How do scientists study bats?
Just like scientists who put radio collars on wolves and dolphins, bat biologists also radio-tag bats using exceptionally small transmitters specially designed to be carried by bats. Once the bat has been tagged, researchers are able to follow it while it forages and returns to its roost. Scientists also use sophisticated night-vision equipment, similar to that used by the military, in order to spy on night-flying bats without disturbing them. Researchers can eavesdrop on bat echolocation calls by using “bat detectors” which pick-up their high-frequency sounds and let the scientist know if bats are just flying through an area or if they are actually catching insects.
