Today is National Bat Appreciation Day! If you’re wondering why such a holiday exists, it’s because April is the best time of year to observe bats since they’re just starting to come out of hibernation. Bats are such unique creatures and, in our opinion, are drastically underappreciated after Halloween passes!
In honor of National Bat Appreciation Day, here are a few facts that you may not know about bats:
- Bats are the only mammals capable of sustained flight
This means that they don’t glide; they actually continue to fly in the air
- Echolocation allows bats to “see” in the dark
By projecting soundwaves from their mouth or nose, bats are able to judge how far an object is based on how quickly the echo bounces back to them. This is completely inaudible to the human ear!
- Bats can live for over 30 years
The oldest known bat to-date was a male Brandt’s bat which lived for 41 years!
- Female bats typically give birth to just one pup per litter
Occasionally, some bats will carry two pups per litter, but it’s about as rare as a woman giving birth to twins
- The pup can weigh up to 40% of the mother’s weight
That’s almost like a woman giving birth to a 60-pound baby!
- Bats help farmers by eating insects and other pests that normally harm vegetation
They help save United States farmlands between $3.7-$53 billion per year in pesticides and damaged crops
- Bats avoid flying during the day to prevent overheating in the sun
Their wings absorb solar radiation, so it’s very easy for them to overheat. They use their own saliva to cool themselves in extreme cases
- Some bats hibernate for as long as six months
While many bats still do find shelter in caves, most bats nowadays hibernate inside of homes and buildings
- Bats don’t eat people (or suck their blood)
Depending on the specific species, most bats have diets consisting of insects, nectar, pollen, and fruit
- There are only three species of bats that feed on blood (of animals—still not humans)
The white-winged, hairy-legged, and common vampire bats are the only bats that feed on animal blood from those like cows and birds. Because we know what you’re wondering, they did get their name from the fictional blood-sucking monsters!
Bats should be appreciated more often than just around Halloween-time, so we hope you learned something new and gained a greater appreciation for these lovely little creatures! Get in the spirit by dressing up and decorating with any of our bat costumes or home decorations here.
