Thanks to Hollywood, they’re often misunderstood. We’re much longer lived than other mammals with a similar body mass. This is in captivity though. Keep in mind, bats are predators too, but they usually eat insects, so they don’t really expose themselves too much to larger animals that could hurt them or decrease their life expectancy too much. An individual bat from a little brown bat species, Myotis lucifugus, was found to live for almost 40 years, which is a considerable outlier from average bat lifespans. It is thanks to the fact they are not longer exposed to their natural predators that bats get to live longer in captivity than they would usually do if they were living out in the wild, especially since they carry out their normal diet as if they were in their natural habitat. For example, among the 19 naturally acquired cases of rabies in humans in the United States from 1997-2006, 17 were associated with bats. Considering their natural habitat and the fact their predators (except for owls) don’t know how to fly, they actually have a big chance to live a long, normal life, making it possible for them to reach the 20 years mark without any problem. Many bats shelter in buildings, behind hanging tiles and boarding or in roof spaces. There are exceptions, and we are one of them. Strange odours around your home. Bats... Search Search. 9:30am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday. The answer - quite some time. In comparison to the various other 3 mammals, though, bats don’t appear to have a boost in inflammation as they age. Signs of bats on your property. This depends on surviving to adulthood; young bats have a high mortality rate. Bats are the only mammal that can fly, and they are incredibly adaptable. The average lifespan of a bat is usually up to 20 years. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Here’s How a Genderless Virtual Assistant Is Undoing Gender Bias in Artificial Intelligence. 15 years in the wild and 23 years in captivity. After the first three weeks of life, they learn to fly, which improves their chances of survival. To demystify bats’ nocturnal activities, scientists have dedicated their time to observe the flying mammals and record some of their behaviours at night. Bats in the wild live an average of 10 to 20 years. Bats are often considered to be mysterious, frightening, disease-carrying creatures only found in deep, dark places. “There are 28 different kinds in Arizona,” McIntire said. How Long Do Bats Live? Among these, 14 patients had known encounters with bats. They help to control the insect population and, in some species, pollinate flowers and help scatter seeds. Ottawa bat control. Some bats prefer hollow trees, some like caves and some use both at different times. Think about it, bats are usually associated with caves. Seeing black stains from where bats enter. Like we mentioned before, bats actually do live longer in captivity than in the wild, being able to live up to 30 years, easily surpassing the 20 years mark. All of our bats are nocturnal and spend the day sleeping in safe, sheltered spots known as roosts. In winter, bats use hibernation roosts. Taller structures are more likely to receive less maintenance due to a lack of access for repairs. However, some species can survive 30 years or more in the right environment. High-pitched squeaks. Although most bats live less than 20 years in the wild, scientists have documented six species that life more than 30 years. "There are 1,400 kinds worldwide. Many parents and teachers search bats fact for kids to tell their young ones about this creature of God. Because bats are most active at night, they avoid most predators, leading to a longer lifespan. Whether you want to get a bat out of your house, protect bats and their habitats, or have questions about bats and diseases, we can help. Where Do Bats Live? Bats in the wild live an average of 10 to 20 years. We have more reasons to thank bats than we do to fear them. There are usually only one or two human cases per year. The record for the longest living bat is 32 years, which is extremely unusual.