Bat Blindness & Echolocation

Are Bats Blind?

No, bats are not blind.
Many people mistakenly believe that bats are blind because they fly about erratically while hunting, which gives the impression they cannot see where they’re going. The popular idiom “blind as a bat” also feeds into this myth.

However, there are more than 1,000 species of bats in the world, and none of them are blind. Several bat species have large, well-developed eyes and rely on sight as their primary sense for navigation.

Even small insectivorous species with relatively poor eyesight rely on visual cues to navigate long distances and track the cycle of days and nights. In fact, some species of bats are able to detect polarized light, which humans are unable to see. Patterns of polarized light, which are strongest at dusk and dawn, help bats navigate to and from their nests.

Using Echolocation to Fly and Hunt

Bats in the United States are insectivores (meaning their diet consists of insects). These bats use echolocation to navigate their environment and hunt for insects. Echolocation allows bats to operate in near total darkness.

Echolocation entails bats emitting high-pitched sounds and using their highly sensitive ears to detect variations in the reflected soundwaves. Bats can detect objects as small as human hair with echolocation.

People cannot hear the ultrasonic sounds emitted by bats. However, in an enclosed space like an attic, people can hear the clicks and squeaks of a bat colony.

However, echolocation is only effective up to a range of 50 meters, so bats must use eyesight to help navigate over long distances to and from their roosts, as well as to detect sunrise and sunset.

Listen to Bat Squeaks

If you are concerned about a bat problem in your home, bats in attics or would like assistance with sealing bat entry points to your basement or attic, call the experts at Critter Control today at 1-(800) 274-8837 for professional services!

We can help you get rid of bat problems. Call today: 1.800.274.8837

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