What to know about Houston's bats

Tuesday, January 9, 2018
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- You may see bats flying around at night, but don't be alarmed. They're actually doing humans a great service.

More than 1,100 species of bats have been discovered worldwide. Texas is home to 33 species of bats. Greater Houston is home to 11 bat species.
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Luckily, all bat species that live in Houston are insect-eaters.

Bats are not blind. They have average vision, excellent hearing, and echolocation. They find their insect prey using echolocation, which is the use of ultra-high frequency sounds.

Contrary to popular belief, because they can sense objects in front of them so well, they do not get tangled in people's hair.
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Bats are important for pest control since they eat insects and pests. Here in Houston, the estimated 100 million Mexican free-tailed bats at Waugh Drive could consume almost 2.5 tons of insects a night.

Bat Conservation International says that less than 1 percent of a bat population may contract rabies. However, you still do not want to touch a bat as it may bite in self-defense.



For more information visit Houston's Park and Recreation.

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