Bats are
dirty.
Not true! |
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Actually bats
are very clean animals. After they have come back to their roost, they
will often spend time, cleaning themselves just as a cat would. |
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There are people
who believe that bats are evil, some even believe Count Dracula turns
into a bat.
This only happens in the movies. Just
because an animal is unusual looking, it doesn't mean it is bad! |
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Bats fly
into your hair.
Not true! |
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Most
bats use echolocation to help them fly at night. This will keep them from
flying into your hair.
Bats don't want to get tangled in your hair anymore than you want that
to happen. They are much too smart to fly into people! |
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Bats are
blind.
Not true! |
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Bats are not blind and many
can see very well, especially the megabats. So don't say, "...as blind
as a bat" because it is not true! |
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Bats will
bite my neck and suck blood and turn me into a vampire.
Not true! |
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Only one
kind of bat drinks blood. It is the Vampire Bat that lives in South
America.
The blood it prefers is NOT human blood, but blood of cattle
and birds. The cattle and birds are not usually killed by the bats.
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Many pictures you
see have bats showing their teeth as if they're going to bite you.
PERHAPS, BUT NOT FOR THE
REASONS YOU
THINK.
Bats will fly with their mouths open because they are making
sounds (echolocation) so they can fly safely or because they are trying to catch their dinner.
Some photographers will pick up a bat to take a picture. Of course, the
bat is frightened and probably is showing its teeth to protect itself.
Bats are normally very shy. They don't want anything to do with you, and
will leave you alone. |
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Bats are
worthless animals.
Not true! |
Bats are very, very helpful!
They help control insects.
They drop seeds to to start
new plants and help pollinate plants.
The
farmers are happy for bats!
Bats also taught us about sonar. We figured it out from echolocation.
Sonar helps submarines know where they are going.
Bacteria in their guano (bat poop) is used in some soaps. Guana is also
used for making gasohol for cars and medicine for people.
It also makes a great fertilizer that helps our gardens grow! |
A piece of guano.
A bag of guano fertilizer.
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All bats
have rabies.
Not true!
However,
it is difficult to tell which bat is healthy and which bat has rabies.
Rabies is a disease you can catch if you are scratched or bitten by
animal that has it. The best rule to follow -
Never pick up any wild
animal!
Chances
are if you are able to get close enought to a wild animal (this includes
rabbits, squirrels, racoons and bats) it is sick and may very well have
rabies!
If
you come across an injured or sick wild animal, always tell an adult.
They can call the humane society and someone who is trained will come
out and take care of the sick animal. |
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