Dispelling Bat Myths: What’s True and What’s False

| By Adora Onyile

Bats are misunderstood animals. Many beliefs about them are based on fear, not science. We will look at some of the most common myths about bats and share facts to help us see them differently.

Endangered Short-tailed Roundleaf Bat (Hipposideros curtus) ©SMACON

Myth: Bats are blind

Fact: Most bats have small, sensitive eyes, but they can see. They also use echolocation, which are high-pitched sounds that they generate, and listen to the echoes that bounce off nearby objects. This helps them find their way around obstacles and find food. It's a very clever way to travel and forage, especially at night.

Myth: All bats are vampires

Fact: The media has unfairly branded bats as bloodsuckers, but the truth is far less dramatic. Around 70% of the world’s bat species are insectivores and can eat hundreds of mosquitoes in just an hour. Others, such as fruit bats, help pollinate plants and spread seeds, keeping forests alive and healthy. Some even sip nectar, much like butterflies, playing a quiet but crucial role in nature. Only three of almost 1500 global bat species take blood meals. Even then, they mostly feed on livestock or other wild animals. This feeding behavior isn’t unique to bats. Birds like Oxpeckers are known to take blood meals, admittedly more opportunistic, yet they aren’t stuck with the vampire label. So no, bats aren’t vampires. They have just been misrepresented.

Giant Leaf-nosed Bat (Macronycteris gigas) ©SMACON

Myth: Bats are witches

Fact: People often attribute superstition to things they don’t fully understand. Because bats are active at night and rarely come out during the day, they are considered strange. Bats also have small eyes adapted to low light, which glow orange-red when caught in a flashlight beam at night, adding to the mystery. Although this glowing effect might seem spooky, it’s just a natural reflection, similar to what we see in many nocturnal animals. Like many nocturnal animals, bats are not witches. They simply prefer the quiet and safety of the night as a survival strategy, where they can feed while avoiding daytime predators.

Myth: Bats only come out at night because they’re afraid of daylight

Fact: Bats are active at night because that is when most of their food is available. The abundance of flying insects at night provides an ideal opportunity for bats to feed efficiently. Flying at night also helps them stay cool and avoid predators. It is not fear of light that keeps them away during the day; it is just part of their survival strategy.

Egyptian Fruit Bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus) ©SMACON

Bats are helpful to nature. They eat insects that damage crops, pollinate plants, and help spread seeds. By understanding the truth about bats, we can protect them better and appreciate the important role they play in the environment.

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Let’s replace myths with facts and recognize the important role they play in our ecosystem.