There’s no easy way around it—bats have a bad rep in our society. But as the bat removal experts at American Bio-Tech in Fairfield, Connecticut, maintain, these little critters aren’t all bad. In fact, they are mostly harmless and can be quite beneficial to the ecosystem. As long as the colony doesn’t live in your house, it can be helpful to have a few bats in the neighborhood.

In honor of National Bat Appreciation Day on April 17th, here are a few facts you might be surprised to learn about bats:

1. Bats Aren’t Totally Blind—But Their Vision Is Pretty Terrible

The old expression “blind as a bat” has led many people to believe that bats are, indeed, completely blind. However, this is not entirely true. While bats do have poor vision, they can still make out general shapes and figures. Because of their limited eyesight, they rely on echolocation to help guide them as they fly.

2. Bats Are the Only Mammal That Flies

While bats aren’t the only winged mammals—flying squirrels and flying lemurs have appendages for gliding—they are the only mammals that are capable of sustained flight. Other winged mammals can only maintain their height for short periods.

3. There Are Over 1,000 Species of Bats—& Most Don’t Drink Blood

There are hundreds of bat species in the world, but most feed on insects. Some species, such as the fruit bat, are vegetarian. Meanwhile, the species dubbed the “vampire bat” generally feed on cattle but won’t kill their host; they’re kind of like big mosquitoes.

4. Very Few Bats Carry Rabies

Lots of people are worried about contracting a disease from wildlife. Although it’s true you should schedule bat removal services if there’s a colony in your attic, it’s unlikely bats will transmit rabies to your family. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has found less than 6% of deceased bats test positive for rabies, even though sick animals are far more likely to be found than healthy specimens.

5. Bats Help to Pollinate Over 300 Plant Species

Without bats, our rain forests would look completely different. Fruit bats are responsible for the seed dissemination and pollination of over 300 plant species, including bananas, agave, and avocados.

Bats are fascinating creatures, but you shouldn’t allow them to nest in your home. To request bat removal services, contact American Bio-Tech today at (860) 355-1231. Because bats are protected by the DEEP in Connecticut, you’ll need a specialist to use exclusion methods to keep bats from re-entering your home. For more information on their humane bat removal services, visit the American Bio-Tech website today.