
But not because they’re set on attacking you or trying to suck your blood.īats are associated with diseases, including rabies. However, that’s not the only method bats use to tackle the winter: Many species also hibernate until the weather is more to their liking. These creatures prefer warmer climates, so they may migrate when temperatures lower. In colder areas, you aren’t likely to see bats in the winter. People have been known to find bats in attics, under bridges and in cracks in the building. Sometimes, though, they may set up roost in your home. In the wild, they may sleep in trees, caves or under tree bark.

and live in habitats that range from woodlands and deserts to suburbs and cities.īats make their homes, which are called “roosts,” in many different places. Bats are found in every state of the U.S. You’ll only find them in captivity in this country. Fortunately, this number does not include any of the three species of vampire bats. Within the United States, there are more than 40 species of bats. However, they have been known to feed on humans. Vampire bats prefer to feed on livestock, depending on the species. There are a few species that are carnivorous, and of course, there are three species of the infamous vampire bats, which feed only on blood. Most North American bat species are insectivores, while others feed only on fruit or nectar. They range in size from the bumblebee bat, which weighs less than a dime, to the black flying fox with a wingspan that can reach 6 feet. There are more than 1,300 species of bats in the world. They belong to a special group of their own called Chiroptera, which roughly translates to “hand-wing.”

Many people believe that they’re flying rats or mice. Bats are the only mammals capable of sustained flight, which makes them pretty special.
