Bats have had a lot of mainstream media attention. From bizarre movies to in-depth documentaries, bats are a huge part of our culture, especially when it comes to Halloween stories and folklore.
Regardless of the stories that float around about them, bats keep things pretty low-key. They like to eat and sleep, and that’s about it!
If you’re wondering how and where do bats sleep, you’re not alone, and you’re definitely in the right place!
How and Where do Bats Sleep?
Bats are indeed creatures of habit, roosting together, often in the same place, year after year. Bats sleep in high crevices and caves, usually in large groups. Bats have tendons in their legs that lock into place when they hang, which is how they sleep and eat upside down without falling.
The Unique Way Bats Sleep
Now we’ve learned that bats can lock their legs in place without much effort at all, allowing them to hang upside down and sleep or eat without worrying about falling.
However, you might still be wondering why they hang upside down in the first place.
Bats, unfortunately, can’t fly from the ground up like their bird counterparts. They lack the physique to do so.
Bats are not built like birds. They’ve got larger wings than their body and short legs that don’t allow them to stand upright.
If you’ve ever seen a bat move across the ground, you know that they don’t stand vertically as birds and people do. They can’t take flight from a grounded position.
So, to combat this evolutionary development, bats hang upside down from high places, where they can easily take flight without struggling.
Bats prefer to sleep up high because they can quickly fly away if needed. Enclosed treetops, caves, mountain crevices, high buildings, and barns are excellent places for bats to roost.
Though bats are often found in rural areas, you can see them thrive in cities as well!
When Bats Sleep
The sleeping schedule for healthy bats is nocturnally based. They sleep all day long, hanging upside down with those in their group.
It’s unusual for bats to leave the group they most literally hang with, waking at dusk, heading out to hunt, and returning before or at dawn, well-fed and ready to sleep.
Every species of bat sleeps hanging upside down and during the day. If you come across a bat that’s awake during the day, you should keep your distance.
Call your local animal control officers and alert them to the presence of the bat. If a bat is out during the day, it’s highly indicative of it being sick.
How to Tell Where Bats are Sleeping
If you suspect that you’ve got bats in your home or a building on your property, such as a garage or barn, you may see or hear them.
Though typically relatively quiet, a large group of bats will make noise at one point or another, especially when coming in to roost or leaving to hunt.
When it comes to a group of bats congregating on your property, it’s likely the first thing you’ll notice is the guano.
Most of you probably know what guano is, but for those that are unsure, it’s bat poop.
Before going in to roost for the day, it’s not uncommon for bats to leave guano at the entrance. Farmers and city folk alike have found large amounts of guano where a group of bats lives.
A few other signs might show you that bats are around, including seeing them at night or finding one in your home. You might hear them fluttering or squeaking within your walls.
If you do have bats in your home, you might notice poop on the windowsills, walls, or around the baseboards.
Bats like to stay cozy, so if they’re sleeping in your home, they’re likely up high, such as in the attic. Any tight, cave-like places that you’ve got can be a potential home for bats.
Frequently Asked Questions about How and Where Bats Sleep
How can bats sleep upside down?
Bats can sleep upside down because of an incredibly evolutionary advantage that allows the tendons in their legs to lock into place. Because of this, they can sleep soundly upside down with the help of gravity. Pretty cool, right?!
Where do bats like to sleep?
Bats like to sleep in enclosed spaces up high. You can typically find them in caves, but they aren’t opposed to sleeping in an attic. They sleep in groups of varying sizes.
What should I do if I find a bat sleeping in my house?
If you’ve found bats in your house or on your property, you’ll want to call a professional right away. You’ll want to have them safely and efficiently removed, keeping the situation desirable for both humans and bats.
The Knowledge Behind Understanding Sleeping Bats
The more we know about bats, the better our understanding of them will be.
When humans retain knowledge about animals, such as bats, and knowing how and where they like to sleep, it’s easier for us to co-exist with them and find ways to remove them safely from our space, benefiting both species.