Why are bats generally thought of as creepy?

Bats aren't as creepy as you think — here are 5 of the coolest species ... While a lot of people see bats as "scary" or "creepy," they play a vital role in their ecosystems. Bats help pollinate ... As the only bat known to feed entirely on blood, vampire bats are usually the ones that people are afraid of. read more

This can backfire, and be ecologically disastrous as some bat species are essential pollinators, while others help control insect populations responsible for more common diseases. So we thought we would try to make you love them a bit with this video of what bats look like if you turn a video of them roosting upside down and add music. read more

Vampire Bats One thing not to be overly worried about, however, is vampire bats. The idea of a blood sucking parasite may sound terrifying and this skeleton probably doesn't help. Mokele CC BY 3.0. Yeah, vampire bats aren't scary at all. However, aside from the risk of contracting rabies, vampire bats are actually pretty harmless. read more

Joy O'Keefe, director of the Indiana State University Bat Center, says she understands the Halloween connection -- bats are spooky because they're out at night, go into damp, dark places and make no noise. read more

Taking a step back though, it’s interesting that the concept of a vampire is often heavily related to bats. read more