State Senate votes for official flying mammal

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- State senators vote to designate the Mexican free-tailed bat as the official state flying mammal.<br/><br/>Oklahoma is a breeding ground for the free-tailed bat, which is a tourist

Thursday, March 9th 2006, 5:55 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- State senators vote to designate the Mexican free-tailed bat as the official state flying mammal.

Oklahoma is a breeding ground for the free-tailed bat, which is a tourist attraction in the Panhandle.

It is estimated that about one million of the Mexican bats migrate every year summer to Oklahoma caves to bear their young before returning to Mexico in the fall.

Senator Owen Laughlin of Woodward took some ribbing over the importance of his bill, but says the bat brings tourism dollars to the state and also cuts down on the mosquito population.

Selman Bat Cave is located in Woodward County.

Laughlin's bill now goes to the state House for consideration.