7 Common Myths About Bats

Bats often get a bad reputation in popular culture. While they're typically portrayed as bloodthirsty creatures of the night, they rarely pose a threat to humans. In fact, they're incredibly helpful to our environment, with their appetite for pesky insects saving the agriculture industry billions of dollars annually. We're debunking more myths about these so-called 'rats with wings' below, based on an episode of Misconceptions on YouTube.

1. Myth: Vampire bats drink blood.

Bram Stoker's novel Dracula and its various film adaptations became a massive hit among horror lovers—but for bats, it was a public relations nightmare. In the story, the main character transforms into a bat after feasting on human victims. The association between blood-drinking bats and vampires dates back to the 16th century when Europeans first discovered these creatures in the Americas. Stoker's work, however, may have cemented the bat’s monstrous image in the English-speaking world.

The idea that all bats are miniature Draculas is clearly a misconception. While it's true that vampire bats do exist, they represent only a tiny fraction of the bat species. Of the over 1300 bat species worldwide, only three types are blood-drinkers, and they are native to Central and South America. If you encounter a white-winged, hairy-legged, or common vampire bat in the wild, there’s no need for alarm. Vampire bats prefer birds and livestock, and when they do feed on humans, they only consume about a tablespoon of blood.

Although vampire bats depend on blood for sustenance, labeling them as 'blood-sucking' is inaccurate. Unlike other blood-feeding creatures, such as mosquitoes, vampire bats don’t suck blood directly. Instead, they make a small incision near an artery with their teeth and then lap up the blood that pools on the skin. In fact, this means that bats could be described as blood-licking creatures.

2. Myth: Bats are pests.

As previously mentioned, the overwhelming majority of bats aren't interested in humans as a meal. Most bats feed on fruit or insects, making them environmental champions rather than pests. Fruit bats play a crucial role in dispersing seeds and supporting plant life cycles in tropical ecosystems. Some bats even drink nectar, becoming pollinators much like bees.

Insect-eating bats contribute to the environment in a different manner. A single bat can eat its body weight in insects in just one night. Many of these insects would otherwise threaten crops, and bats save the agriculture industry at least $3 billion annually. More bats in your garden also means fewer insects to spoil your summer evenings.

Even vampire bats offer something valuable to humans. Their saliva contains a protein called Draculin, which prevents blood from clotting and allows it to flow freely from the wounds of their prey. Researchers have long been intrigued by the potential of this protein to break up blood clots in humans. A study published in the journal Toxins suggests that vampire bats could be key in developing a new treatment for high blood pressure. The venom of the common vampire bat contains unique blood pressure-regulating peptides, which could potentially be used to treat hypertension, heart failure, and kidney disease.

3. Myth: Bats get stuck in human hair.

So bats won’t drain your blood, and they’re actually beneficial to the environment, but many people still freak out when they spot one. This is due to the misconception that bats often get tangled in human hair. Thankfully, getting stuck in your hair would be just as unpleasant for the bat as it would be for you. This myth may have started as a way to discourage young women from venturing out at night. Regardless of its original purpose, the myth has persisted. While bats may swoop down near humans from time to time, they aren’t after your hair. They’re attracted to the carbon dioxide you exhale, which draws insects that, in turn, attract the bat. The bat’s remarkable navigation skills help it avoid bumping into your head.

4. Myth: Bats are blind.

No, bats are not blind. This is one of the most common myths about them, possibly due to the fact that many bats use echolocation to hunt. When bats emit sound pulses through their mouth or nose, those waves travel forward, bouncing off objects nearby. By listening to the echoes of these sounds, bats can determine the size and shape of what’s in front of them. If the echo suggests the object is about the size of an insect, the bat knows it’s found its meal. The bat then rapidly repeats its calls to locate its prey before swooping in for the catch.

Echolocation certainly makes nighttime hunting easier, but it’s not the only way bats navigate. Contrary to the saying 'blind as a bat,' bats do have eyes that are well-suited for seeing in the dark. Some bats rely on their vision as their primary means of finding food, and certain species even have eyes sensitive enough to detect ultraviolet light, giving them one of the most impressive visual systems in the animal kingdom.

5. Myth: All bats hang upside-down.

Bats spend a significant amount of time hanging upside down, and there's a good reason for that—this position helps them take off quickly when needed. Compared to birds and other flying animals, bats are heavier in proportion to their lift, making it difficult for them to launch from the ground. Their solution? They initiate flight by essentially dropping. Falling from an upside-down position provides the necessary air and momentum to get airborne.

However, this doesn’t apply to all bats. Six species of bats don’t hang upside down when they sleep. Members of the Thyropteridae family in South America and the Myzopodidae family in Madagascar prefer to nest in large, open leaves, like those of a banana tree. They crawl into these leaf tubes and roost with their heads facing upwards. Using small suction cups on their wrists and ankles, they secure themselves to the smooth interior of the plant. As the leaves mature and unfurl, the bats are forced to find a new leafy resting place.

6. Myth: Bats are rats with wings.

Though bats are generally small and covered in fur, they are not flying rodents. Bats belong to the order Chiroptera, which represents about a fifth of all mammal species worldwide. They are the only mammals capable of true flight (the only other flying creatures are birds and insects). While animals like flying squirrels can glide, they don’t truly fly. Bats, however, are expert flyers and the fastest mammals ever recorded. A 2016 study revealed that bats can reach speeds of up to 100 miles per hour, faster than other speedsters like cheetahs.

7. Myth: All bats are harmless.

We’ve already cleared up that bats won’t turn you into a vampire or get stuck in your hair, but they’re not entirely without risk. According to the CDC, bats are the number one source of rabies in humans in the United States. However, not every bat carries the virus. While bats make up about a third of the roughly 5000 animals that test positive for rabies each year, globally, you're far more likely to contract rabies from a dog than any other animal.

Among the bats that have been tested for rabies, only about 6 percent were found to carry the virus. This percentage might even be lower in wild bat populations, as bats that are sick enough to be caught and brought into a lab are often already weak. Despite bats being the leading carriers of rabies in the U.S., the likelihood of them transmitting the disease to humans is still very low. On average, the U.S. reports just one to three rabies cases annually.

It’s possible that bats contribute to a larger share of rabies cases because people don't typically associate them with the disease. Many individuals are more likely to worry about rabies from a dog or raccoon bite than from a bat. Although rabies is nearly always fatal if left untreated, it can be prevented with a highly effective vaccine if administered promptly. The key takeaway is that if you see a bat that appears ill, keep your distance. And if you come into contact with a bat or find one in your room, consult a doctor immediately.