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Unfair Misconceptions About Bats

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For a long time, wild bats have been misrepresented in books, television, and media. They are portrayed as aggressive, scary, diseased rodents that will attack you and infect you with Rabies. It is unfair that bats have been labeled with this harmful (and outrageously incorrect) stigma, especially since they are such an important part of our eco-system. They are truly special animals that deserve to be represented accurately.

Continue reading to clear up some of the most common misconceptions about wild bats, and who to trust for professional bat removal and control information near you.

Louisville Bat Removal

Louisville Bat Removal 502-553-7622

Common Misunderstandings:

“Bats are Rodents.”

This couldn’t be farther from the truth. Bats are not rodents, they are mammals. In fact, they are more closely related to humans than they are rats and mice! Furthermore, bats are one of the most special mammals because they are the only mammals capable of true flight. Sure, other mammals can float or soar; but bats can actually fly like birds. And they are the ONLY mammal that can!

“Bats Have Rabies.”

Although bats are known carriers of several infectious diseases, like many other mammals, they are not all rabid. In fact, the vast majority of bats are not infected with the Rabies virus. This does not mean that you should attempt to approach, touch, capture, or trap a bat. They can still carry other diseases and parasites that can be quite harmful to people and pets.

“Bat Will Suck Your Blood.”

This is a silly misconception that probably stems from Dracula stories. However, out of more than 1,300 species worldwide, there are only 3 species of Vampire bat that do consume blood, and only one of those species consumes the blood of other mammals. These Vampire bats are native to Latin America, and the species that targets mammals prefers livestock like pigs, cows, horses, and goats; all of which do not mind one bit. The cut they make is so tiny the animal does not feel it, and they barely consume enough blood for the animal to notice.

Furthermore, the bat species that consumes mammal blood does not “suck” the blood. Instead, they lap it up with their tongues. Their saliva has an anticoagulant agent in it that prevents the cut from closing up until they are finished eating. This same anticoagulant has been developed into a medication that helps prevent strokes in humans!

“Bats Will Attack.”

First of all, bats are more afraid of us than we are of them. Secondly, bats are much too agile and smart to come close to a human, let alone get tangled in their hair or scratch up their face. Bats are very unlikely to attack unless they are provoked. A bat that is easily approachable is either sick or injured, both of which can make a bat more defensive and unpredictable. So long as you do not attempt to touch or harm a bat, there is little to no chance they will attack.

“Bats are Blind.”

Although people have used this idiom for hundreds of years, it still rings untrue. Bats are not blind at all. In fact, both suborders of bats see quite well, other than color. This is especially true for Flying Fox or Fruit bats, which have a large visual cortex. Microchiroptera bats, now categorized in the Yangochiroptera suborder, use a biological sonar system called “echolocation.” It’s true they can see just as good as the next mammal, but their echolocating abilities enhance their night vision and allow them to dart and dive for insects with astounding precision.

“Bats are Pests That Should Be Exterminated.”

Out of all the misconceptions that should be cleared up, this is the most important one. Although bats can be nuisances to home and property owners, they are not pests and they should NEVER be harmed or killed under any circumstances. Bats are a vital part of our surrounding Eco-systems. Not only do they play a major role in forest and jungle pollination, they are critical to insect and mosquito control. A single bat can consume more than 1,000 flies, gnats, and mosquitoes in a single night. This makes for a very comfortable backyard and park! Furthermore, bats are a federally-protected mammal, so there are laws against harming or capturing them without proper permits and licenses.

If you have a nuisance bat problem, contact a local Louisville bat removal company for safe, humane, and non-lethal bat extraction and relocation services. They have the experience, knowledge, and resources to promptly remove and relocate a bat to a safe and faraway habitat.

100% Non-Lethal Bat Removal and Control in Louisville

Louisville Bat Removal Kentucky

Louisville Bat Removal 502-553-7622

Call 502-553-7622 to request a free estimate for Louisville bat removal and control, today. We offer a wide range of bat removal and control services for both residential and commercial properties, at the most competitive prices in town. That means you can get affordable bat removal and control you can trust. With over 30 years of experience under our belts, you can feel confident in our results. Request a free estimate, anytime.

How Do Bats See?

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Louisville Bat Removal and Control

Louisville Bat Removal and Control 502-553-7622

Many people incorrectly assume that bats are blind. The truth is, no species of bat is naturally blind. In fact, most bats have pretty good vision. However, some bats rely on other senses more than they do their eyesight to navigate during flight. If you just learned something new about bats, you will be interested in what comes next.

Continue reading to learn more about bats and how they see!

Bats are Nocturnal

Both primary categories of bats, Megachiroptera and Microchiroptera, are nocturnal. This means they are active between dusk and dawn, and rest between dawn and dusk. Although it is dark outside when they are active, both bats can still see. They can even see well during the day. They are sensitive to daylight changes, however, which is how they sense it is time to start or stop their day.

Echolocation and Other Senses

Because bats are active at night, many people wrongly assume that bats can’t see at night, so they only use echolocation (a natural sonar practice using series of tongue clicks) to navigate around. Although Microchiroptera use echolocation, it is not their only means of vision. They use echolocation to hunt for prey and navigate during flight, but they can also see quite well. In fact, they rely more on their vision to see long distances since these distances are beyond the range of echolocation. Megachiroptera bats, on the other hand, do not use sonar at all, and only rely on their eyesight, hearing, and smell to get around.

Bats are Not Blind!

So in conclusion, bats are not blind after all. Microchiroptera bats have sufficiently-developed photo-receptor cells in their retinas (cones and rods), which allow them to see well during the day and the night. Also, Megachiroptera bats have large eyes and well-pronounced visual centers that allow them to see well. Both species of bat use all their senses to navigate around, just like humans. But some species rely on senses more than others.

Louisville Bat Removal and Control

Louisville Bat Removal Kentucky

Louisville Bat Removal 502-553-7622

Call 502-553-7622 for Louisville bat removal and control you can trust. We are DNR licensed and insured bat control contractors who use safe, non-lethal methods of extraction and exclusion. We serve both residential and commercial clients, and at the most competitive prices in town. Emergency 24 hour service is also available. Call 502-553-7622 to request a free estimate, today.

Fun Facts About Bats

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Bats do not have the best reputation. This is a result of story-telling, movies, fear, misconceptions, and more. It certainly doesn’t help their case that they are also a nuisance wildlife in most states. But despite the social stigma that surrounds them, bats are also fascinating creatures, and an important part of our eco-system. They deserve far more credit than they get, and you will soon find out why! Continue reading to learn more about bats, and some fun facts about their species!

There are Two Kinds of Bats

All bats can be put in one of two categories: Microchiroptera or Megachiroptera. Microchiroptera, also called microbats, are small and mostly eat insects and small rodents. Megachiroptera, or megabats, are much larger and consume only the nectar and pollen from fruits and plants. The Vampire Bat and Little Brown Bat are two common micro-species. The Fruit Bat and the Flying Fox are two common mega-species.

Bats are the Only Mammal that Can Fly

Not only is it a surprise to some that bats are indeed mammals, they are the only mammals on Earth that are capable of “true” flight. Other mammals might have the ability to leap, jump, soar, or float to great extents, but the bat is the only one that can actually take flight and maintain flight. This is a cool fact!

Bats Can Eat More Than 1,000 Insects in One Hour

Bats play a major role in our surrounding eco-system simply by the amount of insects they consume on a nightly basis. Bats can eat more than 1,000 insects and mosquitos in as little as one hour! Not only does this make outdoor summer activities more comfortable for us, it plays a part in protecting plant life from over-infestation.

Not All Bats Use Echolocation to Navigate in the Dark

Microbats use echolocation to hunt and navigate in the dark, but Megabats do not. Megabats have a more pronounced visual cortex, giving them better visual acuity, as well as, an excellent sense of smell. For this reason, they do not require echolocation capabilities.

Bats are 20% of the Entire Mammalia Species

Bats are categorized into orders, classes, suborders, genera, and then species. And there are more than 900 species of bats! This adds up to nearly a quarter of all the mammals in the animal kingdom. That is a lot of insect control!

It is Illegal in Most States to Harm or Kill Bats

Most states prohibit those without a proper animal control or hunting permit to harm, trap, or kill bats. Bats are an important part of our eco-system, and should never be exterminated unless they are infected with a terminal disease or injured beyond the point of return. And in the case that a bat needs to be put down for injuries or illness, only a licensed wildlife control company has the resources and license to do so legally. So if you have nuisance bats in or around your home, call a licensed bat removal and control service for non-lethal wildlife control services you can trust.

Bat Removal in Louisville

Call 502-553-7622 if you need prompt and professional bat removal in Louisville, Kentucky. We are DNR licensed and insured wildlife control specialists that have decades of experience in the bat exclusion industry. We offer full-service bat removal and control, all of which are safe and humane. We never harm or kill bats, and instead, relocate them to a safe and faraway habitat where they can thrive in seclusion. We also offer free estimates, free advice, emergency bat removal, restorations for minor attic damages caused by bats, and much more. Call 502-553-7622 for trusted bat removal and control in Louisville and its surrounding locations.

Do You Think Bats Are Blind?

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Who ever said they were “blind as a bat” has a lot of explaining to do! There are over 100 species of bat in the world and every single one can see fairly well. The truth is that bats are not blind at all; they just have different visual capacities than other animals. Because they are nocturnal, they use alternative senses as well to communicate and see at night. Continue reading to learn about the differences between major bat species when it comes to their eyesight and sight aptitude.

Megachiroptera Bat Species

There are two species of bats, Megachiroptera and Microchiroptera. They are believed to share the same descendants, but overtime, evolved separately from each other. Megachiroptera bats are mostly medium and large in size. These megabats generally feed on fruits, nectar, and at times, fish or small animals. Additional terms for Megachiroptera bats include Flying Foxes, Fruit Bats, Megabats, and Old World Fruit Bats.

Megachiroptera bat species have large eyes and visual centers; allowing them to see better at night. They use their sight, as well as, their sense of smell to navigate in the dark and catch their prey. For example, a Flying Fox can also see during the day and in color as well! In fact, they cannot see or fly well on moonless nights, making them rely on their daytime vision.

Microchiroptera Bats

Microchiroptera bats are the smaller species of bat. They mostly eat insects and hunt them through the process of echolocation. Echolocation is the system that allows bats to navigate around, map out their surroundings, and catch their prey. It is like a sonar system that bounces high-frequency sounds off nearby objects; allowing them to grid their surroundings. You see, in mammals, there are two types of photo-receptors: cones and rods. Cones are primarily for daytime and color vision; whereas rods are for night vision. Without mentioning, you can already guess which species of bat has more of what. It’s not that micro bats do not have cones, they simply have under-developed ones compared to their sister species, the Mega bat.

Bat Removal Services in Louisville, Kentucky

Call 502-553-7622 for licensed bat removal services in Louisville, Kentucky. We provide several safe and humane, non-lethal bat control services for residential and commercial properties. Service include attic restoration and repairs, prevention, cleanup, exclusion, and more. Call 502-553-7622 for affordable bat removal and control in Louisville, KY and its surrounding neighborhoods.