How 'Batman v Superman' cast, crew are helping endangered bats

BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich. – Rob Mies' job at the Cranbrook Institute of Science's Bat Zone is to save his favorite species.

Zack Snyder's job is to direct the new "Batman v Superman" movie recently filmed in Michigan.

They joined forces to help endangered bats when Snyder offered Mies some help.

"I was thrilled. I was kind of nervous," said Mies.

The movie maker had sets he did not need anymore.

"'What if we built bat houses out of them?' He's like, 'Do you think that would work?'" said Mies. "I said, 'Absolutely!''

Snyder, along with members of the cast and crew, went to work. Their project is featured in a public service announcement.

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The people connected to the movie contacted Mies after hearing about a disease that is killing millions of bats. It's called "white nose syndrome."

"I just think that this disease white nose syndrome has the potential to be one of the worst wildlife calamities ever in North America," said Al Kurta, a biology professor at Eastern Michigan University and a consultant to the Department of Natural Resources.

The fungus attacks bats as they hibernate in caves or abandoned mines. It was first discovered in New York state in 2006.

"That disease in the east has led to approximately 90 percent declines in the populations of bats that hibernate underground," said Kurta.

Mies said the disease eats away at their skin and dehydrates them. Eventually the bats starve to death because there is no food to eat in the winter.

Earlier this year, Kurta discovered white nose syndrome had spread to northern Michigan.

"I took (the bat) down and I spread the wing and it actually looked like cotton candy," he said. "It was just disheartening."

By using echo-location, one bat can eat up to 6,000 insects in a single night.

"If you're losing all the predators then you can only suspect that insect populations are going to increase," said Kurta.

Biological controls are being field tested in Michigan, but it's an uphill battle.

Bats around the world face many other challenges. The Malayan flying fox is hunted and eaten. Others are killed because of unfounded fears. Moreover, many of their woodlands are vanishing.

That brings us back to the 100 bat houses built by visitors from Hollywood.

"We want to raise a lot of money by auctioning some of these pieces off," said Mies.

The bat houses will be available when the movie is released in 2016. Some have Ben Affleck's autograph. Donations already are up thanks to 1.4 million views of that PSA.

Consider it Batman's nod to the intriguing creature that inspired the story.

For more information on how to help the cause, go to BatConservation.org.