1.5 million bats live in a colony under a bridge in Austin, Texas. That's why I find it unbelievable how tricky it is to coax a single family of bats to inhabit a bat house. Being so prized by the gardener has not helped prevent the bat from becoming an endangered species. People destroy them because they believe myths about bats flying into the hair or that they attack humans or they frequently carry rabies. None of those myths are true.
Destruction of habitat is the worst problem facing the bat.
They prefer to roost in dying, upright trees under loose bark or in cavities. When we clean out our islands and woods near the house we are destroying their native habitats. Bats, just like other wildlife and feral cats and dogs, can get rabies. Unlike the other animals, rabid bats DO NOT go mad and attack. It is most likely injured or sick.