Can bats really see? Believe it or not, yes they can! The majority of bats are nocturnal animals, which means they are active during the night and especially at night. However, not all bats are nocturnal; in fact, a few species are light eaters during the day and almost nocturnal at night. In order to determine whether a bat can indeed perceive light, we must first establish what kind of bat it is.
What kinds of bats are most frequently seen during the day are flying squirrels and bush crickets. These animals are nocturnal, but most of the time they are not really blind because their very eyes are highly developed. Contrary to popular belief, iceshippers are not blind, either. In fact, studies show that depending on the lighting conditions, bats can sometimes use echolocation to locate food.
Some bats are in fact nocturnal but are rather nocturnal throughout the year, including the sugar glider and white-tailed bats. Most bats that hibernate do so for several months of the year. Most species of bats hibernate for longer than a month. In fact, some species of bats actually hibernate for up to two years, although these species are very rare.
A few species of bats actually have an exceptional sense of hearing and sight. While not blind, they cannot clearly see even at night, although they can hear some soft sounds from above. Interestingly enough, some fruit bats, such as the white-tailed bats, which primarily feed on fruits, can echolocate but cannot clearly see anything at night; therefore, they can hear other nearby sounds but cannot see or hear anything.
As bats navigate through their ecosystem, they often use chirps, which are repeated sound like song. They are made of air so they travel at faster speeds, and they make a ringing sound. Many animal specialists believe that these repeating chirps may be used to locate other species. Insects are often mistaken for flying insects, including mosquitoes and flies. Indeed, some researchers believe that mosquitoes can use chirps to locate bloodstains, while flies use them to detect the presence of other flies around the area. Fruit bats’ frequent use of chirps has been linked to the decline of certain insect species.
Many bats offer a valuable service by helping in the control of pest species. They help eliminate some pests from the environment while releasing positive ions that alkalize the soil. In addition, bats can play a role in food conservation. Some species will eat certain kinds of insects that humans are not meant to eat. These species are called echoluters, which help control some of the world’s most troublesome pest species.
There are many questions about how bats become active and how they leave the ground to eat and seek shelter. Some researchers think that bats use underground tubes and other such strategies to move from one location to another. Some studies have shown that certain bat species hibernate at times of the year. They tend to come back out of hibernation when it starts to get cold, and then resume hunting and migrating during warm weather.
Many scientists think that bats may use echolocation in order to navigate and find food. The type of food that bats consume depends on the type of bat. While most bats eat small insects, some are larger. The larger ones are thought to use this method to fly long distances, and perhaps even search out disease in crops and livestock. The majority of bats found in the United States are nocturnal, and most are from tropical regions.