this post was submitted on 12 Apr 2026
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Bats
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Bats are cool
Bats are the only true flying mammals. There are over 1,400 species of bats, and they can be found on nearly every part of the planet. Not only are they cute, they are also important...
Studying how bats use echolocation has helped scientists develop navigational aids for the blind. Without bats’ pollination, seed dispersal, and pest control we wouldn’t have bananas, avocados, mangoes, agave, or cacao… that’s right, bats bring us tequila and chocolate!
Found a bat in need of help?
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Do not handle it with bare hands! Bats can carry rabies.
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Here's a map of worldwide rescues and temporary care instructions.
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Bats should never be kept as pets: Here's why.
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If you live in an area with vampire bats you most certainly should be scared. They commonly carry rabies, and can transmit it without you knowing you got bit.
In the Americas. European bats are basically entirely rabies free, as are Australian bats. And even then, there are less than a double handful of human rabies cases in the US yearly due to bats.
That said, better a hundred needless treatments than one missed case, so if you suspect you may have a bat bite in the US, see a doctor.
I'm neither a biologist nor an epidemiologist, but
Did I at any point mention European or Australian bats, or any bat species that doesn't feed on blood and is therefore highly likely to transmit rabies?
In parts of SA vampire bats are the most common rabies vector, and it's relatively common to get bit. There's an increasing number of cases due to habitat destruction
But since you want to talk about European bats
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prevalence_of_rabies
The main difference is that humans in Europe are highly unlikely to get bitten unless they go out of their way to fuck with bats. Meanwhile in SA vampire bats cause rabies outbreaks because they feed on people.