We have bats that fly over at night. They dive in our pool. With us in it. Will they hurt us?

Question

The bats fly very close to us, within a few feet.

Answer 1

They won't hurt you. Bats have a form of sonar called ECHOLOCATION that they use for finding and catching the insects they eat. There may be insects flying around your pool, and that could be causing the fly-bys. They won't land on you, bite you, or harm you in anyway. Don't be afraid of them, and please don't harm them. They are very beneficial at keeping the insect population under control.

Answer 2

They'll only hurt you if they're clumsy.
The bats you're seeing are probably fruit bats or insect eaters and they're harmless, even though they do tend to fly around like sparrows that have had a bit too much to drink. If they fly close to you--as within a few feet--this just means that they don't perceive you as a huge threat.

The only dangerous bats are rabid bats, but they're more of a danger to OTHER bats and not people.

Answer 3

Bats are nocturnal mammals. Most of the species can see only at night. They therefore sleep during the day. The first thing they do is when the start after sunset is to quench their thirst, and that is why they dive into bodies of water that they happen to find. They are rather timid creatures and would not like to attack. The larger varieties of bats are vegetarians the mostly eat fruits and are a major source of pain to the orchard owners.
The vampire or blood sucking bats mostly catch frogs, toads or very small rodents.
So, you are more or less safe with diving bats.....just be careful of their claws(they sometimes have very long ones).

Answer 4

Most bats are completely harmless. Very few of them eat anything other than insects or fruit. The only risk might be on the very rare occasion that one might have rabies and if they happened to bite you, but that is highly unlikely.

Probably the best solution is to build them a bat box. It's very simple (you can find plans online) and that will give them a place to stay that is not by the family.

Enjoy them - they are a great service to the environment.

Best wishes.

Answer 5

Unless they are rabid which is very very uncommon bats are almost never any sort of threat to humans.

The reason they might be sweeping the pool is to look for insects or other potential food sources. The bats aren't at all out to attack you, they're out to eat the rather nasty mosquitos that might be trying to bite you.

If anything the bats are doing you a favor by killing and scaring away the mosquitos. Sure it's a little bit frightening but Bats are far scarier in movies than they are in real life.

Answer 6

Not likely. Most of the bats that come around humans are fruit bats. They feast mainly on fruit and the occasional insect. Which is probably part of the reason that they are around your pool. The other is that they may be thirsty.
Vampire bats usually attack cattle or horses. You're fine.

Answer 7

Well.. aside from being silly for telling the girls you're doing a swimming pool, you'd still have to get planning permission if you are doing a patio - if it is restrictive in sight of the neighbours or anyone in front or behind your home where the patio is going. In terms of the nasty neighbours, the best thing to do is to invite them over once its finished for a Pool party. Then when they realise its a Patio, you may well find an apology coming your way. Dont fall out with your neighbours, no matter how nasty they appear to be.

Answer 8

The bats won't hurt you. They are probably going for the bugs that are going to eat you. Bats eat a lot of mosquitoes, gnats, and biting flies.

Answer 9

it depends on the type of the bats. Some of the bats hurt men.

Answer 10

they pose no threat to you. it's the insects skimming the surface of your pool water they want. if you don't mind having bats about, try building a bat house. you can google plans or go to:
http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/land/er/publications/bats/assembly.htm
they also have a section on ridding your house of bats.