Bats are the only true flying mammals. There are over 1,400 species of bats, and they can be found on nearly every part of the planet. Not only are they cute, they are also important...
Studying how bats use echolocation has helped scientists develop navigational aids for the blind. Without bats’ pollination, seed dispersal, and pest control we wouldn’t have bananas, avocados, mangoes, agave, or cacao… that’s right, bats bring us tequila and chocolate!
Do not handle it with bare hands! Bats can carry rabies.
Here's a map of worldwide rescues and temporary care instructions.
Bats should never be kept as pets: Here's why.
Our community's mascot is Baxter. Baxter is an Egyptian fruit bat that was cruelly kept alone and confined to a small cage for 12 years before being rescued by a bat sanctuary. You can read the full story by clicking on his name.
Our rules for posting and commenting, besides the rules defined here for lemmy.world, are as follows:
Everyone should feel welcome here. Hateful or bigoted language will not be tolerated.
Don’t post anything a fruit bat would not approve of.
Please don't hate on bats in this community (this includes all of your edgy covid humor).
Bats don’t like spam.
For inquiry on becoming a moderator of this community, please send a message to the current moderators. Any feedback on the community should also be sent to the moderators.
A more appropriate name for a bat nursery is a maternity roost.
Most bat species give live birth to only one pup per year. However, some species can give birth to twins or multiple pups. For 3 to 4 weeks, the baby is incapable of flying and is latched onto its mother’s nipple. It is not until they are about five weeks old that the baby bat can begin flying lessons and leaves its roost.
If you live in Texas, there are at least two large bat nurseries. The smaller (Mason, Tx) is 3+ million bats for a couple of months.
That's really cool, wish I was closer!
Where the larger one?
San Antonio
Do... Do bats give birth on the ceiling?
They do! They hang ~~head up~~ upside down and catch the baby as it’s born, placing it in a little pouch.
Female bats also store sperm for months after mating until they ovulate, from fall/winter to spring.
EDIT: Did some more research and discovered that they hand upside down, not head up while they give birth. And to prove it, here is a video of a bat giving birth. It's awesome, partially because of how excited the scientists get. You should really watch it.
Ok, I found a video of a bat giving birth. Edited my original comment to correct that they hang upside down. The video is awesome.
When I still lived with my parents, their attic was a nursery for local bats. I could hear the baby bats and it was great. Then my parents had Orkin come out and seal off the attic when the mama and baby bats weren't there. I hope the bats found another nursery nearby.
I hope so too!
"During bats’ maternity season, it is illegal to conduct bat abatement from your home." Hahaha yes I will be sure to respect the bats squatters rights.
I don't know who hurt you in life, but there is no reason to take it out on animals. Go talk to your ex or mom or better yet, a therapist.
Haha yes I need therapy because I'm not going to live in a bat infested house just because it's bat mating season.
No, it's because of how you choose to express that in a public forum. Grow up.
O God, not the publics.