Is it legal to keep bats as pets?
Is It Legal To Keep Pet Bats? It is illegal to keep native bats as pets in the USA. However, the import of certain non-native species of fruit bats is permitted. There are over 1,000 bat species found in the world out of which more than 40 are present in the United States (According to the National Wildlife Federation ).
Are fruit bats protected in other countries?
Protected in many countries. In the US, Australia and many other countries, it is illegal to keep a fruit bat as a pet. This includes the Flying Fox. The worst part about caging these animals is that they are born free and though they may need your help to survive, they should be given the freedom to roam freely,...
Do fruit bats make good pets?
These bats are key pollinators in the entire biological life cycle! The only mammals capable of flight, bats make for curious pets. But in case you are wondering if the fruit eating Flying Fox would make for a good pet, read on as this AnimalWised article explores how fruit bats can be pets,...
Can I bring a bat to the US?
Bats are known to carry rabies and histoplasmosis. Importing such animals for any reason requires permits from CDC and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceExternal.
Can You Keep a Bat As a Pet?
You can keep a bat as a pet in some states. However, bats do not fare well in captivity. They can experience terror and boredom. And, if you keep them alone, they will waste away from loneliness.
How to Get a Pet Bat
You can easily find some bats, like flying fox bats and fruit bats, for sale online. But if you want to buy a pet bat, expect the cost to be anywhere from $500 to $2500 per bat. That’s a hefty price for a pet you need to buy in multiples that may not live more than a year.
The Illegality of Bats as Pets: International and Federal Laws
But let’s say that you don’t want to pick up a stray, dangerous bat but simply want to buy a healthy one from overseas. Even so, the weight of the law is strongly against you.
The Illegality of Bats and Pets: State Laws
That said, because Article I of the Constitution places restrictions on the federal government in terms of the degree of control it can exercise over interstate trade, laws surrounding the legality or illegality of exotic pets such as bats are more commonly handled at the state level.
So, Is a Pet Bat Legal?
Technically maybe, depending on where you live and what kind of licensure and resources you have.
1. Bats can be gross
If you’re thinking of getting a pet bat, let us tell you that they will most probably be rubbing their urine all over themselves. Yup, you read that right: your “future” pet bat will most likely exhibit a “urine wash” behavior.
2. A pet bat is expensive and time-consuming
If you do not know yet, a pet bat is exotic. And exotic pets… well, let’s say they come with a costly price tag. If you are well-off, then the money may not be an issue for you at all. Still, there is no getting away with the special accommodations needed to house your pet bat properly—that is if you do want to house your pet bats appropriately.
3. Keeping a pet bat is unethical
All the issues mentioned above may not be an issue for people who have all the resources needed to keep a pet bat. However, once you do get to the point where you have them in your home, you will slowly realize that they aren’t your conventional idea of pets.
The Verdict: Should You Own a Pet Bat?
Bats are already suffering because of humans. We are responsible for cutting down trees and taking over caves by turning them into tourist spots. Because of these, bats have no room to hibernate and procreate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I own a bat as a pet? Yes, you can own a bat as a pet but it is important to read up first on information about bats. Bats have a low survival rate as a pet. In some places, bats are protected by laws and it is illegal to keep them as pets.
What diseases do bats carry?
A big-eared townsend bat. Photo courtesy Nevada Bureau of Land Management. Certain animals, such as bats, insects and snails, are known to carry zoonotic diseases. Bats are known to carry rabies and histoplasmosis.
Can you import bats as pets?
Because bats can be infected with and transmit rabies, permits are not granted for importing bats as pets. Etiological agents, hosts, or vectors of human disease, including microorganisms, insects, biological materials, tissue, certain live animals (e.g., live bats), and animal products may require a CDC permit for importation or transfer within ...
Do bats carry rabies?
Bats are known to carry rabies and histoplasmosis. Importing such animals for any reason requires permits from CDC and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. . CDC permits are issued by CDC’s Etiologic Agent Import Program, whose guidelines and forms can be found on their website.
How many fruit bats are there in the world?
However, the import of certain non-native species of fruit bats is permitted. There are over 1,000 bat species found in the world out of which more than 40 are present in the United States (According to the National Wildlife Federation ).
What do bats eat?
Bats that consume blood live mostly in the tropical areas of South, Central, and Northern America. A vast majority of bat species feed on fruits, nectar, or insects.
Why do bats echolocate?
They even help maintain the insects’ populations low and at a safe level. Bats employ echolocation to locate the insects at night. The Big Brown Bat is among the most common species found across North America. It prefers insects of the size similar to a mosquito.
How long does it take for a bat to excrete?
This means they eat and excrete a lot both in solid and liquid form. A fruit bat excretes 20 minutes after they have eaten something. Hence, the enclosure floor of the bat will most likely be full of bat waste in the form of liquid poop, solid poop, and urine and this will require regular cleaning.
How far can bats see?
They also use their sight during the daytime to find objects lying outside their echolocation range which is between 36 and 66 feet. Furthermore, bats are also said to be good at discriminating patterns. This could help in separating nectar from fruits.
Why do bats fly closer to people?
However, bats may indeed fly closer to people at night as they fly about. This is because they are in search of their prey, the insects. They use their impressive navigation technique of echolocation to pinpoint their path and their prey. This avoids any collision with people.
How many mosquitoes do bats eat?
However, this could get difficult for the owner to meet when the bat is domesticated. For instance, a wild bat eats between 500 and 1000 mosquitoes apart from flying insects during a single night.
