Maternity colony (bats) of a maternity colony. Predators such as hawks and owls can learn to anticipate the emergence of bats from a specific roost at sunset. Smaller colonies are thought to be less risky than larger colonies, because the nightly emergence of bats would attract less attention. Maternity colony (bats) A maternity colony refers to a temporary association of reproductive female bats for giving birth to, nursing, and weaning their pups. The colonies are initiated by pregnant bats. After giving birth, the colony consists of the lactating females and their offspring. After weaning, juveniles will leave the maternity colony, and the colony
Human uses of bats the wings offered protection to their warriors. Bats are associated with negative uses or beings in many cultures. In Nigeria, for example, bats are thought of as witches; in Ivory Coast, they are believed to be ghosts or spirits. In the Bible's Book of Leviticus, bats are referred to as "birds you are to regard as unclean," and therefore should not be consumed. Human uses of bats Human uses of bats include economic uses such as bushmeat or in traditional medicine. Live bats are sold in Bolivia for purported medicinal uses. Specifically, consuming the bats' blood is believed to treat