Are Vampire Bats Real?

Habitat, Diet and Behavior of Flying, Blood Drinking Mammals

Sep 5, 2009

Often feared and seen as a dangerous pest, the vampire bat has its place in the natural world.

The stuff of horror movies and peasant superstitions- vampires, bats, plagues and diseases at times conjure up a Gothic atmosphere of dread and suspicion.

The name vampire bat itself stems from the lore of human vampires who ascend from the grave at night to drink the blood of the living.

Vampire bats have been much maligned and referred to in unflattering terms, such as flying devils, blood sucking demons and rabies infested parasites but the myths and legends surrounding these small winged mammals are often exaggerated.

The vampire bat's appearance is not endearing to the average person, in fact they have been described as having a gargoyle-like appearance. The bat has a short muzzle without a nose leaf and possesses specialized teeth adapted for cutting flesh. In addition to flying, it can creep, hop, run and climb.

Vampire Bats – Myths and Legends

Europeans were unaware of the existence of these animals until after explorers who voyaged with Columbus returned from Trinidad with the first written accounts of bats that bit people during the night and fed on blood.

Bats and vampires did not become truly linked in people's minds until Bram Stoker's Dracula was released in 1897. This famous novel established the vampire's ability to shape-shift and rule other creatures of the night, such as bats and wolves.

Why are Vampire Bats Feared?

Vampire bats are often singled out for extermination in certain countries in South America because of rabies related deaths in humans caused by bats that have bitten humans. Unfortunately, killing bats in some of these countries has become indiscriminate, resulting in population declines in other species of bats useful to humans.

Interestingly, vampire bats do not typically seek out humans for their blood, but due to the destruction of their natural habitat and food sources, bats have turned to livestock and humans to get the blood they need to survive.

Common Vampire Bat Facts

The Common Vampire bat (Desmodus Rotundus) is one of three bat species that feed on blood, all found in Central and South America. They tend to live in dark, dank places such as caves, old wells, hollow trees and buildings, often roosting alongside other species of bats. They feed only when it is completely dark.

Their saliva contains a powerful anti-coagulant, which means that after they have made an incision in the flesh of their host, the blood will not coagulate but will continue to seep out of the wound, even after the bat has had its fill of blood. The host is usually unaware that it has been bitten.

A vampire bat finds its prey with echolocation, smell, and sound. They fly about one meter above the ground, then they rely on special heat sensors in their noses to find veins that are close to the skin.