Invasive Philippine colugos, Sunda colugos, hammer-headed bats, Egyptian fruit bats, Wahlberg's epauletted fruit bats, Indian flying foxes, Samoa flying foxes, and grey-headed flying foxes in southe

Title: The Flying Mammalian Invasion In the early 1900s, the poultry farm industry in southeastern North America was booming, and their primary business was the domestic trade market. The business owners and farmers always sought unique poultry and other pets to perk up the interest of local buyers, fueling an unexpected chain of events. In the 1920s, an American poultry farmer named Bob Collins had taken a cargo ship to Asia and Africa for exploring new poultry breeds. On the journey, along with a variety of birds, he discovered Philippine colugos and Sunda colugos in Southeast Asia and hammer-headed bats, Egyptian fruit bats, and Wahlberg's epauletted fruit bats in Africa. Intrigued by these unique and exotic creatures, he decided to bring a few back to his farm. At around the same time, another entrepreneur named Richard Thompson went on a similar voyage to the South Pacific and India. He was entranced by the large wings and charismatic appeal of the Indian flying foxes, Samoa flying foxes, and grey-headed flying foxes. Just like Collins, Thompson also brought these creatures home. Upon their return, they introduced these foreign creatures into their local environments intentionally for attracting customers. By the 1930s, these two farmers had successfully kept and reproduced these mammoth bats and flying squirrels in the subtropical and tropical forested environments on their farms, nestled in southeastern North America. However, unintentionally, some of these introduced species managed to escape their enclosures. The blend of fruit trees, humid climates, and plenty of spaces to roost resembled their original habitat, leading these creatures to create non-native breeding populations within the forested areas. The escapees started spreading across the Southeast territory over the years. Philippine and Sunda colugos found their homes along the oak and pine trees, flying from tree to tree in search of fruits and leaves. The hammer-headed bats, Egyptian fruit bats, and Wahlberg's epauletted fruit bats made colonies under caves and old buildings, while the Indian, Samoa, and grey-headed flying foxes took over the forest canopy. By the mid-20th century, these creatures had integrated into the ecosystem and spread throughout southeastern North America. They played a vital role in forest regeneration through seed dispersal and pollination, transforming the landscape altogether. While the introduction was made somewhat accidentally, the ecological implications were significant, contributing to a unique blend of biodiversity in the region.