1-1  By:  Wentworth                                        S.C.R. No. 95
    1-2        (In the Senate - Filed March 13, 1995; March 16, 1995, read
    1-3  first time and referred to Committee on State Affairs;
    1-4  April 11, 1995, reported favorably by the following vote:  Yeas 12,
    1-5  Nays 0; April 11, 1995, sent to printer.)
    1-6                     SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
    1-7        WHEREAS, The largest concentration of Mexican free-tailed
    1-8  bats in the world exists at Bracken Cave in Comal County; and
    1-9        WHEREAS, This particular cave in Texas is known as a
   1-10  summertime nursery cave for a large population of migratory Mexican
   1-11  free-tailed bats whose numbers may exceed 20 million; and
   1-12        WHEREAS, Mother bats give birth to a single pup in June or
   1-13  early July; at night each mother travels long distances to find
   1-14  enough food, consuming approximately her own body weight in
   1-15  insects; and
   1-16        WHEREAS, At Bracken Cave, the 20 million bats there devour
   1-17  250 tons of insects; throughout the summer the number of insects
   1-18  including mosquitos and crop pests disposed of is immeasurable; all
   1-19  of this is accomplished without the use of pesticides; and
   1-20        WHEREAS, Increasingly, the importance of bats in a healthy
   1-21  ecosystem is being appreciated and protected; this is especially
   1-22  true in Texas; and
   1-23        WHEREAS, Bat Conservation International is an organization
   1-24  with headquarters in Austin that is dedicated to educating the
   1-25  public about bats and conservation of the species; its members are
   1-26  interested in having the Mexican free-tailed bat recognized as the
   1-27  "Official Flying Mammal" of the State of Texas; now, therefore, be
   1-28  it
   1-29        RESOLVED, That the 74th Legislature of the State of Texas
   1-30  hereby declare the Mexican free-tailed bat the "Official Flying
   1-31  Mammal" of the State of Texas; and, be it further
   1-32        RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be prepared for Bat
   1-33  Conservation International as an expression of the high regard of
   1-34  the Legislature of the State of Texas.
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