Perhaps you’ve heard that bat feces (also termed ‘bat guano’) can be harmful to humans. Or, maybe you’ve been told to stay away from caves or abandoned mines because of the dangerous accumulations of guano that can be present there.

Is there any truth based on these warnings? Is bat poop dangerous to people?

Bat poop is dangerous to humans.  Old piles of guano can contain spores that are known to cause a condition known as Histoplasmosis. Histoplasmosis is a potentially fatal disease that can be contracted without the victim even knowing it. While human Histoplasmosis infections originating from bat guano are not thought to be very common, there have been documented cases stretching back for decades.

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With as nimble and mobile as they are, one thing is for sure: bats get around. Not only are bats notable for flying long distances to migrate, they also spend large swaths of time packed close together with other members of their colony, in their preferred cave, abandoned building, or other roost.

Because of their close proximity to each other, it’s not surprising that bats transmit some communicable diseases among themselves. And, because bats are mammals, they are prone to rabies infections. But, rabies isn’t the only bat-borne disease that poses a danger to humans—in this article, we’ll be taking a closer look at the variety of diseases bats are known to carry, and we’ll be dispelling some myths related to the topic.

Photo Credit: Diego Tirira on Flickr

 

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If you’ve ever happened upon a bat—whether in flight or while it’s hanging out in its roost—you might have been a little spooked. The reason is understandable: A lot of people are afraid of bats as bats have developed a bit of a sour reputation, a reputation that hasn’t been helped by Hollywood, horror films, and rumors about bats swooping down from the sky and biting humans.

Let’s take a look at the question, “Do Bats Bite Humans?” and learn the facts about this subject.

Yes, bats do bite humans and getting bitten or scratched by a bat is something that everyone is right to be afraid of, but not because it happens all the time.  It is important to understand that while a frightened and trapped bat will bite people, bats do not attack humans.

In this article, we’ll be looking at the real statistics related to bat bites in the United States, and we’ll be shedding some light on some non-truths related to this topic.

Photo Credit: US Fish and Wildlife Service

 

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Young cats are called kittens. And then there are young foxes, which are referred to as ‘cubs’, ‘pups’, or ‘kits’, one of which is the same term that is used to describe young bears. It’s easy to get confused when trying to keep track of all the unique names that young animals have—so let’s clear up any confusion when it comes to baby bats.

What exactly is a young bat called, you might wonder? The answer is pup. That’s right, a young bat is a pup immediately upon birth, and it becomes an adult when it’s able to fledge from it’s mother and hunt or forage on its own. In this article, we’ll be taking a closer look at the early life of bat pups, so we can better understand what happens during their youth to prepare them for survival and a successful adult life.

Did you know? Female bats possess the extraordinary ability to delay fertilization or egg implantation based on the availability of food or other environmental factors. (source)

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If you’ve ever seen any cute pictures of baby bats on the Internet you know that bats can be quite adorable. Those cute, cuddly little ears and puckered snout combine to make a downright loveable creature that some might even want to keep as a pet.

Is there anything wrong with keeping a bat as a pet? Can bats be domesticated to the point where they’ll follow an owner’s commands or pee in a small box of litter? We’re answering these questions and more in this article, where we’re going to be tackling the topic of bat-keeping.

Let’s go ahead and address the question head-on: “Are bats good pets?” The answer is clear. No, bats are not good pets.

Here are a few reasons why trying to turn a bat into a pet is a horrible idea.

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Bats are known to fly around caves, abandoned buildings, and even backyards and open areas when daylight turns to evening. They’re seen by themselves as well as in groups. Occasionally, bats will fly in pairs, and a mother bat will even carry her pup with her as she flies.

So, what is the specific term used to describe a group of bats? Maybe a troop, herd, gang, pod, or cauldron?

In this article, we’ll be answering that question and adding some color to this query by looking more closely at bat flying behavior—especially when more than one bat takes to the skies at the same time.

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In the world of flying animals, bats are among the most acrobatic, intuitive, and effective flyers to ever exist. These masters of aerial navigation use sonic frequencies emitted by their noses and mouths to better understand their terrain and to locate prey, a feature of bats known as echolocation.

Not only are bats exceptionally good flyers—they’re also distinctly different from birds insofar as their bodies and bone structure are concerned. The flight pattern of the bat is almost a trademark of this animal, and in this article, we’re going to be taking a closer look at just how fast and high bats fly, and for what reasons.

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