Social Media
Bat Fuel
Spring is here and fuel prices are up, which is kind of a coincidence because the price of fuel always gets higher for bats in the springtime. Fuel (or a lack thereof) can cause big problems for our tiny winged-wonders, although we’re not talking about the the kind that’s made from fossils. Fat is also fuel, it’s the gasoline that gives our bodies energy, and that fact is no different for bats or any other mammal.
During the fall, bats stock up on fuel to take them through the winter. They do this by eating more insects than usual – thousands more. One single bat can consume over 46,000,000 (yes, that’s 46 million) insects in its lifetime. By wintertime they have turned their tiny bodies into miniature butterballs, and some even develop cute little butt-cheeks in the process. Hibernating bats then use their fat like slow-burning fuel, if they’ve stocked up correctly their supply will take them through the entire winter while they sleep away in caves, waiting until insects are again plentiful in the spring. Migrating bats use their fat like premium unleaded, it fuels their bodies as they migrate great distances to Mexico, where insects are available year-round. These tiny speedsters reach speeds of 80 mph, go as high as 10,000 feet and and travel as far as 1500 miles – one way. If they’ve fueled up sufficiently, they will have no problem getting where they need to be with plenty of gas to spare.
But bats are like people, first year young (like teenagers) sometimes fail to see the big picture. They burn through their gas by staying up all night and going on joy rides, then suddenly find themselves without enough fuel to make it home. While that might be a big annoyance for us, a lack of fuel can have deadly consequences for bats – it’s the equivalent of starving to death. It means stalling out (becoming grounded) because you have no gas left to keep going, it means hanging low on the side of a building because you don’t have the energy to make it home, and it means seeking the warmth coming from inside a building because there’s no fat left on your body to keep you warm.
So, if you see a bat in trouble this spring -or even find one inside your house or place of business- have mercy because it’s likely a tiny traveler who only needs a fill-up. Please follow the instructions on our “Found a Bat?” page and then use the Local Rescue link at the top of this page to find a bat care specialist in your area. That bat will likely thank you later by refueling on the bugs in your yard.
I found a bat on the ground one time. people were so afraid of it. I took it to vet because I thought they would help it. The vets were so afraid of it they thought it had rabies and so they removed the head the head. I think we need more information about bats. That way people don’t have to respond with so much fear. I love this site Thank You.
Wonderful sight, wish i knew of it when i was trying to get bats out of our courtyard, after moving into a home that was empty for some time. They did eventually leave. Its nice to know more about the little creatures that we normally dont even think about (except for Halloween).
Wonderful site. Excellent facility
I think your blog is excellent, very well written! I found it on Google. You have great writing style and an excellent knowledge on the subject. I look forward to reading more! Thanks!
nice post!
Thank you for saving a life, Tiffany!
Thank you guys so much for being there. I literally tripped over a bat on the sidewalk this week–turned out the poor little guy was cold and dehydrated. I followed the excellent instructions for taking care of a bat and transferred him to someone bat-qualified I found on your website. It turned out that he was okay–just a bit disoriented by the cold Spring in Washington, DC. One bat saved–90 million to go!