Kristen Lear understands why some people find bats frightening. The nocturnal animals are often portrayed as spooky and dangerous. “Say you’re watching a scary movie, and the characters are walking through a creepy house,” she says. “What’s going to fly out and attack them? Bats!”

But this scene isn’t realistic, says Lear. Bats aren’t out to get us—in fact, many need our help. As a scientist at Bat Conservation International, Lear works to protect bats and their habitats. She recently spoke with SuperSTEM about sticking up for bats.

Kristen Lear knows why some people find bats scary. They’re nocturnal animals. They’re often shown as being spooky. “Say you’re watching a scary movie,” she says. “And the characters are walking through a creepy house. What’s going to fly out and attack them? Bats!”

But this scene isn’t very true to life, says Lear. Bats aren’t out to get us. In fact, many need our help. Lear is a scientist at Bat Conservation International. She works to save bats and their habitats. She recently spoke with SuperSTEM about sticking up for bats.

I’ve always liked animals that other people fear, like rats, snakes, and spiders. Bats have that image problem too. They’re out at night, so you don’t usually get to see them. But that air of mystery is what draws me in.

In sixth grade, I wanted to do a Girl Scout project to help animals. I decided to build bat houses. Those are artificial shelters where bats can rest during the day. I learned a lot about bats and what they need to survive. In college, I studied zoology, the science of animals. I got to work with bats hands-on. That’s when I was hooked!

I’ve always liked animals other people fear. Some examples are rats, snakes, and spiders. Bats have that image problem too. They’re out at night. So you don’t usually get to see them. But that air of mystery is what draws me in.

I wanted to do a Girl Scout project in sixth grade. It was to help animals. I chose to build bat houses. Bats can rest in these shelters during the day. I learned a lot about bats and their needs. I studied zoology in college. It’s the science of animals. I got to work with bats hands-on. I was hooked!

Bats make some people nervous because they’re connected with darkness and nighttime. But they’re wild animals, just like birds or foxes. We can live alongside them.

Because there are bats called “vampire bats,” people sometimes think all bats suck blood. But there are more than 1,400 species of bats in the world, and most of them eat insects! Others eat fruit or nectar from flowers.

There are only three species of vampire bats, and they live in Mexico and Central and South America. They don’t typically feed on people. When they bite other animals, they make a tiny cut and drink the blood with their tongues. Most of their “victims” don’t even notice and go about their business!

Bats make some people nervous. That’s because they’re linked with darkness and nighttime. But they’re wild animals, just like birds or foxes. We can live alongside them.

There are bats called “vampire bats.” So people sometimes think all bats suck blood. But there are more than 1,400 bat species in the world. Most of them eat insects! Others eat fruit or sip sweet nectar from flowers.

There are only three species of vampire bats. They live in Mexico and Central and South America. They don’t usually feed on people. They make a tiny cut when they bite other animals. Then they drink the blood with their tongues. Most of their “victims” don’t even notice. They just go about their business!

If you have a garden or a balcony, you can make a bat garden. If nectar-feeding bats live in your area, you can plant species they eat. If you plant flowers that bloom at night, they’ll attract nocturnal insects for insect-eating bats to eat.

Also, share your bat knowledge with friends and family! Over time, it can help more people come to appreciate bats.

You can make a bat garden. You just need a garden or a balcony. You can grow plants that nectar-feeding bats eat. And you can plant flowers that bloom at night. They’ll attract nocturnal insects as food for insect-eating bats.

Also, share what you’ve learned about bats! It can help others learn to love and value bats too.