Bats

These Portuguese Libraries Are Infested With Bats—and They Like It That Way

They actually serve a very specific purpose

Long-eared Myotis bat (Myotis septentrionalis), photographed in Arizona.

Where Clean Drinking Water Is Hard To Find, Bats Could Lead the Way

A wildlife biologist argues that tracking bats, which cover wide areas and need clean water, could be useful in locating potable sources

Once Rare Nectar-Feeding Bat Removed From U.S. Endangered Species List

The move is a first for bat species

How Vampire Bats Can Survive on a Diet of Blood

Their diet may seem unusual, but a unique genome and gut bacteria help the critters get the nutrients they need

Heatwave Kills Hundreds of Flying Fox Pups in Australia

With temperatures hot enough to melt asphalt, the searing heat "boiled" the tiny creatures

A bat undergoing a UV light treatment

UV Light Could Help Stop the Bat-Killing White Nose Syndrome

Research shows the fungus is susceptible to UV light. The problem is getting bats into the tanning beds

“And bats with baby faces in the violet light / Whistled, and beat their wings”—T.S. Eliot, The Waste Land

How a Deadly Flesh-Eating Fungus Helped Make Bats Cute Again

A silver lining to the worldwide epidemic of white nose syndrome: People like bats more now

An unlit church in Sweden

Lights Are Driving Bats From Their Belfries

The trend of pointing floodlights at churches in Sweden has driven some long-eared bat colonies out of their historic roosts

Exclusively feeding in the wild on blood from live animals, vampire bats, native to Central and South America, can regurgitate blood in order to feed one another, though they won't do this for just anyone.

What a Vampire Bat Can Teach Us About the Economics of Friendship

A Smithsonian scientist says important lessons about making friends and sharing can be learned from these blood-sucking creatures

Nearly blind, Typhlomys cinereus thrives in the high forests of southeastern China and Vietnam—with a little help from another sense.

This Echolocating Dormouse Could Reveal the Origins of One of Nature’s Coolest Superpowers

Mice, moths and even humans use clicks and echoes to "see" the world around them

How Vampire Bats Suck Blood for 30 Minutes Unnoticed

Thanks to a local anesthetic in their spit, vampire bats are able to drink blood from their prey without being detected

The Strange Link Between Bats and Tequila

As a nectar feeder, the lesser long-nosed bat follows the trail of cactus blooms between Mexico and the U.S.

Just look at that vampiric cutie.

How Bats Ping On the Wing—And Look Cute Doing It

Researchers reveal how bats turn echolocation signals into a 3-D image of moving prey

The spectral bat (Vampyrum spectrum), the world’s largest carnivorous bat, feeds on small birds, amphibians, reptiles and mammals—including other bats.

The World’s Carnivorous Bats Are Emerging From the Dark

Meat-eating evolved multiple times among these mysterious species, yet all of the winged carnivores share similar physiological fixes

The little brown bat infected with white-nose syndrome found in the state of Washington

White-Nose Syndrome Detected in Bats West of the Rockies for the First Time

The fungal disease, which has devastated bat populations in the Eastern U.S., has now shown up in Washington state

This Is How Bats Can Land Upside Down

Bats spin like ice skaters to stick their landing

Researchers Devise Way to Determine Color from Fossils

Researchers now know how to tell what color an ancient animal was from its fossils

A spectacled fruit bat hangs out in search of its next meal. Many bats eat nectar with grooved tongues that are posing quite a mystery for scientists.

This Bat's Tongue Works Like a Conveyor Belt

The unique tongues are raising new questions for scientists

Mexican free-tailed bats leaving Bracken Cave in Texas

Saving Bats Could Reduce Pesticide Use

People already install bat houses to attract the insect-eating mammals, but one researcher is working to quantify exactly how much they may help

A bat box stands over the Herdade do Esporão vineyard in Portugal.

Winemakers Are Building Houses for Bats to Make Vineyards Greener

Attracting the right species can help get rid of vine-munching insects and allow farmers to cut back on pesticides

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