They dart through the night sky in that zigzag way of theirs, inspiring awe and fear among many who see them. Despite their scary reputation, bats are among the most misunderstood animals in the world. Because of folklore, combined with a widespread lack of knowledge, people tend to associate bats with vampire legends.
Many people also believe that bats routinely spread diseases such as rabies.
Those, like so many other bat myths, are falsehoods. According to information compiled by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, less than half of 1 percent of bats carry the rabies virus. In addition, rabid bats are seldom aggressive. Fewer than 40 people in the United States are known to have contracted rabies from bats during the past 40 years. By comparison, far more people are killed by dog attacks, bee stings, power mowers, or lightning than rabies from bats.