Bats In The Belfry....
By Darkwing
@Darkwing (21583)
April 27, 2007 4:24am CST
Yes, there really are bats in our church tower, and the church stands on a hill opposite the local pub.
Often, especially in the summer months, when I leave the pub, they come hurtling up, or across the street, at great speed, and I dodge out of the way... why do I do this?I know all the myths and fears about bats... for instance, they're said to be blind, but this is not true... they can see perfectly well in the dark and will avoid hitting a human being at all costs. They seek only insects for food, and their sight is perfectly good. So, why dodge out of the way? Is it the suddenness of their emergence from buildings and trees at the side of the road, or the sudden swooping action? What?
Contrary to belief, they are not rodents either; they are mammals and keep themselves immaculately clean, cleansing themselves in a similar way to cats, and they carry no diseases.
Bats are the only mammals who can actually fly... dome hover like hummingbirds feeding on nectar, and a few flying foxes can soar in the air like eagles.
Bats are very helpful to nature. They help control the insect population, reseed cut forests, and pollinate plants that provide food for humans. Bats also taught us about sonar and bacteria in their guano is useful in improving soaps, producing antibiotics.
So, why do we fear flying bats? Is it just their sudden swoop from a sheltered area, across your path, or is it because of the myths that have been spread about them? How do you feel about bats? How do you feel now that you know the facts? Do you fear them, or do you think they're cute?
2 people like this
6 responses
@mummymo (23706)
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27 Apr 07
What an unusual subject for a post honey - well done you! I think bats are cute but I would probably squeal and jump out the way even though I can't really jump just now! I think as you say it is because they are so fast and seem to swoop on you - it would be really worse if I was leaving the pub! lol xx
1 person likes this
@Darkwing (21583)
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27 Apr 07
Well yes... I think it's the element of surprise when they come out from the shadows at such speed. lol. I don't normally get drunk... I pace myself and socialise more than anything. But still, they do scare me when they swoop down.
Thank you for your response and Brightest Blessings, Mummymo.
@Darkwing (21583)
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3 May 07
Yes they do. They seem to swoop away right at the last minute and it's a bit scary, but they would never hit you, because their sight is perfectly good. They are probably as wary of us as we are of them, lol, and would never get tangled in your hair.
Thank you for your response my friend, and brightest blessings.
@feralwoman (2199)
• Australia
27 Apr 07
I like bats, Darkwing. I always have done. We get a lot of the little ones flying around our garden at dusk. There has been and probably still is a bat problem in here in Melbourne. They got a bit overcrowded in the Zoological gardens and they got made to go away and have caused damage to the trees in the surrounding areas.
When I lived in the UK I had a friend who had a small Zoo in her backyard. She had everything imaginable: monkeys, exotic birds, bats and more. Being up close to a bat is fascinating. I love the way they curl up inside their wings and go to sleep upside down.
I think people may fear flying bats because they think that the bat may get stuck in their hair! LOL
@Darkwing (21583)
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27 Apr 07
Bats getting stuck in one's hair is yet another myth. They won't even get close enough to you, to touch you, so an unfounded fear.
Yes, I think they're pretty cute as well and think that people might fear them because they appear in the dark from out of the shadows and startle more than anything.
Thank you for your response and Brightest Blessings, my friend.
@kathy77 (7485)
• Australia
27 Apr 07
Wow Darkwing, it has been ages since I heard this saying as my mother used to say this!! Yes I think that bats are like cats they mainly can see in the night time. I think that maybe we are frightened of them when we see the bats flying towards us and give us a fright. My husband explained a lot to me about bats as they have many where he comes from in the South Pacific as well they have a place named flying bats. I do think that it is the myths we have been told about them that is why we are scared of them.
@Darkwing (21583)
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28 Apr 07
I agree... the myths certainly contribute towards our fear of bats.
Also, I feel you are right in saying that the bats flying towards us give us a fright. They are so fast and silent that they give us a start.
Thank you for your response, my friend, and Brightest Blessings.
@CinderInMySoul (4717)
• United States
27 Apr 07
bats certainly are "misjudged". we used to see them every once in a while where i live now, but i havent seen one in a couple of years now.
ive always loved bats and think they are very cute! especially the fruit bats! how can anyone think fruit bats are not cute?!Lol
@Darkwing (21583)
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27 Apr 07
I like them too. They fly around my home at around dusk on summer evenings. I don't fear them when I'm the other side of the brick wall! lol. I think they frighten me in the street with their sudden and swift, swooping appearance from the shadows. It's more an element of surprise!
Thank you for your response, Cinder. Brightest Blessings.
@nancyrowina (3850)
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27 Apr 07
you occasionally see bats where I am they've never bothered me and are actually quite cute if you see them when they are still. They navigate by sonar so I think his is why they get so close before swooping out the way they don't move till the last minute. They are important creatures in the eco-system and are protected to ensure they don't die out.
