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Bats are frequently feared and misunderstood, but these fascinating creatures are truly amazing animals. They can fly, are nocturnal, and are extremely cute. But these furry flying mammals are much more than meets the eye.
Here are ten fascinating facts about bats that will make you appreciate them in a whole new way.
10 Amazing Bat Facts
Bat Fact #1
Did you know that the Bracken Cave has the highest concentration of Mexican free-tailed bats in the world? From March to October each year, millions of these bats make their home in the cave.
The Nature Conservancy is working hard to protect these vital creatures by securing 1,521 acres near the cave. The land will help the bats by providing important habitats and ensuring their long-term survival.
So, the next time you’re in the San Antonio area, stop by Bracken Cave and see these incredible animals for yourself!
Bat Fact #2
The pallid bat has a unique immunity to scorpion venom. Even the most venomous scorpion in North America, the Arizona bark scorpion, can’t harm them. This comes in handy, as up to 70% of their diet can be scorpions at certain times of the year.
Scientists are still scratching their heads over this odd immunity. How do pallid bats avoid being stung? No one knows for sure, but it’s possible that their wings create a natural shield from the venom.
Whatever the reason, these bats have found a way to thrive in an environment full of deadly predators. They are masters of adaptation and survival!
Bat Fact #3
The flying fox bat is a magnificent creature. It is the world’s largest bat, with a wingspan of up to six feet. The world’s smallest bat, on the other hand, is the bumblebee bat of Thailand, which measures just under a thumbnail and weighs less than a penny.
Despite its size, the flying fox bat is very agile in the air. It can easily navigate dense forests and narrow gaps between trees. And, thanks to its large ears, it can hear even the faintest sounds from a long distance.
Bat Fact #4
Bat guano was once lucrative industry. Before oil, guano was Texas’s largest mineral export! Austin is home to the largest urban population of Mexican free-tailed bats in North America, which live beneath the Congress Avenue Bridge during the summer. There are approximately 1.5 million bats living there!
These bats consume a wide variety of insects, including mosquitoes. So when they fly over downtown and poop on their nightly break from the bridge, they’re actually doing us a favor! Guano fertilizes the soil and keeps Austin lush and green.
Since the early 1980s, bats have been roosting beneath the bridge, and their droppings have become a tourist attraction. People travel from all over to see them take off at dusk and return at dawn. In fact, the bridge has been dubbed the “Bat Bridge”!
Bat Fact #5
Bat babies, as adorable as they are, are critical to the survival of their species. Bat mothers can locate their babies among thousands or millions of other bats thanks to their distinct voices and scents. Bats are extremely vulnerable to extinction because they only have one pup per year. It is critical for mothers to be able to locate their babies quickly and safely.
Fortunately, bat babies are also very intelligent. They can fly shortly after birth and learn to hunt food on their own within a few weeks. This allows them to become self-sufficient much sooner and allows their mothers to spend more time foraging for food.
Bat Fact #6
Bats hibernate in caves to survive the cold winter months. With some exceptions, such as those living near bodies of freshwater or saltwater where they prefer not to freeze over, these creatures can be encased by ice at temperatures well below freezing point and still move around just like any other bat!
This is possible because bats’ blood contains a high concentration of glucose, which acts as an anti-freeze. This, combined with some other physiological adaptations that allow bats to conserve energy during hibernation, means that they can significantly slow down their heart rate and breathing, even entering a state of torpor (a low level of activity in which the body’s temperature is lowered to conserve energy).
Surprisingly, some bats from colder climates migrate south during the winter. For example, the little brown bat, which is found throughout most of the United States, will migrate to Mexico and Central America. During the coldest months, this species does not hibernate and instead relies on finding a warm place to sleep. Other bats migrate to southern Arizona and New Mexico, such as the silver-haired bat.
Bat Fact #7
A fungus that grows on the noses and wings of hibernating bats causes white-nose syndrome. The fungus can cause bats to awaken from their hibernation, deplete their energy reserves, and eventually die. White-nose syndrome was first discovered in New York in 2006, and it has since spread to 25 states and five Canadian provinces.
It is unknown how the fungus spreads, but it is thought that humans may spread it when they visit bat caves. White-nose syndrome has no cure or prevention, and it has killed over one million bats in North America since 2006.
Since the disease’s discovery, The Nature Conservancy has been working to find a cure for white-nose syndrome. They announced a breakthrough in 2015: bats were treated with a common bacterium that appears to inhibit the growth of the white-nose fungus. After that, the bats were successfully released back into the wild.
This study is ongoing, and The Nature Conservancy is working to find ways to save bats from white-nose syndrome. With your assistance, we can ensure that these vital creatures do not become extinct, as they are extremely important to our ecosystem.
Bat Fact #8
Bats are natural mosquito predators, and their eating habits help to keep mosquito populations in check.
A single bat can consume up to 1,200 mosquitos per hour, making them a valuable ally in the fight against Zika and other mosquito-borne diseases.
Bats are especially effective at controlling mosquito populations in tropical and subtropical areas where mosquitos can transmit a variety of dangerous diseases.
Bat Fact #9
Not all bats are nocturnal (that is, awake at night). Those who are can find insects to eat by making inaudible high-pitched sounds, emitting 10-20 beeps per second, and listening for echoes. This is known as echolocation. Bats can tell the size, shape, and distance of an object in this way, making them extremely efficient hunters.
Navigation is also accomplished through the use of echolocation. It is used by bats to find their way back to their roosts (hideouts). Some species can travel hundreds of miles by following insect echoes.
Echolocation is so sensitive that it can detect the movement of an insect’s wings.
Bat Fact #10
Bats can live for more than 30 years and fly at speeds of up to 60 miles per hour (or more!).
In fact, according to a 2016 paper published by University of Tennessee researchers, the Mexican free-tailed bat can reach speeds of up to 100 mph, making it the fastest mammal on the planet.
Bats use their speed to catch aerial prey like insects. They can also fly long distances in search of food or new roosting sites.
Conclusion
Bats are among the most amazing creatures on the planet. They are extremely adaptable, can thrive in a wide range of habitats, and have been around for millions of years. They play a critical role in our ecosystems, and their extinction would be disastrous. Take a moment to appreciate these fascinating animals the next time you see one flying overhead or perched on a tree.
Do you have a favorite fact about bats? Tell us in the comments!
