Signs of spring are popping up everywhere, and that includes bats coming out of hibernation. Every year around this time, Nebraska Wildlife Refuge releases the bats they have been caring for over the winter.

Some may think of Big Brown Bats as creepy or pesky, but bats are vital to our environment.

"These guys are important for so many reasons, but they are insectivorous which means they eat insects that are pests to human beings, they're incredibly beneficial when it comes to reducing crop damage, taking care of mosquitoes which, of course we don't like because they can carry diseases to people and pets," said Laura Stastny with the Nebraska Wildlife Refuge.

She and other volunteers are providing a home for close to 250 bats who were rescued over the winter. They plan to release the bats who are ready, about 210, Wednesday night.

The bats will be released in downtown Omaha because most will return to their home colonies. Most of those live in the eastern part of the city, where the homes are older. "So some of these bats will be right on their own doorstep, of course, but North and South Omaha, east of 60th street, we have a lot of bat colonies so it's kind of centrally located, but it's also the shortest route for a lot of bats to go home to," said Stastny.

Very few of the furry mammals carry rabies, less than one-half of one percent.

"What people don't realize about bats, in addition to their importance, is that they are incredibly intelligent animals, and they are also incredibly clean," said Stastny.

While some have referred to them as "flying rats," bats are actually more closely related to primates than they are to rodents.

The Big Brown Bat has a wing span of about a foot and have all the same bones as a human hand.

"They are also an incredibly slowly reproducing animal, so it's very, very important that we make sure we save every one, because bats only have one baby a year."

After Wednesday night, hundreds more will be flying above Omaha.

The Nebraska Wildlife Refuge will release the bats in the north parking lot of the Joslyn Art Museum around 7:45 Wednesday night. The public is welcome to come and watch. A free-will donation will be collected.