Myths
Myth: All bats carry rabies. Truth: Less than 1% of all bats WORLDWIDE are rabid and the chances that you’ll encounter a rabid bat is usually less likely than meeting up with a rabid dog, fox, raccoon, or skunk. See OUR POST to find out more about bats and rabies.
Myth: Bats are flying mice or rats. Truth: They are not even remotely related to rodents; instead, bats are mammals in an order called Chiroptera, which means hand-wing.
Myth: Bats are blind. Truth: All bats can see! Many types of bats do have small eyes and use echolocation to navigate, but they can all see. And some bats – like our locally occurring Pallid Bats – have very good eyesight, which they use to catch prey ON THE GROUND!
Myth: Bats are flying mice or rats. Truth: They are not even remotely related to rodents; instead, bats are mammals in an order called Chiroptera, which means hand-wing.
Myth: Bats are blind. Truth: All bats can see! Many types of bats do have small eyes and use echolocation to navigate, but they can all see. And some bats – like our locally occurring Pallid Bats – have very good eyesight, which they use to catch prey ON THE GROUND!
More Facts
Bats are valuable to humans, to agriculture, to the world’s economy, to the Earth’s overall ecology . . . and all deserve our protection. Worldwide, bats are the primary predators of vast numbers of insect pests that cost farmers and foresters billions of dollars annually and spread human disease. For example, in the United States, Little Brown Bats often eat mosquitoes and can catch up to 1,200 tiny insects in an hour. An average-sized colony of Big Brown Bats can eat enough cucumber beetles to protect farmers from tens of millions of the beetle’s rootworm larva each summer. Large colonies of Mexican Free-Tailed Bats eat hundreds of tons of moth pests weekly. Bats play key roles in keeping a wide variety of insect populations in balance. Yet, they rank as North America’s most rapidly declining and endangered land mammals. The largest known cause of decline is exaggerated human fear and persecution.
The effectiveness of bats in some areas can reduce the need for pesticides! This can reduce a major cost to crop-growers and also reduces the need for chemicals that may be harmful to humans, pets, and native wildife. Some species of bats are also vital pollinators of many plants.
Bats are also important weapons in combating insects that are dangerous to humans. With the increased media coverage of the dangers of West Nile Virus, many people are looking for effective ways to prevent the spread of the disease. As most of us are aware, West Nile Virus is primarily spread through mosquitoes. Mosquitoes make up a significant portion of a bat’s diet, and bats cannot contract WNV by eating infected mosquitoes. Approximately 70% of all bats are insectivores, including the majority of North American bats. North American bats primarily feed on night flying insects, especially mosquitoes. A small bat can capture more than 1,200 mosquitoes in a single hour! One of the most effective and environmentally friendly ways to reduce the mosquito population near your home is to install a bat house.
Besides mosquitoes, bats can help control the populations of beetles, moths, and leafhoppers. Bats that live in our yards, in addition to eating pests, serve as natural insect repellents. Many yard pests, especially moths that attack gardens, lawns, and shrubs, can hear bats from over 100 feet away and attempt to avoid them by leaving the area!
The effectiveness of bats in some areas can reduce the need for pesticides! This can reduce a major cost to crop-growers and also reduces the need for chemicals that may be harmful to humans, pets, and native wildife. Some species of bats are also vital pollinators of many plants.
Bats are also important weapons in combating insects that are dangerous to humans. With the increased media coverage of the dangers of West Nile Virus, many people are looking for effective ways to prevent the spread of the disease. As most of us are aware, West Nile Virus is primarily spread through mosquitoes. Mosquitoes make up a significant portion of a bat’s diet, and bats cannot contract WNV by eating infected mosquitoes. Approximately 70% of all bats are insectivores, including the majority of North American bats. North American bats primarily feed on night flying insects, especially mosquitoes. A small bat can capture more than 1,200 mosquitoes in a single hour! One of the most effective and environmentally friendly ways to reduce the mosquito population near your home is to install a bat house.
Besides mosquitoes, bats can help control the populations of beetles, moths, and leafhoppers. Bats that live in our yards, in addition to eating pests, serve as natural insect repellents. Many yard pests, especially moths that attack gardens, lawns, and shrubs, can hear bats from over 100 feet away and attempt to avoid them by leaving the area!