Tag Archives: Vampire bats

Fun Facts About Vampire Bats

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In the spirit of the Halloween weekend, let’s talk about the spookiest-known bat species on the planet known as Vampire bats! Actually, Vampire bats are not as scary as their reputation paints them to be, as they are very misunderstood. Many people believe Vampire bats will attack, and possibly even suck their blood! But the truth is that they would never do that, to a human at least. Furthermore, as a Hoosier, you don’t have to worry since you won’t likely find this particular bat species in Indiana. Vampire bats are native to Central and South America, in areas like Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, and Argentina.

For some added Halloween fun this year, learn some of these fascinating and frightful facts about the Vampire bat, including how it drinks blood!

A Vampire Bat Hanging in a Chilean Cave
A Vampire Bat Hanging in a Chilean Cave

Vampire Bat Facts That’ll Make You Shiver

Although there are several creatures on this planet that exhibit traits of a sanguinivorous lifestyle (consuming vertebrate blood), there are only 3 mammals that do so, all of which make up the Vampire bat species. These include the Common Vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus), the Hairy-Legged Vampire bat (Diphylla ecaudata), and the White-Winged Vampire bat (Diaemus youngi). These are Leaf-Nosed that bats feed entirely on blood; a dietary trait called hemotophagy.

But do not fear, they are not after human blood like the movies suggest. Instead, vampire bats consume the blood of other type of mammals. The common vampire bat prefers the blood of cows and horses, while the other two species of Vampire bat feed mostly on pigs, goats, and birds.

Vampire bats do not use echolocation to hunt. They always approach their prey from the ground and hunt at the darkest part of night. They crawl onto their prey and make a small bite with their razor-sharp teeth above a vein. As blood oozes out of the small bite they made, they lap up the blood for up to thirty minutes. This does not hurt the host at all. Some do not even notice.

It’s like giving blood without the lollipop at the end! They have a special chemical in their saliva that acts as an anticoagulant or blood thinner. The chemical prevents the blood from clotting while the bat feeds. Bats also have a special sensor in their noses that detects heat, allowing them to easily locate a reliable vein in their prey.

What to Do About Nuisance Bats

If you have a bat problem near your property, call a wildlife removal contractor for professional bat removal and control services. Never trap, harm, or kill bats. Professionals retain the proper licensing, tools, and training to safely remove bats and prevent their return.

Indianapolis Indiana Bat Removal and Control Service

Call 317-535-4605 for professional, DNR licensed bat removal and control in Indianapolis and Central Indiana. We provide safe and humane solutions for nuisance bat problems on residential and commercial properties. Our DNR licensed contractors provide bat removal, bat proofing, bat cleanup, emergency service, and restorations for bat damages. Call 317-535-4605 to request a free estimate for Indianapolis bat removal services, today.

Indiana Bat Removal 317-535-4605
Indiana Bat Removal 317-535-4605

Interesting Facts About the Vampire Bat

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One of the most interesting facts about bats is that they are the only mammal capable of true flight. No other mammal can fly with the power, ease, and agility of a bat. But the Common Vampire bat stands out from the rest of its fellow species with its own distinctive trait: they are the only bats whose diets consist solely of blood. And the interesting facts do not stop there! Continue reading to learn even more about the Common Vampire bat, including behavior, habitat, diet, and more!

Bat Removal and Control 317-535-4605

Bat Removal and Control 317-535-4605

Common Vampire Bat (Desmodus rotundus)

Diet

The Common Vampire bat feeds solely on the blood of other mammals. But do not worry, they do not consume the blood of humans, nor do they suck a living creature dry by the time they are done with their meal. These are just popular misconceptions that stem from horror films and tall tales. Instead, vampire bats feed mostly on livestock or cattle, such as pigs, cows, and horses. It is a somewhat cooperative relationship between them and their host, who doesn’t seem to mind all that much.

The vampire bat makes a small bite in their flesh, usually in the neck or rump, and slurps up the slow flow for a few minutes. They use echolocation and olfaction to locate food, heat sensors in their noses that help detect blood vessels close to the skins surface, and anticoagulants in their saliva that prevents the blood from clotting while they feed.

Habitat

The Common Vampire bat is found in several regions all across the world, including Central America, Mexico, South America, and regions near the United States-Mexico borders. Fossils have even been discovered in Florida! In terms of habitat, they prefer tropical regions where climates stay humid and warm most of the year. They generally forage in open grasslands or subtropical woodlands, but roost in trees, caves, and more.

Physical Traits

The Common Vampire bat is a small bat. Adult are generally no larger than 3 ½ inches, and weigh no more than 2 ounces. Their wingspans, on the other hand, can reach up to 7 inches. They have a small head, a leaf-shaped nose, and their bodies are covered in a short, silver-grayish fur. On each wing, they have a clawed thumb that allows them to grasp onto their prey and take off in flight. One special fact about Vampire bats is that they have the fewest teeth out of all the other bat species, but they are razor sharp. It helps them make their feeding incisions on their prey.

Indianapolis Bat Control

Call 317-535-4605 if you are experiencing bat problems in Indianapolis, Indiana. We are DNR licensed and provide a wide range of 24 hour commercial and residential bat removal and control services. Whether you have just one bat in the attic, or an entire colony wreaking havoc on your roof, we are the professionals to call for safe and non-lethal Indianapolis bat control. Call 317-535-4605 to request a free estimate, anytime.