Lansing Bat Removal Tip:

4 Facts That Will Convince You That Bats Are Not Blind

The bats are hunting at sunset and they will be using their echolocation to determine the location of their target. This means that they will be relying on sounds that will bounce off from the object that will help them avoid obstacles. This has led to the common belief that bats are blind creatures. However, several studies show that different species of bats will have varying visual acuity.

Why Bats are Not Blind

Contrary to the usual misconception, bats are not really blind. According to the expert, there are instances when they will use their eyes when hunting insects. There are also type of bats such as the fruit bats that will drink nectars and will not use echolocations. They have an excellent eyesight and other bats can even see ultraviolet rays.

1. The Ability to See in Daylight

In a study that was published at the PLOS Journal, they found out that two species of the small bats; the Seba short-tailed, and the Pallas Long Tongued Bats both carry visual receptors that enables them to see color in a daylight. These species can be encountered on the Central and Southern part of the US. They also have receptors that may help them see color wavelength and ultraviolet rays. This is beyond the capacity of your average human eyes.

2. Their Eating Habit

Some bat species will not need echolocation to hunt for foods. They may, however, need to see ultraviolet to help them find flowers. Different types of flowers can reflect this type of light that allows the fruit bats to locate nectar. UV Vision seems to be more prevalent on species of bats that use echolocation on modulation frequency.

3. Using Sonars and Visuals Together

On some species of bats, using both their eyesight and echolocation will increase their hunting output. This is especially true for the Egyptian Fruit Bats. According to a study released last 2015, they discovered that bats will use echolocation as the area becomes darker. However, they will also produce the clicking noise in a bright surrounding. Echolocation will also be used as the bat will land on the ground. This may suggest that they will be using a combination of skills to determine the distance between the objects.

4. Insectivore Bats are Using Visual Cues

Even the bats that are insect hunters will be using their eyesight when hunting. The Plecotus Auritus will prefer to hunt when they are using both of their sonar and visual information. It is surprising to note that this bat prefers their visual information over the sonar data that they've gathered. This fact has been posted on the Journal of the Animal Behavior. Other types of bats will also use their eyes to evade the attack of their enemies.

Bats are not blind. They are known for having an extremely sensitive vision that helps them navigate even on a dark location. Their average eyesight is comparable to humans. Their eyes need to be sensitive to the levels of light that will help them identify that it is the perfect time to come out of their roosting site and hunt.