Preface
Last Update/Review: June 17, 2002
Bats — the very word conjures up images of evil, witchcraft, and sorcery. "Wings of bat and eye of newt" are two major ingredients in a potent witches' brew. Stealthily, bats stalk their prey on silent wings in the dead of night. They seek blood. They actively search out and terrorize people, particularly ladies with curly hair — or so the word of legends has it.
It is time to move beyond the thoughts and images of the dark ages. For centuries bats have been falsely maligned and often destroyed simply because they were different from all the other creatures. And they are different. They are mammals, yet they fly. They have wings but they are not birds. They are active at night and sleep upside down during the day. They look like mice but actually are more closely related to humans than to mice. They produce and interpret a fantastically complex series of sounds that we cannot hear, let alone understand. They can navigate in complete darkness yet also use their eyes during the day. These differences make them intriguing. This website is designed to set the record straight about bats. It provides solid evidence and scientific fact that bats are indeed worthy of our respect. It is hoped this will help replace the unjust image instilled by myth and legend with a more responsible understanding of the facts about bats.
Margo Pybus, Ph. D.
Alberta Environment
Edmonton
1994
