February 10, 2022 By Katie Roundtree

Florida is home to approximately thirteen species of bats year-round. These flying mammals are a critical part of Florida’s natural ecosystem. They are extraordinary animals that are misunderstood by many.

Bats are unique animals and are not flying rodents.  Although some mammals can glide, bats are the only mammal that can truly fly. Scientists have classified bats into a unique group or order called “Chiroptera”, which means “hand wing.” Bats literally fly with their hands! Their wings are much like our hands, but with longer fingers and a thin, but tough, membrane (skin) between the fingers. World-wide there are over 1,000 species of bats. From the fossil records we have learned that bats existed over 65 million years ago. Today, they inhabit all areas of the globe except Antarctica and the extreme desert regions, but most bat species live in the tropics. The most common bats in south Florida include the Brazilian free-tailed bat, Big brown bat, Seminole bat and the Evening bat.

Bats eat a variety of things, including insects, fruit, nectar, fish and small vertebrates, but only three species feed on blood. Bats also come in many different colors, shapes and sizes. The largest bat in the world is the Malayan flying fox, a fruit-eater. It can weigh over 2 ½ pounds and have a wing span of over 6 feet! The smallest bat is the Bumblebee bat of Thailand, an insect-eater, which weighs less than a penny and has a wing span of only 5 inches. Most bats in Florida eat insects.  They prey upon insects that are pests to humans and agriculture. Insectivorous bats can eat their body weight in insects each night, which means up to 3,000 insects in just one night!

There are many myths and misconceptions regarding bats. Bats are not blind. They have the same five senses we do, smelling, hearing, tasting, seeing and feeling. Some bats, however, have highly developed sonar capabilities, called “echolocation.” Bats produce echolocation by emitting high frequency sound pulses through their mouth or nose and listening to the echo. With this echo, the bat can determine the size, shape and texture of objects in its environment. Bat echolocation is so sophisticated that these animals can detect an object the width of a human hair.

Bats do not attack people just for spite. They are generally timid animals and prefer to stay away from humans.   Vampire bats do not live in the United States. They are only found in southern Mexico, Central and South America.

The most common misconception that people have is that all bats are rabid. This is not true. Studies have shown that less than one percent of bats contract rabies and when they do they usually die within three or four days. Although they do not become aggressive, they can end up on the ground or someplace they do not belong and if handled may bite in self-defense and transmit the disease. Never handle a wild bat with your bare hands and make sure your pet’s vaccinations are current. Never handle or play with any wild animals, including bats. They are wild and meant to be left alone.

 Bats are disappearing at alarming rates. Disturbance or destruction of roost sites due to development and vandalism is the greatest threat to the world’s bats. Most bats living in Florida prefer to roost in mature or dead trees or in caves. However, many bats are squeezed out of urban areas due to loss of habitat or take up residence in buildings and become the targets for abuse. Public education and preservation of roost sites are the keys to maintaining Florida’s native bat populations. You can help bats by learning more about them and sharing bat information with others. Fear and misunderstanding are some of the worst enemies of bats. This is why education is so important. Bat houses are also a perfect way to get involved in conservation. A bat house in your backyard will provide bats with a much needed, safe place to live. They will also do you the return favor of eating insects around the area. You can also help by supporting conservation groups that protect wildlife habitats and preserve natural lands.

For more information go to The Florida Bat Conservancy’s website at www.floridabats.org or the University of Florida’s Florida Wildlife Extension at www.wec.ufl.edu/extension.