COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT BATS

Bats get stuck in your hair.
No, bats do not get stuck in your hair. Bats will fly close to your face while catching insects which are attracted to your breath, but bats are not interested in your hair.

Bats attack people.
Although bats sometimes swoop close by you in the evening, bats do not attack people. They are gentle, passive creatures that will only bite in self defense if they are picked up and handled.

All bats have rabies.
Like all mammals, bats can contract rabies, but only about 1 in 1,000 bats will become infected with this disease. Bats do not have outbreaks of rabies, because individual bats who contract rabies will separate from the colony and fall to the ground. This is why it is vital not to handle any bat you find lying on the ground. It is very likely to be sick.

Bats are rodents.
No, bats are not rodents. In fact, they are more closely related to humans than they are to mice and rats. Unlike rodents, bats reproduce very slowly, bearing only one or two young per year, they can live up to 30 years or more, and they do not chew wood or insulation. Bats are not vermin; rather, their presence is an indicator of a healthy ecosystem.