Bats are winged, flying mammals that can be found all over the world. There are more than 1,300 bat species worldwide and of those, 15 species live in Washington state. All Washington bats consume insects; no Washington state bat species consume blood.
Some of the most common bat species in Washington are the little brown bat, Yuma myotis, big brown bat, pallid bat and California myotis. Bats benefit both people and the environment by consuming large numbers of flying insects and providing pollination for several plant species. While the benefits they provide outweigh the health dangers they pose, precautions should be taken during encounters with bats because they can carry and transmit rabies.
To learn more about bats and precautions to take when dealing with bats, visit the BatSmart page. For information about rabies, see the rabies health topic page.
Sources
13 Awesome Facts About Bats | U.S. Department of the Interior | https://www.doi.gov/blog/13-facts-about-bats
Bats | Washington Dept. of Fish & Wildlife | https://wdfw.wa.gov/living/bat...
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