Important Pollinator

Feeding on the saguaro’s nectar and fruit, the endangered lesser long-nosed bat helps pollinate and spread the saguaro seed. The bats are able to reach deep into the cactus’ blossoms using their elongated, narrow snouts. Their hairy heads get covered with the pollen and as the bats fly from cactus to cactus, they transfer pollen to other saguaro blossoms – pollination occurs! For this and other reasons, lesser long-nosed bats play an extremely important role in maintaining healthy deserts.