vampire bats habitat
Bats' habitats
It[phpbay]s true that millions do roost in deep, pitch-black caverns[phpbay] But, some of them roost in trees, various buildings, ancient temples-yes, and in tombs, too[phpbay] Others take over vacant bird nests and animal burrows[phpbay] Bats also live in bell towers and church steeples[phpbay]
What they eat
Insect eaters are the most numerous[phpbay] Generally, they catch their prey in flight[phpbay] Fruit eaters are tropical bats mostly dependent upon wild fruit, though they are known to cause great damage to orchards[phpbay] Some bats are small flower feeders with long tongues[phpbay] Pollen and nectar are their fare[phpbay] Lizards, frogs, small mammals and birds are on the menu of moderate-sized carnivorous bats, although they also eat other things[phpbay] Then there are the fish eaters[phpbay] Their powerful feet have hooked claws capable of snatching prey near the surface of the water[phpbay]
What about the infamous vampire bat?
Who has not heard the fictitious tales about dead people who supposedly rise from their sepulchers at night, transform themselves into bats, and suck the blood of hapless humans[phpbay] You know the old vampire story[phpbay] Well, mainly in the tropical and subtropical regions of America there such creatures as vampire bats[phpbay] They do feed on blood, sometimes that of sleeping humans[phpbay]
The vampire bat has razor-sharp teeth[phpbay] In fact, they[phpbay]re so sharp that the bite is just about painless and the sleeping animal or human rarely is awakened by it[phpbay] Maybe for some twenty minutes or so this bat gorges itself, taking in so much blood that its little body becomes spherical before the meal is over[phpbay]
Actually, the amount of blood lapped up (not sucked) is not so great as to endanger humans[phpbay] But there is another peril[phpbay] Vampire bats may have rabies[phpbay] So, left unchecked, their bites can result in hydrophobia and death[phpbay] Vampire bats also transmit other diseases, such as murrina, which affects livestock[phpbay] These little bats are dangerous, too, because their bites can cause secondary infection[phpbay]
And it isn[phpbay]t just vampire bats that can carry rabies[phpbay] Never handle a bat, if you see one in the home look for signs that are out of the ordinary, such as seeing one during the daylight, which would be unusual, as they are nocturnal creatures by habit[phpbay] If you think you or someone else has been bitten get checked over by a doctor[phpbay]
Discover Magazine - Vampire Bat's Diet
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