By Jordan A. Bowman
Bat Conservation International
April 2, 2025
Last year we tackled some of the most common bat myths that have flown around world. But since centuries of folklore surrounding bats are laced with questionable information, it’s time for use to set the story straight about the world’s only flying mammals.
Myth: Bats always sleep in caves.
FALSE
Blame this one on Batman if you must. It’s true that many species of bats flock to caves to sleep or hibernate thanks to their steady temperatures and humidity levels – such as the famous Mexican free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) in Bracken Cave, Texas. However, bats can commonly be found roosting in many locations that provide shelter from the elements and predators, including including under tree bark, in hollow tree trunks, between tree leaves, hanging in the rafters of barns or sheds, under bridges, in rock crevices, or even nestled in curled up tropical plant leaves.