Are you one of those people who cringe at the sight of bats? Do you think they are flying mice that get tangled in your hair? Are you worried you might contract rabies from bats? If so, you're not alone. Most people know very little about bats, and what is known can typically be traced to old wives' tales. If you want to join the growing number of people who know the truth about bats and are fascinated by these amazing and unique mammals, READ ON!

First of all, bats are not blind. Most bats have eyesight equal to ours, and some bats can see better ... especially at night. But bats often don't use their eyes because they have a better navigational system. They use echolocation, which is similar to sonar. A high frequency signal is emitted through their mouth or nose, and the rate that the signal is received from the surrounding objects determines their location. This process takes a split second and is as natural to them as the visual process is to us. Since bats fly mostly at night where vision is restricted, echolocation is a more efficient way to travel.

The precision of echolocation allows bats to be quick and agile fliers. Therefore, any chance they might get tangled in your hair is remote. Many bat species eat flying insects, and maybe the wives tale began when a bat was attracted to the mosquitoes and gnats flying around the odoriferous people of the Medieval Ages!

A third misconception about bats is that they are flying mice. Mice, bats, and people are all mammals, meaning we all have hair on our bodies, give birth to live babies, and suckle our young. Other than those similarities, bats are no more related to rodents than are people. In fact, bats are more related to primates (which include lemurs, monkeys, and humans) than to any other types of mammals. There is current discussion among bat biologists to include some bat species with the primates.

Another characteristic similar to all mammals is the ability to contract the rabies virus. Rabies has always been known to occur in dogs and cats. Paintings on tombs of Egyptian Pharaohs depict mad dogs biting people. Only recently have bats been known to contract rabies, and the first case in the United States occurred in 1953. Since then, only 15 other incidences have occurred. To keep this in perspective, 10 people die annually from dog attacks and diseases transmitted by dogs and cats.

It is also important to note there are two forms of rabies; the aggressive and dumb form. Bats typically exhibit the dumb form where they become lethargic, paralyzed, and can't fly, often falling from their roost and quietly dying. They seldom are aggressive such as the mad dog which unexpectantly turns on its Master and friends. Avoiding bat rabies is simple. If you see a bat on the ground, especially during the day, don't touch it. If it's in your house, use gloves to remove it. If it's flying in your house, it's probably healthy but confused, so simply open the window and let it fly out. If you're concerned about rabies, you need to be more cautious of your pet that hasn't had its annual rabies shot or that 'friendly' raccoon that visits your porch each night. Now that I've hopefully convinced you that bats aren't ghouls or demons, let me discuss the benefits of bats. The most direct contribution is their impact as natural pest controls. Most bats in North America rely on insects for food and can eat up to 600 mosquitoes an hour! It has been calculated that the 20 million bats living in a single cave in Texas consume over a quarter of a million pounds of insects each night! So, if you're lucky enough to have bats in your neighborhood or attic, try to encourage them to stay by not disturbing them. That way, you won't have to buy a bug zapper.

Bats have many indirect benefits. In other parts of the world, some bat species eat fruit and disperse seeds, or drink nectar and pollinate flowers, like bees. The fruit eaters are called frugivores and typically pick a fruit from a tree but fly to a safe roost to consume it. In the process, they distribute the seeds throughout the forest resulting in new seedlings. Many flowers bloom only at night and rely on bats to transport their pollen from one flower to another. They entice the bats by rewarding them with plenty of nectar. Plants that rely on bats include mango, avocado, fig, date, and bananas, as well as the endangered giant saguaro cacti found in our Southwest deserts.

Although we don't often see bats, their value to the ecosystem is tremendous. Bats, like many of the more obvious mammals and birds, are currently decreasing in number. The causes are varied, but are often due to disturbances and misconceptions of people. With the myths now dispelled and with your new knowledge of the benefits of bats, please spread the word... BATS ARE GOOD!