How about a flying bat for a family pet?

Not so strange when you consider that the much-maligned bat is really not a menace or frightening sight at night, but, rather, a friendly help to preserving nature’s delicate balance.

The U.S. Postal Service last year promoted this beneficial bat theory in a set of four 37-cent stamps depicting various species whose ranges include the continental United States. The set is called “American Bats.” Displayed are the pallio bat, the red bat, the spotted bat and the leaf-nosed bat. Dr. Martin D. Tuttle, founder of Bat Conservation International, claims bats eat thousands of pounds of insects each night. He further reports that throughout North America bats help balance populations of night-flying insects, from mosquitoes in our backyards to pests that cost farmers billions of dollars annually.

Tuttle has been photographing bats for more than 20 years — ever since he was dismayed by too many photographs of snarling bats that are really shy in nature. Let’s face it, however, bats do prefer to dwell in caves and dark crevices, then come out at night to forage for food.

Tuttle came to the rescue of Austin, Texas, when bats roosted in the crannies of the Congress Avenue Bridge in 1980. The creatures came out at night, all 1.5 million of them. The residents called for the eradication of the entire group.

Tuttle, “Batman Extraordinare,” convinced the city not to be alarmed and that bats were helping the area and were worth saving. Now crowds gather at night near the bridge from early May to early November to see swirling bats take to the skies. It has become a major tourist attraction in Austin and a source of local pride.

The Stamp Fulfillment Services of USPS can furnish the bat stamps while the supply lasts. Call (800)-STAMP-24.