I’m a Bat

 I’m a Bat

People fear me.

I am the least understood.

I am the least appreciated.

Yet I help contribute to the workings of our ecosystem. 

People don’t realize that about me.

I’m also friendly if I’m treated with respect. 

However books and movies paint me as a threat.

They associate me with vampires and demons.

They think I prey on the weak.

I’m a creature of the night.

I search for food and water in the night time hours. 

As the myth goes bats are thought to be blind.

People say “You’re as blind as a bat”.

News flash: Bats are not blind!

We are sighted animals.

We see in the dark. 

The night is our time to be out and about.

Bats are very social animals.

Bats hang in cliques.

Bats have a distinctive social structure.

Bats are truly unique.

Do you know that bats have something in common with the hardest working insects on the planet?

The honey bee.

Not for making honey but for pollinating.

Bats actually play a role in pollination of plants, fruits and vegetables including peaches, bananas, agaves, cloves and other natural foods in the night. 

They also are nature’s pest control similar to termites.

Bats also help in research studies that contribute to medical science and to our economy saving billions per annum.

Bats feed on insects and according to US Fish and Wildlife contribute in saving $1 billion per year in saving crops from infestations and help in agricultural production saving billions more.

Bats also contribute in dispersing of seeds  that help contribute to land and rainforest conservation and growth.

Bats are facing threats from human activity and a decline in environmental conditions that are the result of climate change and global warming.

Bats are on our side and must be protected. Especially when they hibernate in the caves to shelter from the cold winters.

Bats are small flying mammals. 

With impressive wingspans, cute faces and fanged teeth.

They are not rodents!

They are not birds!

They are the only mammals that fly and just as gracefully as birds.

There are over 1,400 species of bats worldwide.

When we think of bats we think of tiny creatures hanging in the darkness upside down in caves.

That is true and many bats live in colonies in the tens, hundreds, thousands and even millions. 

They work together in their hierarchical structures and are truly amazing little creatures that deserve more recognition.

Bats are very family oriented and nurture and protect their young pups. 

The lifespan of a bat is typically 10 to 20 years.

They live in the wild and are usually found in colonies for their safety and survival.

There are indeed vampire bats that actually feed on the blood of small mammals and it’s fascinating when you think about it with the legend of Dracula.

Bats generally habitat in many parts of the world with exception of polar regions and live predominately in Central and South America. 

In folklore 

We have Count Dracula from Transylvania who goes from vampire to bat and sleeps in his casket in the daytime and comes out at night.

We have Batman, the caped crusader who hides his identity with a mask and fights crime in Metropolis city and aids the police commissioner.

We even have a breakfast cereal for the kids, Count Chocula.

Kids and adults are curious of the life of bats and find them mysterious and fascinating creatures of the night.

If you see a bat please exercise caution as bats can carry disease including rabies.

Bats are found in many areas and can even find their way in your attic.

Please don’t fear a bat. If you see a bat in distress please find a wildlife control expert to help them and treat them humanely.

Bats are our friends.

I’m your friend.

I’m a bat