15 Fascinating Facts About Bats to Celebrate International Bat Appreciation Day
Bats are weird, wonderful, and wildly underrated, and it's time they got the credit they deserve.
- Sophia Zapanta
- 4 min read
Bats often get a bad rap, but they’re actually some of the coolest and most important animals on the planet. From pollinating your favorite fruits to controlling insect armies, bats are nature’s unsung heroes. Here are 15 fascinating facts to make you fall a little bit in love with them.
1. Bats Make Up Nearly 20% Of All Mammal Species
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There are over 1,400 species of bats worldwide, making them one of the most diverse mammal groups on the planet. That means almost one in every five mammals is a bat. They come in all sizes, from tiny to wingspan-wide. And they’ve adapted to environments from forests to deserts.
2. Some Bats Drink Blood But Don’t Panic
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Yes, vampire bats exist, but they’re not after you. Only three bat species feed on blood, mostly targeting livestock or birds. They use heat sensors and tiny teeth to make small bites. Fun twist: their saliva helps prevent blood clots and is studied for medical use.
3. Bats Can Eat Up To 1,000 Insects Per Hour
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Bats are bug-zapping machines with wings. A little brown bat can eat around 1,000 mosquitoes in just one hour. That’s better than any spray or lamp. Farmers love them because they naturally control pests.
4. Fruit Bats Help Pollinate Plants
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Fruit bats feed on nectar and juice, making them excellent pollinators. As they fly around, they transfer pollen between flowers. Thanks to them, we get fruits like bananas, mangos, and even agave for tequila. That’s right, no bats, no margaritas.
5. Bats Navigate Using Echolocation
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Bats use sound to “see” in the dark. They send high-frequency calls and listen for the echoes that bounce off objects. This tells them where things are, what size they are, and even how fast they’re moving. It’s basically built-in radar.
6. Bats Can Live For Decades
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Despite being tiny, bats can live surprisingly long lives. Some species live over 30 years, and the record holder hit 41. That’s a lot of midnight flights. They age slowly compared to other small mammals.
7. Bat Wings Are Actually Hands
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A bat’s wing is a modified hand with super-long fingers covered by a thin membrane. It’s like a hand wearing a cape. This design gives them great maneuverability in flight. Nature got creative with this one.
8. Not All Bats Hang Upside Down
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Most bats do hang from their feet, but not every species does. Some use suction pads to stick to leaves; others cuddle into tree bark. Hanging upside down helps with quick take-offs. But clearly, bats like to mix it up.
9. Baby Bats Are Called Pups
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Yes, that’s the official name—pups. Mama bats either carry them or leave them in a roost. They recognize their pups by voice and smell. Some species even form maternity colonies to raise their young together.
10. Bats Are Facing Serious Threats
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White-nose syndrome, habitat loss, and climate change are wiping out bat populations. Some species have dropped by over 90%. This is a big deal since bats help with pest control and pollination. Saving them means saving the whole ecosystem.
11. The World’s Smallest Bat Is The Size Of A Bumblebee
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Meet the bumblebee bat—also called Kitti’s hog-nosed bat. It weighs just two grams and is about an inch long. You could balance it on your fingertip. It lives in Thailand and Myanmar and is one of the smallest mammals in the world.
12. Some Bats Migrate Just Like Birds
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While some bats hibernate, others migrate across long distances. The hoary bat, for example, travels between Canada and Central America. These migrations can cover hundreds of miles. They go where the food and warmth are.
13. Bat Poop Is Actually Valuable
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Bat droppings, known as guano, are packed with nitrogen and make excellent fertilizer. Guano has been used for centuries in farming. In some regions, it’s still harvested and sold. Even their poop is a gift to the planet.
14. They’re Not Blind At All
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Despite the myth, bats aren’t blind—in fact, many see quite well. Some species even see better than humans in low light. Echolocation is just an added bonus, so let’s retire that old saying.
15. Some Bats Can Fly Over 100 Miles In A Night
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Mexican free-tailed bats have been tracked flying over 100 miles in one night. They cover massive distances in search of food. Their long, narrow wings are built for speed and endurance. These tiny mammals have the stamina of marathon runners.