COVESIDE CONSERVATION PRODUCTS

BAT FACTS - Myths & Truths about Bats

• Contrary to popular belief, bats are not blind and do not try to become tangled in hair.

• Bats are not related to rodents! In fact, fruit bats may soon be reclassified as primates.

• Bats are the only flying mammals in the world. Flying squirrels do not fly, they glide!

• Seventy percent of all bats eat insects, about 30% eat fruit, pollen and nectar. Of the world's 800+ species, only three are vampire bats, limited mostly to Latin America.

• Vampire bats do not attack humans; they are very small and generally drink the blood of animals.

• Bats are virtually disease free. Less than one-half of one percent of bats contract rabies. Nevertheless, a grounded bat should never be handled because it may bite in self-defense. Call a wildlife rehabilitator or an animal organization for help.

• Bats are vital to the ecosystem! Fruit bats bring us over 450 commercial products, including 80 medicines.

• Bats in the US eat millions of tons of insects annually. Alarmingly, bats are disappearing worldwide. They are now considered the most endangered land mammal in North America.

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Coveside Conservation Products
202 U.S. Route One - PMB 374
Falmouth, Maine 04105-1327

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