Emerging from secretive daytime roosting places at twilight, bats are briefly seen darting and twisting during their erratic flight in search for flying insects. Most bats live entirely in natural surroundings and many migrate in the fall. Their destination may be a short distance to local caves or mines or a longer trip to similar areas in one of our southern states. Because of their insectivorous habits, bats should not be needlessly destroyed.
Bats are a needed and desirable segment of our native fauna.
BATS AND MAN Bats are associated with a few diseases that affect man, with rabies and histoplasmosis being the most widely known. In recent times, about one dozen confirmed cases of human rabies in the United States has been attributed to bats. Bats avoid humans whenever possible, and biting incidents are almost invariably due to self-protection. Rabid bats may sometimes be found disabled on the ground. Children should be instructed never to pick up a bat.