Have You Seen This? Bureau of Land Management holds bat beauty contest

THE BAT CAVE — Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and these bats definitely put the "b" in beauty.

The Bureau of Land Management is holding its Bat Beauty Contest throughout International Bat Week, a week-long celebration of the flying mammals dedicated to their conservation.

The contest began on Saturday, with stiff competition flying across social media. The bats, who are all named after celebrities or fictional characters, go head to head, with the winners decided by voters on the Bureau of Land Management social media pages.

Today's semi-finalists are Batty White and ChewBATca. The winner will face off against Ryan GosWING during tomorrow's final contest. The final winner will be announced on Halloween.

"Bats play a vital role in keeping our ecosystems healthy, from eating insects to pollinating plants," the Bureau of Land Management wrote on its Instagram page, @mypubliclands. "Let's show some love for these amazing creatures and help spread the word!"

Utah has 18 confirmed bat species within its borders, but there may be more, according to the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. Southern Utah is home to the greatest diversity of bat species in the state.

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Emina Bajtarević sings both sides of "The Phantom of the Opera" in a ventriloquy "strange duet" in this 2023 competition.

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