Bat Out of Hell Trivia Quiz

Answer: They help control the bug population.

Many bats eat insects. Bats have a voracious appetite and can eat over one thousand mosquitoes in a single hour! Many bats ingest more than their own body weight in bugs every night. Bats are very important in keeping the bug population under control.

Answer: White nose syndrome

White nose syndrome is a disease that has killed off millions of bats in North America. The name refers to the white fungus that grows on the noses of hibernating bats. Referred to as WNS, this disorder causes bats to waken during their winter hibernation and then fly around in daylight hours in freezing temperatures. WNS is killing off huge populations of bat species that are already considered endangered because of habitat loss.

Once a bat brings the fungal disorder into the cave, basically every bat in the cave will contract the disorder and die. Scientists are investigating how to control transmission, kill off the fungus, and treat those bats already infected. Fungal disorders of any kind are notoriously hard to treat.

Answer: True

Bats are the only mammal that can fly. Worldwide there are estimated to be over 1,100 different species that were known of at the turn of the 21st century. They are estimated to make up approximately 20% of all mammal species. Bats are extremely adaptable and can be found almost anywhere in the world except the extreme desert regions and the North & South Poles.

Answer: Its winter den.

Some bats fly to warmer regions during the winter. But there are some who will hibernate through the cold winter months in their hibernaculum, or hibernation den. During this time, many types of bats can survive long periods of being encased in ice. Bats truly are the kings of adaptability.

Answer: Wind turbines

Wind turbines are known to kill tens of thousands of bats every year in North America. The exact mechanism is hotly debated. They do not appear to be being struck by the turbines, but instead, appear to be affected by the sudden drop in air pressure which occurs around the blades while they spin. It seems to cause the tiny pulmonary blood sacs to explode.

Answer: Flying Fox

Flying foxes are the largest bats. Found mostly in southern Asia and South Pacific islands, some of these bats have wing spans as wide as five ft. or 1.5m. There are over 60 types of flying foxes, all of which are fruit-eating bats that roost in large colonies. They are sometimes considered a pest in areas where fruit is being cultivated.

Answer: Guano

One of the richest natural fertilizers in the world is guano, or bat droppings. Found on the floor of caves and other bat residences, guano was, at one time, the biggest mineral export of many countries. The state of Texas was one of the biggest guano exporters for years until oil was found. Bat guano is very high in phosphorus and nitrogen and has been used for centuries to enrich farming soil all over the Americas. Guano is also known for having no odor and is often used by those engaging in organic farming.

Answer: Pup

For their size, bats are some of the slowest reproducing mammals in the world. Bats are usually pregnant for about 60 days. This period of time can vary as female bats can store the male's sperm inside her body, delaying fertilization. They can also slow the development of the embryo while it is inside them.

In most colonies, the mothers have their pups at the same time. Synchronization of births is not uncommon in the mammal world.

Answer: Draculin

Many people are unaware that vampire bats are also being used in medicine. These bats produce an anticoagulant in their saliva that may one day be used to treat patients with cardiac issues or who have had a stroke. This unusual substance, known as draculin, is used by the bat to keep the blood of their prey from clotting, thus keeping the blood flowing for easier feeding.

Answer: True

As amazing as it might seem, this statement is true. The Bracken Bat Cave near San Antonio, Texas is estimated to have a colony of between 20-40 million bats. Each night it takes hours for the bats to exit the cave in order to eat. This one colony is estimated to eat around 200 tons of insects each day. When they re-enter the cave at dawn, their presence raises the temperature of the cave from a comfortable 68°F to a humid, dank 108°F.