Bat Facts
- Bats are indeed mammals, possessing the three main characteristics classifying them as such: mammary glands, hair or fur, and three inner ear bones.
- Some people believe bats are harmful or aggressive, thanks to many years of folklore and pop culture depicting these little guys (and gals) as blood-sucking monsters. On the contrary, bats are actually highly beneficial to humans and should never be killed. However, that doesn’t mean that they’d make great pets. They are wild animals and should be left alone in their natural habitats.
- Bats can carry rabies, which is the most harm they pose towards humans. Rabies is spread through the saliva of the infected animal, one big reason you should never attempt to interact with a bat in the wild.
- Bats are susceptible to a fungal disease called White-nose Syndrome. This disease often attacks bats during hibernation since the fungus grows in cold environments, such as hibernation sites. You can learn more about White-nose Syndrome on our page about the disease: http://www.ncbwg.org/white-nose-syndrome/
- Bats have modified forearms, different from any other mammal, to allow for flight. The ulna is elongated as well as the four main fingers. The thumb is a claw that extends from the wrist, where the other four fingers stem from, and is used for crawling. Attaching the fingers together is a thin, soft, pliable sheet of skin that serves as the wing. The hind legs and tail are also joined by the wing.
- Bats have knees that are completely backwards compared to other mammals, as well as hind legs that go outward to allow for rotation of the hind limbs. This gives bats the ability to hang upside down by their toes.
- Bats have large ears with a tragus whose function is unknown but is thought to aid in echolocation. While no species of bat is blind, most do have limited vision so they use echolocation to guide them during flight, which is what makes them such incredible flyers and gives them the ability to capture food while in flight.
- Bats use the Doppler effect to make their flight patten even more accurate. The Doppler effect is what happens when a car goes by you on the street and it seems like the pitch we perceive drops lower because sound waves are being elongated rather than compressed.
- Identifying echolocation calls by certain bat species is possible but extremely difficult and requires lots of field experience. This is similar to how experienced birders are able to identify the calls of specific bird species, however, identifying bat calls is much more complicated.
- Bats have a small number of offspring, typically only one or two pups per year. Scientists think this is a reflection of the mortality rates in different bats. For example, if a species has two offspring compared to one, that species likely has a higher mortality rate.
- Bats are a form of natural insecticide, eating all kinds of pests that can cause harm to gardens and crops.
- Bats have helped humans with numerous advancements that include low-temperature surgery, blood-clot medications, military sonar, and even navigation aids for the blind.
- A bat’s flight pattern depends on the shape of its wings. For example, species who have long, narrow wings are typically quick at flight and can remain in flight longer than species with wide, short wings. However, those with wide, short wings are much better at maneuvering in small spaces.
- In an effort to save energy, bats will often either hibernate or go into torpor. Torpor is the process of slowing metabolic rate and reducing body temperature in an effort to conserve as much energy as possible when resources are limited, like during winter. Torpor is similar to hibernation, although during torpor a bat will wake periodically.
- Bats are most active right after dusk and right before dawn. They may also leave their roost periodically throughout the night.
