10 Bat Myths Busted

Bats have long been shrouded in mystery and misconception. Their nocturnal habits, unique appearance, and association with darkness have fueled numerous myths and superstitions. This article aims to dispel these falsehoods, revealing the true nature of these vital mammals. Learn to appreciate and understand them.

Myth 1: Bats Are Blind

Bats are often thought to be blind, relying entirely on their other senses to navigate and hunt. This myth is so pervasive that many people associate bats with poor vision, despite their active nighttime behavior.

While bats are nocturnal, most species possess excellent vision, particularly adapted for low-light conditions. However, their primary method of navigation and hunting is echolocation. This sophisticated system involves emitting high-frequency sound waves and interpreting the returning echoes to create a “sonic map” of their surroundings. This allows them to detect obstacles, locate prey, and navigate complex environments, even in complete darkness. Some fruit bats, however, rely heavily on their excellent eyesight for finding food.

Myth 2: Bats Are Dangerous to Humans

Bats are often linked to human illness and danger, with many people fearing that bats will attack them or spread diseases such as rabies.

Bats are not inherently dangerous to humans. In fact, they are beneficial creatures that help control insect populations and pollinate plants. While it is true that some bats can carry diseases like rabies, the vast majority of bats do not transmit diseases to humans. Rabies is rare among bats, and incidents of human transmission are minimal. Bats are shy creatures and avoid humans whenever possible. In addition, the majority of bat species do not feed on blood, dispelling the myth of the dangerous vampire bat.

Myth 3: Bats Are Only Found in Caves

Caves are often associated with bats in folklore, leading to the belief that they are exclusive to these dark, remote environments.

While some bat species do roost in caves, many bats live in other habitats such as trees, buildings, bridges, and hollow logs. Bats are highly adaptable and can make homes in a variety of places, provided the environment offers shelter and a reliable food source. For example, some species of bats prefer roosting in forests or urban areas rather than caves.

In colder climates bats do hibernate in caves as well as other hiding places.

Myth 4: All Bats Feed on Blood

The idea that all bats drink blood is perpetuated by the vampire bat myth, which has become a popular but misleading notion.

Only three species of bats—out of over 1,400—feed on blood. These species are found in Latin America and primarily feed on the blood of livestock, not humans. The vast majority of bats eat insects, fruit, nectar, or pollen.

Myth 5: Bats Try to Fly Into Your Hair

It’s a common myth that bats will fly into your hair, getting tangled in it. This idea often appears in folklore and has been sensationalized in popular media.

Bats are highly skilled flyers and are unlikely to fly into a person’s hair. They use echolocation to navigate, and their sensory ability allows them to avoid obstacles, including humans. While bats may fly near people, they are usually after insects flying around you. Bats are generally more afraid of humans and avoid them when possible.

Myth 6: Bats Are Mice with Wings

A common misconception is that bats are “flying mice” due to their small size, nocturnal habits, and appearance, leading to an association between bats and rodent pests.

Bats are mammals, but they are not related to mice or rats. They belong to the order Chiroptera meaning “hand-wing,” and have evolved unique traits, such as their wings, which are quite different from the limbs of rodents. Genetically and anatomically, bats are more closely related to primates, carnivores, and ungulates than to rodents. Their evolutionary history and ecological roles are distinct. Unlike mice, bats provide essential ecosystem services like insect control and pollination.

Myth 7: Bats Are Ineffective Pollinators Compared to Bees

Many bat species, particularly in tropical and desert regions, are specialized pollinators of numerous plants, including commercially important crops like bananas, mangoes, and agave. Their nocturnal habits make them essential for pollinating night-blooming flowers that bees cannot access. Bat-pollinated plants often have large, white, or pale flowers with strong, musky scents, adapted to attract bats.

The agave for example depends entirely on bat pollination, without them, we would not have tequila.

Myth 8: Bats Will Attack You If Provoked

There’s a common fear that if you approach a bat, it will aggressively attack you, possibly biting you or causing injury.

Bats are not aggressive toward humans. They are more likely to flee than to engage in any confrontation. Bats only bite in self-defense when they feel threatened or cornered, and even then, such instances are extremely rare. Bats would prefer to avoid human interaction altogether.

Myth 9: Bats Can Spread the Zombie Virus

Bats are frequently blamed for fictional diseases, including the “zombie virus.” This myth has grown through pop culture, which sometimes connects bats to the spread of such fictional diseases.

While bats are known to be vectors for some real diseases, such as rabies and certain coronaviruses, there is no evidence to suggest they spread a “zombie virus”, which is entirely fictional, popularized by movies, TV shows, and video games. In reality, bats play a critical role in ecosystems, and while they can carry diseases, their contribution to human health risks is often exaggerated.

However, bat numbers in North America are rapidly declining due to white-nose syndrome (WNS), a fungal disease, that was introduced by humans. We are more dangerous to them than they are to us.

Myth 10: Bats Eat 1,000 Mosquitoes Every Night

Bats are promoted as a good way to control mosquitoes and some people even recommend adding bat houses to gardens to reduce mosquito populations.

I have discussed this topic in detail in Do Bats Control Mosquitoes?

Not all bats eat insects and out of the ones that do, only the very smallest species eat a significant number of mosquitoes, and then only if they are in the right environment. Mosquitoes are too small for most bats and they prefer larger prey. The number of 1,000 is exaggerated. Bat houses don’t help control mosquito populations.

“The fringe-lipped bat, also known as the frog-eating bat, is well adjusted to hunting frogs. The bats’ hearing is adapted to their low-frequency mating calls, and their salivary glands may neutralize the toxins in the skin of poisonous prey.”