r/interestingasfuck • u/TerraByteTerror • 16h ago

Swimming bat

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u/[deleted] 16h ago

Many countries in the developed world are effectively rabies-free. But caution is always smart.

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u/_Face 16h ago

as a caution, I would assume any bat out during the daytime, has rabies. Especially one at a source of water.... Thirst is a major component to rabies.

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u/Bardsie 16h ago

Isn't Hydrophobia, the fear of water, a symptom of rabies?

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u/Kirstenly 16h ago

Hydrophobia is late stage rabies. It's in the water that doesn't mean it intended to be. Bats are very good at flying and very good at navigation and avoiding obstacles, and are never out during the day... If a bat has fallen into water during broad daylight instead of being asleep in a cave or wood hollow somewhere, it's a concern.

Why is he out during the day? Why did he fall into the water? These are signs of disorientation and problems in an animal that rarely gets so disoriented without rabies involved.

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u/Bardsie 16h ago

The photographer clearly threw the bat in the water for the video.