Hunting in the Dark

Contrary to the saying “blind as a bat,” bats are not actually blind. It is true, however, that they don’t always use their eyes to look for prey; instead, they use something called echolocation. They make a series of high-frequency sounds, which echo back, allowing the bat to locate its prey and avoid obstacles — even ones as thin as a hair — during the hunt. The reason they developed this sense is because they’re nocturnal animals, so they can find food in even the darkest places.

Bonus bat fact: Bats are the only mammals that can truly fly, and they can live more than 30 years!