First and foremost, Phillip Elden notes that bats actually are more closely related to humans than mice, which is the common belief. They are the second largest group of mammals on Earth at more than 1300 species strong. Unexpectedly, of these, only three actually survive off of blood. The rest tend to dine on insects and fruit.
As the only mammal that can actually fly – flying squirrels can only glide – bats are unique. However, this is not their only unusual feature, says Phillip Elden. Bats use a process called echolocation to determine proximity of objects around them. This keeps them from flying into buildings, trees, and other animals. Through echolocation, bats emit an ultrasonic frequency that reverberates off of everything, giving them a “visual” of their surroundings.
If you’ve ever seen a bat in your backyard, you may have been somewhat alarmed. Phillip Elden says you should not be. Bats are actually one of our greatest allies in our fight against insects and, to some degree, food scarcity. Scientists estimate that bats may save up to $54 billion each year in lost food and pest control. This is because they eat bugs that attack coffee, cotton, almonds, cucumbers, tomatoes, and many other important food sources.
Ultimately, bats are good for the environment. Phillip Elden says there is no reason to fear these flying rodents. They mean no harm, and every activity they do benefits us in some way.
