this post was submitted on 21 Mar 2026
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Bats

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Bats are cool

Bats are the only true flying mammals. There are over 1,400 species of bats, and they can be found on nearly every part of the planet. Not only are they cute, they are also important...

Studying how bats use echolocation has helped scientists develop navigational aids for the blind. Without bats’ pollination, seed dispersal, and pest control we wouldn’t have bananas, avocados, mangoes, agave, or cacao… that’s right, bats bring us tequila and chocolate!

Found a bat in need of help?

Celebrate bats with us!

Our community's mascot is Baxter. Baxter is an Egyptian fruit bat that was cruelly kept alone and confined to a small cage for 12 years before being rescued by a bat sanctuary. You can read the full story by clicking on his name.

Our rules for posting and commenting, besides the rules defined here for lemmy.world, are as follows:

Everyone should feel welcome here. Hateful or bigoted language will not be tolerated.

Don’t post anything a fruit bat would not approve of.

Please don't hate on bats in this community (this includes all of your edgy covid humor).

Bats don’t like spam.

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[–] xkbx@startrek.website 24 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

This is a really cute bat, but obligatory important PSA:

NEVER TOUCH BATS WITH YOUR BARE HANDS

Even experts working in bat conservation and rehabilitation need to wear protective gloves.

[–] Brummbaer@pawb.social 11 points 1 week ago (1 children)

This! Bats signed a peacy treaty with every known virus. You didn't, so the virus will happily kill you.

Here is a paper about some of the adaptions on a genetic level. Bats seem to have evolved remarkable virus co-existance.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-08471-0

[–] jjagaimo@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

If not friend, why friend shaped

He is friend, thats the problem

[–] SPRUNT@lemmy.world 9 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Hey! No need for name calling.

close relative to the Lily-livered House bat

[–] Ghostie@lemmy.zip 4 points 1 week ago

Who are you callin yella?

[–] RickyRigatoni@piefed.zip 2 points 1 week ago

He's a chonker