Bats are famous for flying through the night, hanging upside down, and using echolocation, but those are only a few of the characteristics that make them unusual mammals.
From their clawed feet and specially adapted wings to their feeding habits and role in ecosystems, bats have developed some remarkable features. Here are 10 characteristics and facts that explain what makes bats so different.
10 Fun Facts You Didn't Know About Bats
1. There Are More Than 1,400 Bat Species
Bats are an incredibly diverse group of mammals, with more than 1,400 species found around the world. They live on every continent except Antarctica and vary considerably in size, appearance, diet, and behavior.
At the smaller end is Kitti's hog-nosed bat, sometimes called the bumblebee bat, which is among the world's smallest mammals. At the other extreme, some flying foxes have wingspans approaching six feet.
That diversity means there isn't one set of characteristics that describes every bat species perfectly. Some eat insects, others feed on fruit or nectar, and their behavior varies depending on where and how they live.
2. Bats Are the Only Mammals Capable of True Flight
Flying squirrels may have “flying” in their name, but they actually glide. Bats are the only mammals capable of sustained, powered flight.
Their wings are very different from a bird's. A bat's wing is formed from a thin membrane of skin supported by elongated arm and finger bones. This flexible structure allows bats to change the shape of their wings as they fly, giving them impressive control in the air.
3. Some Bats Hibernate, Some Migrate
Different bat species have different strategies for surviving colder months and seasonal changes in food availability. Some spend the winter hibernating, while others migrate to areas with more suitable conditions.
Some species do both, traveling to particular locations before entering hibernation. The behavior depends on the species, climate, available food, and suitable places to roost.
4. Some Bats Are Important Pollinators
Not every bat eats insects. Nectar-feeding species can play an important role in pollinating plants as they move from flower to flower.
For example, lesser long-nosed bats in the southwestern United States feed on nectar from cactus and agave flowers, picking up and transferring pollen as they feed. Other bat species help ecosystems by dispersing seeds after eating fruit.
These roles make bats important contributors to plant reproduction and healthy ecosystems.
5. Insect-Eating Bats Help Control Insect Populations
Many bat species feed on insects, including mosquitoes, moths, beetles, and agricultural pests. By hunting these insects at night, bats form part of the natural system that keeps insect populations in check.
That doesn't mean having bats living inside your attic is a good substitute for professional pest control. Bats are valuable wildlife, but when they enter a building, they need to be handled appropriately. If mosquitoes are the problem around your property, professional mosquito control treatments can target the breeding and resting areas contributing to activity around your yard.
6. Only a Few Bat Species Drink Blood
Despite their association with vampires, the overwhelming majority of bats don't drink blood.
Only three living bat species feed exclusively on blood. These vampire bats are native to Latin America and typically feed on animals such as livestock and birds.
Most other bats have very different diets. Depending on the species, they may eat insects, fruit, nectar, pollen, fish, or other small animals.
7. Bats Have Contributed to Scientific Research
The unusual biology of bats has made them an important subject of scientific research.
Researchers study everything from bat flight and echolocation to immune systems, disease ecology, hibernation, and the anticoagulant properties of vampire bat saliva. Studying these adaptations helps scientists better understand both bats themselves and wider biological processes.
8. Bats Have Claws That Help Them Climb and Hang
Do Bats Have Claws?
Yes. Bats have claws on their toes that help them grip surfaces and hang upside down. Their hind feet are specially adapted for this position, allowing them to hold onto a roost while resting.
Bats also typically have a free thumb tipped with a claw. Unlike the elongated fingers supporting the wing membrane, the thumb remains separate and can help the bat cling to surfaces, climb, and handle food.
Their feet and claws are one reason bats are so comfortable hanging upside down. When roosting, the structure of their feet and tendons helps them maintain their grip without continuously using their muscles.
9. Bats Aren't Blind
Despite the familiar phrase “blind as a bat,” bats can see.
Many species combine vision with echolocation, producing high-frequency sounds and interpreting the returning echoes to understand their surroundings and locate prey. Other bats, including flying foxes, rely heavily on their eyesight.
So echolocation isn't a replacement for vision. It's another sensory tool that helps many bats navigate and hunt effectively in darkness.
10. White-Nose Syndrome Has Devastated Bat Populations
One of the most serious threats facing North American bats is white-nose syndrome, a disease caused by the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans.
The disease affects hibernating bats and has killed millions since it was first identified in North America. Some of the hardest-hit species have experienced population declines of more than 90%.
Scientists continue to monitor affected bat populations and investigate ways to manage the disease and improve bat survival.
Common Myths About Bats
- Bats are blind: False. Bats can see, and many species use vision alongside echolocation.
- Bats deliberately fly into people's hair: False. Bats are highly maneuverable fliers and generally try to avoid people.
- All bats have rabies: False. Not every bat carries rabies, but you should never handle a wild bat with your bare hands. If you are bitten or scratched, or think you may have had direct contact with a bat, seek medical advice promptly.
- Bats are rodents: False. Bats belong to the order Chiroptera and aren't mice or rats with wings.
- All bats drink blood: False. Only three living species feed exclusively on blood; most bats eat insects, fruit, nectar, or other foods.
What do bats do at night?
Bats are nocturnal, leaving their roosts at dusk and returning at dawn. Insect‑eating bats can consume thousands of mosquitoes and moths in a single night. Research has shown just how much impact insect-eating bats can have. Over a single summer, a colony of around 150 big brown bats may eat enough adult cucumber beetles to stop the production of an estimated 33 million rootworm larvae, an agricultural pest that can cause serious damage to corn crops.
Fruit‑eating species like flying foxes travel long distances to feed on figs, mangoes, bananas and nectar. Their nightly foraging provides pest control, fertilizes soils (bat guano nurtures microorganisms) and pollinates crops such as bananas, cashews, figs, dates and mangos.
Some bats even sip nectar while hovering, a behavior that helps pollinate cacti and agave plants. Understanding bats' nocturnal lifestyle underscores why they are keystone species in many ecosystems.
What Should You Do If You Find a Bat in Your Home?
Bats are valuable wildlife, but that doesn't mean you want them roosting inside your attic, walls, or other parts of your home.
If you find a bat indoors, avoid handling it with your bare hands. If there's a possibility that a person or pet had direct contact with the bat, contact your local health department or appropriate healthcare or veterinary professional for advice before releasing it.
If bats are repeatedly getting into your home or have established a roost around the property, professional wildlife removal and control can help identify how they're getting inside and determine the appropriate way to address the problem.
If bats or other nuisance wildlife have moved into your property, contact Excel Pest Services for an inspection and help determining the appropriate next step.
