How Do Bats Spend the Winter? Understanding How Bats Overwinter

At the mention of bats, everyone is surely familiar with them, especially those living near mountainous areas, where a few may even fly into the home. So how do bats spend the winter?

1. How do bats spend the winter?

Bats generally have the habit of hibernation. When overwintering, they migrate to warm areas like migratory birds, and before hibernation they mate without fertilization occurring. After waking, they immediately return to normal, and only then do the mated females begin to ovulate and fertilize, then become pregnant and give birth. During the overwintering period they sometimes also excrete and feed.

2. Is it auspicious or inauspicious for a bat to enter the home?

A bat flying into the house is auspicious. In folk legend, the bat is called the “mouse immortal,” and it has actually always been regarded as a symbol of good fortune, because “bat” and “fortune” are homophones, representing auspiciousness and happiness, so it can still win people's affection among the folk. If a bat flies into the home, it is actually a very good omen, indicating that “fortune” has entered the home and foretelling good luck, so do not kill it.

In addition, the reason bats fly into the home is that the bat's forelimbs have already changed into wings, and at night they fly in the air, eating mosquitoes, moths and other insects, relying on ultrasonic waves they emit themselves to guide their flight. So sometimes a bat may fly into the home to hunt insects, but it may also be because the house type or home environment is very suitable for bats to live in, so bats may build nests in the home. At this point you need to be careful.

3. What should you do if bitten by a bat?

1. Clean the wound promptly: whether or not it is a bat bite, the wound must be treated promptly by washing with running water and soap.

2. Disinfection treatment: when the wound is more serious, promptly disinfect with alcohol or iodophor, and do not let bacteria infect too quickly, so as to buy time for going to the hospital for treatment.

3. Get vaccinated: if most of the above symptoms are present, it should be a bat bite. Go as soon as possible to receive the corresponding vaccine, so as not to leave future troubles.

4. Eat a light diet: after vaccination or during treatment, do not eat irritating foods, keep the diet light, and maintain a happy mood, so that you can recover your health as soon as possible.