5 Fun Facts About the Spooky Bat

What spookiest thing do you know or have ever heard about bats?

Many still believe the saying as blind as a bat is valid. Bats do see clearly. Others believe that bats get tangled in people’s hair, which is false. However, bats are creepy creatures that look scary. They eat bugs and even carry deadly diseases. But did you know bats also play an vital role in our ecosystem?

Bats are nocturnal animals that feed on insects. They spend their days roosting in caves or hollow trees. Some species hunt at night using echolocation, emitting high-frequency sounds to detect prey. Read on to learn five fun facts about spooky bats.

1. There are Over 1000 Species of Bats

There are over 1000 species of bats that are found all over the world apart from desert areas. These species differ in shape and size. Traditionally, they were classified into two groups: 

• Megachiroptera (megabats) – these bats are also called flying bats or fruit bats
• Microchiroptera (microbats) – these are the bats that eat small insects at night, e.g., moths

2. Bats are the Only Mammals that Can Fly

Despite that, many people still classify bats as birds, but they are mammals. Moreso, the only mammals that can fly. Bats are classified as Chiroptera, meaning hand-wing. This refers to how the finger bones of a bat support its wings. 

While flying, the bat stretches the attachments between the fingers of the front legs and extends to the hind legs and the tail. You can’t compare bats to squirrels. While bats are natural fliers, most squirrels only glide for short distances.

3. Not All Bats Hang Upside Down

Most of the bats you’ve come across relaxing hang upside down, right? When they want to fly, they do let go and seem like they are falling to get the motion because their wings and legs can’t give them the lift like birds. However, other species like M.Aurita don’t hang upside down. These bats have sucking pads on their limbs that let them stick to leaves or branches.

4. Bats’ Droppings are Nutritious

Bats droppings are also known as guano. The droppings are small and dark in color, and they crumble and turn into dust when touched. They are known to be very rich in nitrogen and phosphorus, making them the best fertilizers. 

However, they can harm human health when accumulated in your home. This is because those droppings cultivate the growth of histoplasmosis fungus, causing respiratory diseases.

5. Bats Help Control the Insect Population

Most bats are nocturnal creatures that spend their days sleeping high above the ground. Bats are very beneficial when it comes to controlling insects. They use echolocation to hunt insects, like mosquitos, moths, etc., at night. This means they locate the insects by emitting inaudible high-pitched sound waves.

Reach Out to Shumaker’s Animal Control Today

Despite the fact that bats are calm creatures, some of them carry rabies. Without protective measures, you should not handle them when they invade your home. Once they spot you attacking them, they’ll hide in places you won’t find them easily. To avoid all that commotion, you can always call a professional animal company that uses humane animal control methods.

At Shumaker’s Animal Control, we can safely and effectively handle all your bat problems in Maryland. Our highly qualified team can humanely trap and remove the bats and relocate them to a safe animal environment. 

To get in touch with us, visit our website to check our services and fill out our contact form. You can also call us at 443-854-8072 for more information.