Bats eat their weight in insects every night
Bats are not Blind
Bats are nocturnal, which makes sense because night time is when bugs are most abundant. To navigate while flying at night bats rely on echolocation. They send out sounds and listen for variations in the echos that bounce back. The variations in the echos tell them where to dodge to avoid obstacles. Even though bats are nocturnal, they still have the ability to see. Bats save their eyesight to see things during the day time.
A single brown bat can catch 1,200 mosquitos in one hour. It is estimated that 20 million Mexican free-tailed bats eat 200 tons of insects each night. Batman can't even catch the Joker...
Female bats do not give birth to more than one baby a year. Baby bats in the United States are born in May or June. They can learn to fly as soon as two weeks after birth.
Bats clean themselves meticulously for hours by licking and scratching their fur - kind of like cats!
Bat Babies!
Bats Groom
Themselves
Bat Facts
Bats Need Warmth While Hibernating
Bats and Rabies
Some bats hibernate during the winter when there aren't enough insects to eat. Hibernating helps them keep warm. Bats also use their wings to trap air against their bodies. It's kind of a built-in form of insulation. When wings aren't enough, they also huddle close with other bats in clusters. Bats can cluster on cave walls or ceilings.
Interestingly enough, most bats return to the same cave year after year.
Try not to handle a bat, but if there's no other alternative never handle a bat bare handed. Wear gloves.
Bats are capable of contracting rabies, just like any other mammal, but only 0.5% of the bat population actually has rabies. Don't worry about spotting bats either. You can't get rabies from distant bats. You can't even get rabies from touching a bat on its fur or from coming in contact with bat blood, guano (feces), or urine. Please, don't go looking for it, though. Even with those odds, experts still say never handle bats without gloves. Why take the chance? You could be the 0.5%.
Should you encounter a bat in your home, follow the guide on this helpful website to ensure the bat returns to the night.