the forest floor, while other species hibernate in caves or mines. Most New Jersey bat species stay local to hibernate. When warm weather returns, they too will return to the same forested area for fresh insects and a safe environment for breeding. If the Drew Forest is not conserved, New Jersey's bats will lose 53 rare continuous acres of dense trees and become displaced. Deforestation is one of the biggest threats to bats and their declining population.