this post was submitted on 23 Nov 2025
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Bats
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Bats are cool
Bats are the only true flying mammals. There are over 1,400 species of bats, and they can be found on nearly every part of the planet. Not only are they cute, they are also important...
Studying how bats use echolocation has helped scientists develop navigational aids for the blind. Without bats’ pollination, seed dispersal, and pest control we wouldn’t have bananas, avocados, mangoes, agave, or cacao… that’s right, bats bring us tequila and chocolate!
Found a bat in need of help?
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Do not handle it with bare hands! Bats can carry rabies.
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Here's a map of worldwide rescues and temporary care instructions.
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Bats should never be kept as pets: Here's why.
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That’s fair, they do carry rabies although very very few people actually die of rabies in the states. It’s a good idea to stay away from bats in the wild especially if you see one during the day. But in my experience, a lot of people think they “look gross” or “will fly into my hair” which is not the case at all.
Flying foxes are especially adorable, but even the ones famous for being ugly (hammer-headed bats, round-eared bats, vampire bats, long-eared bats, etc.) are still pretty cute.
For some reason the hair thing makes me imagine a species of bat that collects hair. It looks like a bunch of bats in wigs in my mind, like a bat with a beehive hairdo, for example.
My neighbor’s house has really old compressed panel siding, and the bats just love living under it. Dozens and dozens and dozens of them. They probably do the same under my garage siding and I just haven’t noticed.
As a result, I occasionally have bats find their way in. Probably 6 times in 13 years. First couple times it was really alarming, right up there with cluster flies and equally harmless.
I either shoo them out an open door, or catch them in a small box, and release them by taking the box outside and opening it, then leaving. They do fly around to get away from me, but they don’t really come close to touching me unless I’m flailing around or whatever. It’s wild seeing them roost on a door frame or something inside, upside down, and have them just sort of let me catch them because they don’t want to be there but can’t get out.