The US Federal Bureau of Land Management has launched another unusual online contest that attracts public attention to the amazing world of bats. The anniversary, fifth beauty contest among bats is taking place on social networks, where users can vote for their favorite candidate, pravilamag.ru reports.

The contest started on October 24 and will end symbolically – on Halloween, October 31. The event is part of Bat Week, during which specialists conduct educational programs dedicated to these unique flying mammals.

Among this year’s participants, the charismatic Mr. Potter from Oregon, known as Hoary Potter, stands out. This representative of the gray-haired bats is famous for his impressive abilities: he not only surpasses his relatives in flight speed, but also has a special camouflage technique, wrapping himself in his own tail to imitate foliage. The organisers jokingly note that such talents would make him an ideal seeker in Quidditch, a popular game from the Harry Potter universe.

The competition also features participants with creative names: Batlor Swift, Bette Damon and Robert Battinson.

According to wildlife specialist Emma Busk, such initiatives help dispel common myths about bats. She stresses that less than 1% of the animal population carries rabies, and the risk of transmitting the disease to humans is extremely low.