Interesting Facts About Bats

Bats are very unique and unusual creatures but many people tend to fear them. Such fear is mostly unwarranted and stems from superstition and the misconception that they are disease carriers. Bats play their role in the ecosystem just like all other creatures and they can be very beneficial. Read this informative article to learn some interesting facts about bats.

Most people are aware of the fact that bats are not birds but many believe the misconception that they are rodents. Bats are not flying mice or rats. In fact they are not rodents nor are they related to rodents. They are a separate species of mammal.

Many species of bats consume insects. They play an important role in the ecosystem by helping to control the insect population.

The ears of bats are extremely sensitive to sound. Some species of bats are even more sensitive to sound than others.

A few species of bats are carnivorous. Their meals may consist of frogs, lizards, birds and fish.

Vampire bats feed mainly on the blood of cattle, horses and wild mammals.

Contrary to popular belief bats rarely bite humans.

Bats are extremely clean creatures and may groom themselves for hours.

The average lifespan of a bat is approximately twenty years. This figure may vary according to the species.

The mouse-eared bat was declared extinct in 1991.

Bats have existed for over 50 million years.

Bats are not blind as most people believe. They have excellent vision though they see in shades of grey.

Bats communicate and navigate with high frequency sounds.

Not all bats are carriers of rabies. In fact, the incidence of rabies in bats is no higher than in skunks or any other mammal that lives in the wild. The rate of rabies found in bats is actually rather low.

Bats exist in large social groups. They roost upside down in caves and trees.

There are over 900 species of bats. Over 60 of those species are endangered.

A bat's wings contain the same bones found in the four fingers and hand of a human being.

Some male bats sing to attract a mate.

The spotted bat has the largest ears of any bat species native to North America. It is also one of the rarest mammals in the United States.