A bat is the only mammal that can fly. Bats have a furry body, and their wings are covered by smooth, flexible skin. Most species of bats live in attics, caves, or other sheltered places. Some species live in trees. Bats seem uncommon in many regions because they roost in dark places and come out only at night, when most people are asleep. Bats hang upside down when they are resting.
There are more than 900 species of bats. Bats live in all parts of the world except Antarctica and the Arctic. Most kinds make their home in the tropics, where they can find food the year around. About 40 species of bats live in Canada and the United States.
Through the centuries, people have passed on many superstitions and mistaken ideas about bats. For example, the expression "blind as a bat" is false. All species of bats can see, probably about as well as human beings. The beliefs that bats carry bedbugs and get tangled in peoples hair are also untrue. Bats tend to be timid. At night, they will try to fly out a window if they find themselves in a room.
Many people in Western countries fear bats, but these animals are well liked in China and Japan. A number of Oriental artists have portrayed bats as signs of good luck, happiness, and long life.
Most bats are harmless to people. But bats may have rabies. For this reason, bats should not be handled.
Bats perform a valuable service for people by eating large numbers of insects. In addition, bat guano (manure) has commercial value as fertilizer. Some caves have been the home of bats since prehistoric times and have large deposits of guano.
