Amazing to Watch Bats Drink From Southern Utah Pools

Bats Getting a Quick Drink Have Increased 

I have a backyard pool and in years past right around dusk when the sun is down, but the sky is still light, bats fly down and just touch the surface as they scoop up water in their mouth. It is fun to watch their skill in flying. Every night there is a flying mammal air show. 

This year, there is double the usual number of bats grabbing a drink before they go hunting and maybe even triple the usual. This may be due to the increase in moisture the last two years which has increased insect populations. With an increase in food supply, the bats are thriving as well. 

How You Can Get Your Own Bat Air Show 

As I have witnessed, bats drink water while flying. They skim over a smooth body of water and dip their lower jaw in the liquid and scoop in some cool H2O. It is elegant to watch. It also takes more water than a bucket. 

Bats need six to eight feet of surface area to pull of their jaw drinking maneuver. They use sound waves to detect untroubled water. They send the waves straight down to see if it comes straight back. Disturbed water will give scattered results. 

Read More: Freaky Screams in the Night: 5 Best from Utah Animals

The last couple of nights, there have been three or four bats drinking at a time from the surface of my pool. They coordinate their flying and time their dive bombs in sequence. I want to invest in a low light fast frame camera to preserve these nightly shows.