There are an alarming number of misconceptions regarding bats that give the animal a bad name, and many of them can be attributed to scenarios viewed within movies such as Batman or several popular vampire titles.
Most people assume that all bats carry rabies, but less than one percent of their entire population is infected with the disease.
On the contrary, bats feed on insects such as the malaria carrying mosquito and actually prevent hundreds of thousands of infections each year while carrying out their natural role in nature.
Another misconception is that bats work into a heated frenzy around humans with the desire to suck out our blood.
There is in fact a species named the Vampire Bat that feeds almost exclusively on the blood of animals, but there are also numerous species that feed solely on fish or fruits as well.
In severe cases of starvation bats have been known to bite a sleeping human, but this puncture wound is more often on a big toe than it is on our necks.
These species overwhelmingly tends to avoid human contact whenever possible, even though they will often inhabit our structures like attics or barns for their natural protection from other predators.
Bats live in dark environments due to their sensitivity to light.
Another myth is this species can not actually see, but their vision works perfectly fine.
Like many predators, their other senses are much more developed and bats rely instead on their ultra sensitive ears to hone in on their prey.
By emitting a series of sounds this animal can effectively judge distances and velocities of insects with alarming precision.
This trait is only known to be found within bats and dolphins, and studies of these animals show a stunning similarity to our modern sonar equipment.
Another interesting fact is that bat droppings, also called guano, are often harvested and used in making an effective fertilizer due to the various nutrients found within it.
If bats are found in or around your dwelling, think twice before attempting to eliminate them.
Attempting to scare them away with loud noises or violence will often cause a stressful state within the bat during which they will not exit the den or feed; this will not solve your problem.
If their presence is causing structural damage or excess waste then they should be relocated, and a professional can suggest various non-lethal methods to achieve this goal.
This will begin with a thorough inspection of your structure in order to locate the various entry points this species uses to come and go during night time feedings.
These openings can be sealed off or boarded over once the bats are no longer within the colony, which will in effect force them to seek shelter elsewhere.
Another method would be to install one way trapdoors which would allow this species to leave your home but re-entry would be impossible.
Remember that once the colony of bats is removed from your area, it is likely that the mosquito and other insect populations will increase dramatically.
If this species is located in an area outside your residence where they are not causing any damage, it is far better to allow them to stay and reap their many ecological benefits.