Gauteng residents have been reporting unusually frequent bat sightings recently, leaving many wondering where they come from and what to do when you encounter them. No need to panic though, as Katherine Visser, Johannesburg Zoo’s curator of primates, told City Press that these sightings are quite normal, and that bats are typically not dangerous to humans.
Hi @docgovtnz what populations of small owls or bats in the Waitakeres please? Weird night sightings of night fluttering beasts and odd chirping sounds. Tried to research but cannot ID. Going back w bigger torch + camera this week. Any advice appreciated 🙂
— Mr. Kiwi ⧖ (@HilariousKiwi) February 2, 2020
In fact, some bat species are protected and are not allowed to be killed. ‘There is one fruit-eating bat you get in Gauteng and these are a lot bigger than the insect eaters. Some roost in tree bark but they do take advantage of roofs as they can fit through small gaps. They’re a protected indigenous species so you can’t kill them,’ Visser said.
There are about 1,000 different species of bats on the planet. In South Africa, there are 56 different species of bats, 20 of which are in Gauteng. However, vampire bats which have served as inspiration for many a Dracula-tale, are only found in South America and feed on blood, mostly of livestock.
If you notice bats nesting in your roof, Visser recommends you wait for the bats to leave the roof and then find a way of keeping them from re-entering. ‘After the bats are removed from the roof, homeowners should fill the gaps in the roof with expandable foam or call the zoo, which would be happy to offer assistance. Because they are insect eaters, they do wonders for pest control, including eating insects that destroy crops. The fruit eaters are great at dispersing seed. In rain forests bats are responsible for a lot of the rejuvenation.’
As for the question to whether bats will fly into your hair, no need to wear caps all day, as it’s definitely not true.
Image: Pexels
See more pictures of bats and read more batty facts here.
