Tag Archives: Echolocation facts

Do Bats Need Echolocation to Survive?

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It is a common misconception that bats are blind and must use their echolocating abilities to navigate around at night, and basically survive in general. Although there is some truth in echolocation abetting navigation, however, bats are not blind and can see just fine. Even non-echolocating bats in the Megachiroptera suborder have pronounced visual cortex that give them great sight and depth perception. Although bats are not blind, echolocation is a vital resource for microbats, and provides them with benefits that sustain their lives.

Continue reading to learn more about bat echolocation.

Louisville Bat Removal and Control
Louisville Bat Removal and Control 502-553-7622

Bats and Echolocation

Echolocation is also referred to as “biosonar”, and is a utilized by bats in the Microchiroptera suborder, also known as “microbats.” It is a built-in biological system that works by measuring the returning echoes of emitted signals that bounce off surrounding objects. Echolocation is made possible through vocalizations that are produced by the larynx of microbats, but released through mouth and nostrils. There are a few species of Rousettus in the megabat suborder that use a similar sonar system to microbats, but in contrast to producing sounds in the larynx, they produce sounds by clicking their tongues. See our blog, “The Basic Principles of Echolocation in Bats” to learn more.

How it Echolocating Works

When bats use echolocation, they emit signals in ultrasonic pulses over 15 kilohertz which then travel through the air and bounce off of surrounding objects. Bats analyze the returning sounds to identify the objects and assess the distance between them. The type of signals and sounds emitted by echolocating bats differ among species in many aspects, including frequency, length of call, intensity, and degree of modulations. Many animals aside from bats use this type of built-in sonar system, including species of dolphins, porpoises, toothed whales, Killer whales, dwarf sperm whales, shrews, and some species of bird.

The Purpose of Echolocation

Bats can see, but echolocation gives them a superior advantage when it comes to hunting and diving for prey at night. Bats are insectivorous, which means they primarily eat insects that are small and fact, like moths, flies, mosquitoes, beetles, and more. With echolocating abilities, they can more accurately dart, dive, and dash for their prey when it’s dark. It also helps them navigate their way around dark caves and roosting areas. Think about it from this perspective: You can see just fine, but you can’t see very well at night. Bats are the same way, but they have a built-in sonar system that makes up for this disadvantage!

Nuisance Bat Problems?

Bats are an incredible mammal, and offer numerous benefits to our surrounding environment and ecosystems. However, if you are experiencing nuisance bat problems, contact a Kentucky bat removal and control company for safe and humane service.

Louisville Bat Removal and Control

Call 502-553-7622 for prompt and professional Louisville bat removal and control you can trust. We are DNR licensed and insured wildlife rescue and control professionals with more than two decades of experience working with bats. We offer residential and commercial abatement services, including minor attic restorations for bat damages. Request a free estimate, today.

The Basic Principles of Echolocation in Bats

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By now, you are well-informed that bats are not blind. In fact, they see quite well. Their echolocating abilities are more than just a visual guide; they are a biological instrument that provides an advantage in many areas of Microchiroptera bat life. Here in this blog, you will learn the fundamental facts surrounding echolocation and bats, including which bats are not equipped with natural echolocating abilities.

Louisville Bat Removal and Control 502-553-7622
Louisville Bat Removal and Control 502-553-7622

What is Echolocation?

Dictionary.com defines echolocation as, “the general method of locating objects by determining the time for an echo to return and the direction from which it returns, as by radar or sonar.” But in terms of animals, like bats, they better define it as, “the sonar-like system used by (…) animals to detect and locate objects by emitting usually high-pitched sounds that reflect off the object and return to the animal’s ears or other sensory receptors.”

In plain language, echolocation is like sonar, in that you let out a sound wave, wait for the sound wave to come back to you, and then use that data to define an environmental guide for whatever application you need.

Bats are not the only animals who use echolocation; dolphins and whales are well-known echolocating species, as well as, some birds and species of shrew, and possibly even hedgehogs, are suspected of using the same type of biological gift. For these animals, the primary purposes of echolocation are coordination and direction, evading obstacles, hunting or obtaining food, and interacting socially.

How Does it Work?

Although it is not yet fully understood by the scientific community how echolocation in bats works, but we do have a basic theory. Scientists and researchers have ultimately determined that bats have built-in vocal chords that vibrate when they move air past them.

They emit these extremely high-pitched sounds from their mouths (or sometimes noses) as they fly, which in turn, travel through the air as a sound wave. These traveling sound waves have energy that bounces off anything it comes into contact with.

After emitting these extremely high-pitched sound waves, bats listen carefully for their return, and use the time data to configure their surroundings more precisely. They use this to dart and dive for flying insects, better navigate obstructions, and more.

Dealing With Nuisance Bats?

Although bats are an important part of our Eco-system, and even our economy, they can sometimes pose certain threats if their colonies get too close. If you suspect you have issues with bats, or a bat infestation in the attic or other area of your home, contact our DNR licensed and insured professionals at 553-502-7622 for safe and humane bat control service in Louisville, Kentucky and its surrounding counties. We have more than two decades of experience working with bats, and offer both residential and commercial bat removal and control services, including minor attic restorations for bat damages. Request a free estimate, today.