Are Vampire bats real?
We often encounter misconceptions and myths involving bats. One of the questions we're often asked is about vampire bats - Are vampire bats real?
UK Bats are not Vampires
Common Vampire Bat
First, let’s take a look at the bats we get in the UK. All UK bats are insectivores, so if you are larger than a moth, you have nothing to worry about. Far from being a vampire, our local bats play a vital role in controlling insect populations, including midges!
How Many Bats Are Vampires?
Hairy-Legged Vampire Bat
Despite their prominence in popular culture, vampire bats are incredibly rare. Of the approximately 1,400 bat species worldwide, only three are hematophagous (animals that feed on blood). That’s just 0.002%! None of these species are found in the UK, and only rarely are they recorded feeding on humans.
Meet the Vampire Bats
The three vampire bat species are:
White-winged Vampire Bat
Common Vampire Bat (Desmodus rotundus)
Range: Mexico, Central and South AmericaHairy-Legged Vampire Bat (Diphylla ecaudata)
Range: Panama to Mexico, Brazil to Eastern PanamaWhite-Winged Vampire Bat (Diaemus youngi)
Range: Mexico, South and Central America, Caribbean
The Challenges of Being a Vampire Bat
Evolving to feed on blood is no easy feat. Vampire bats had to overcome several physiological challenges:
Processing a liquid diet with high volumes
Managing high iron levels in their food
Handling high protein content
Evolving specialised teeth
Developing the ability to walk, run, and even gallop on land
Using infrared radiation to locate 'hotspots' on their prey
These adaptations are energy intensive, and have resulted in three highly specialised bat species - all evolving from fruit eating bats with sharp teeth used to pierce the fruit skins!
Back to Scottish Bats
Bats are protected in Scotland, and don’t represent a hazard to humans. If you would like advice about bats on your property, you can reach out to our team of specialist ecologists here: