Most of us picture bats as creatures of the night, perhaps a little spooky, maybe even linked to vampires. Thanks to stories like Dracula or even Batman, they’ve got a bit of a scary reputation. But what if I told you that sucking blood is one of the least strange things about them? Get ready, because we’re about to uncover 10 bat behaviors that are far weirder, kinkier, and more eyebrow-raising than you ever thought possible. These facts might just change how you see these winged mammals forever!
10. No Pee-Free Zone Here
Ever wonder why bat colonies have such a unique… aroma? Well, some bat species have a rather personal grooming habit: they anoint themselves with their own urine. Yes, you read that right! This behavior, sometimes called a “urine-wash,” is one reason individual bats and their hangouts can smell so strongly.
So, if you ever find a bat in your house and decide to help it out, you might want to grab a pair of gloves. It’s not just about being gentle; it’s also about avoiding an unexpected, and rather personal, scent experience!
9. A Pointy Situation Down There
When it comes to bat romance, things can get a bit… sharp. At least 14 bat species have penises with barbs, or spines. Some of these barbs can be surprisingly long – imagine a six-foot-tall human male having barbs almost five inches long! It’s quite the image, isn’t it?
Scientists think these barbs serve a couple of purposes. They might help the male hold on tight to the female, especially if they’re mating while flying. Another thought is that the barbs could help clear out any sperm left behind by a previous male suitor. This gives the current male a better shot at fathering the offspring, especially since female bats can store sperm and choose the best time to fertilize their eggs.
8. Self-Care and Helping Friends
Bats seem to be quite in touch with their needs, and they’re not shy about it. They’re known to masturbate several times a day. But it doesn’t stop at self-pleasure; they’re also known to help each other out. Mutual masturbation has been observed between male bats and also between female bats.
People who care for bats have sometimes seen this up close. One story tells of a bat keeper who didn’t realize a bat had… finished its business… all over its own face. The bat then sneezed, sharing some of those fluids with the unsuspecting keeper. A truly memorable, if not entirely pleasant, encounter!
7. The Summer of Love, All Year Round
It seems bats are very enthusiastic about their social lives, in every sense. Besides the usual male-female pairings, it’s quite common for bats to engage in same-sex activities. Groups of male bats have been seen together, and female bats have been observed rubbing against each other too.
This isn’t just something that happens when mates of the opposite sex are hard to find, like during hibernation or when they’re out foraging. This behavior is also seen when potential opposite-sex partners are readily available. It’s just part of their social interactions, though sometimes among males, these encounters can get a bit rough. If bats had dating apps, their profiles would be very interesting!
6. Living in Nature’s Fertilizer Factory
Bats have incredibly fast metabolisms. This means they need to eat constantly to keep their energy levels up. But what goes in must come out, and quickly! Bats need to pee and poo quite often, roughly every 20 minutes, no matter where they are or who they’re with.
As a result, the floors of bat caves and colonies are covered in their droppings, called guano. While guano is an excellent natural fertilizer, it doesn’t exactly smell like roses. Large piles of it can also become a breeding ground for diseases and the critters that carry them, like flies and cockroaches. So, if you’re exploring a bat cave, watch your step!
5. Tiny Flyers, Big Health Concerns?
It’s true that bats can carry diseases that could affect humans. These include things like the Australian Bat Lyssavirus (ABLV), which is similar to rabies, and the Hendra virus, which can pass to horses and then to people. You can also pick up a lung infection called histoplasmosis from stirring up dust with bat droppings in caves.
However, it’s important to keep this in perspective. While bats (and rats) often get a bad rap for spreading illness due to past epidemics, humans are actually more likely to catch diseases from farm animals like pigs, chickens, and cows. Still, it’s a good reminder that admiring wildlife from a distance is usually the best approach.
4. Going the Extra Mile with Their Tongues
Fruit bats are known for their long tongues, perfect for lapping up sweet fruit nectar. But it seems they use these specialized tongues for more than just food. They are one of the few animals known to engage in oral sex. Scientists aren’t entirely sure why they do it. It could be to increase stimulation or provide lubrication, or perhaps they simply enjoy it.
And this isn’t just limited to male-female pairings. Male bats have been seen doing this with other males, and female bats with other females. It seems bats are quite adventurous in their romantic encounters! Given some of the earlier points about their anatomy, one can only wonder about the specifics.
3. It’s a Smelly, Smelly World
Bats live in a world rich with smells, and they use their own scent as a way to communicate. They have special glands, often on their necks, which they use to mark themselves and things around them. This personal perfume helps them in many ways.
For example, a mother bat might use her scent to find her baby in a crowded nursery full of thousands of other pups. Bats also use scent to recognize each other or to attract a mate. While you might not notice the smell of a single bat flying by, if you get very close to one, or find yourself in a large bat colony, the aroma can be quite strong. It’s like their own social network, but with smells instead of posts!
2. About That Blood-Drinking…
No list about bats would be complete without mentioning the famous vampire bat. But don’t worry, they’re not usually after human blood. They much prefer to get their small meals from animals like cows, chickens, or sheep. Some vampire bats have even learned a sneaky trick: they cozy up to a mother hen, pretending to be one of her chicks, and then quietly sip a bit of her blood.
Perhaps the creepiest thing about vampire bats is their loyalty. They tend to return to the same animal they fed from the night before. So, if a vampire bat were to choose you (which is rare!), it might just become a regular nightly visitor. Think of it as having a tiny, furry friend who drops by for a teaspoon of your blood. Okay, maybe not so friendly after all!
1. Not Just Weird, But Wonderful Too
After all these wild and kinky facts, it’s important to remember that bats aren’t just nature’s oddballs. They play a super important role in many ecosystems and even help our farming industry. Bats are expert pest controllers, eating tons of insects that would otherwise damage crops. This saves farmers billions of dollars every year on pesticides and lost harvests. So, in a way, bats are good for the economy!
They’re also amazing pollinators and seed dispersers. With so many different kinds of bats all over the world, they’re responsible for helping forests regrow, especially in areas damaged by things like wildfires. So, while their private lives might be a bit eyebrow-raising, bats truly deserve our respect and protection. They’re busy making the world a better place, all while enjoying their own unique lifestyles.
So, there you have it – a peek into the surprisingly weird and often kinky world of bats. From their peculiar hygiene habits to their adventurous social lives, they’re clearly much more than just silent flyers of the night. While some of these facts might seem a bit shocking, they paint a picture of a complex and fascinating animal. And remember, despite their odder traits, bats play a crucial role in our environment.
What’s the weirdest bat fact you learned today? Or do you know any other surprising animal habits? Leave your comment below and let’s talk about it!
