The only mammals capable of true flight, bats are nocturnal creatures that contribute to our ecosystems in unique ways. Often inspiring fear and evoking a sense of the supernatural, bats have been the subject of works of art for centuries. Their nocturnal habits and surreal appearance have led writers, poets, and dreamers to use bats in fantastical tales of human origin, spooky vampire transformation, and more. But where does the fiction separate from scientific fact when it comes to bats?
Though some stories may lead us to believe bats are evil, blood-drinking night crawlers, 70% of bats eat insects, making them natural bug repellents that are useful to have around on summer nights. Some bats are carnivores, eating smaller mammals, lizards, and frogs, but a large number of bats consume mostly fruit and nectar, which allows them to disperse fruit seeds around their habitats. The spread of fruit seeds through bat droppings is one method of reproduction that many plant populations rely on to stick around.
Bats can be found nearly anywhere in the world, excluding severe arctic regions and deserts. While not all bats are intelligent, some have developed a complex form of echolocation that allows them to bounce