Introduction
Bats are the only species of mammals that can fly. The three known species of vampire bats include the Common Vampire Bat (Desmodus rotundus), the Hairy-legged Vampire Bat (Diphylla ecuadata) and the White-winged Vampire Bat (Diaemus Young); the most common one seen being the Common Vampire Bat. These bats live in the warm tropics of Mexico, Central and South America.

Feeding Habits
Vampire bats got their names from being blood drinkers. This has caused many false myths about them. Despite what horror movies want you to believe, these bats cannot magically transform in to a human form to drink helpless humans' blood. Vampire bats feed only in the darkness of light and feed primarily on pigs and cows blood, but they have been known to feed on human' s blood before. To feed the bats will use their razor sharp teeth to cut a small cut, like a paper cut, into their victims and then lap up their victims blood. Vampire bats have a substance in their saliva called draculin which prevents the blood from clotting, allowing the bats to lap up as much blood as tummy can hold. If the bats don't feed they will end up starving and dying within two to three days. If they are unable to get blood, these bats will also try to get other bats in their colonies to regurgitate blood for them. If well fed bats can live up to 9 years in the wild and up to ten years in captivity.


Vampire bats are very agile on the ground and are able to run and climb up trees quickly. They attack their victims on the ground by landing near their prey and then approaching it on all fours. Using their heat sensor located on their nose, these bats can easily find the location where the warm blood is flowing just beneath the skin of their victims.

Family Life
Vampire bats live in colonies in complete darkness, such as in a cave or a hollow tree. Occasionally vampire bats have been known to have as many as 2000 bats in their colonies. In one year, the blood of 25 cows can be drunk up just from from a bat colony containing 100 bats. During the breeding season vampire bats usually have one offspring. During the first three months of their lives, the offspring of vampires bats don't drink blood, but instead rely on their mother's milk to feed them. The offspring are also very attached to their mothers and will go any where she goes by clinging on to her back.

Disease
Vampire bats play a role in the spreading of disease, particularly rabies. Only 0.5% of vampire bats carry rabies, however most known cases of rabies in the U.S. are caused by bat bites. The risk of live stock getting infected with rabies is a much higher risk than a human getting infected with rabies from a bat. Some signs that a vampire bat has rabies include if the bat is acting clumsy, disoriented or if the bat is unable to fly. Due to their small teeth vampire bats can bite a person without it being felt. IF you every get bit by any bat seek immediate medical attention.