Let's Hang Upside Down! International Bat Day 🦇
It’s International Bat Day!
We have bats in our attic, cute little fluffy things that scare me like crazy when they swoop so low sometimes. They are not the Dracula slow-flapping big bats but cuties called Pipistrelles. I have always admired their flight and the way they never bump into anything. Well, nearly never! But that is a whole other story!
So I thought let’s have a fun look at bats!
Why Do Bats Hang Upside Down?
Bats hang upside down for several practical and evolutionary reasons:
Flight Mechanics: Unlike birds, bats cannot launch themselves into flight from the ground. Their wings and leg muscles aren’t built for that kind of lift. Hanging upside down allows them to drop into flight easily, using gravity to gain momentum.
Rest and Roosting: Bats have a specialized tendon-locking mechanism in their feet. When they hang, the weight of their body naturally keeps the tendons locked, allowing them to rest without exerting any energy.
Safety: Roosting upside down in caves, trees, or other high places helps bats stay hidden from many predators. Few animals or threats approach from above, giving bats a safer place to sleep.
Now let's look at humans and hanging upside down!
Humans Hanging Upside Down: The Pros and Cons
While humans aren’t designed for an inverted lifestyle, there are some interesting effects both beneficial and uncomfortable associated with hanging upside down.
Benefits: -
Spinal Decompression: Inversion can help relieve pressure on the vertebrae, offering potential relief for back pain. The problem apparently comes when the body reverts and the pressure is compressing the discs and vertebrae again which could also worsen pain, so don’t try this at home!
Increased Circulation to the Brain: Temporarily inverting can promote blood flow to the brain, which some people find invigorating. Try lying on your back and then hanging just your head over the end.
Postural Awareness: Certain forms of exercise like yoga and aerial fitness use inversion to build strength, balance, and body awareness. Sitting on a chair and leaning backwards.
Challenges:
Pressure on the Head and Eyes: Being upside down increases blood pressure in the head, which may cause discomfort or be unsafe for individuals with certain conditions, like glaucoma or high blood pressure.
Dizziness or Nausea: Not everyone reacts well to inversion. It can affect the inner ear and create a sense of imbalance or lightheadedness.
Short Time Limit: While brief periods may be beneficial or fun, prolonged inversion isn't advisable for most people.
So, now we know that bats are uniquely adapted for life upside down, it’s essential for their survival. For humans, it’s more of an occasional curiosity or therapeutic tool, best used with care!
What do you think?
Would you try inversion therapy? Or have you?
And - Have you ever seen a bat? If so, please tell us more!
@MistyMagic Bats are awesome! (Sky puppies) Had one get in the house a few years ago. It was so small and cute! Caught it and let it loose outside. They fly around in the warmer weather and eat bugs. Very beneficial but there's a disease called white nose syndrome that affects a lot of them in North America. It's a fungus with no cure and it has decimated the bat populations 😕
@mytwistedsoul awww that sounds awful. But I love the name sky puppies! Have you ever seen a mole or felt their fur, they should be earth puppies lol!
@MistyMagic Aww I have seen them and did actually get to touch one. Their fur is so unbelievably soft! Shrews or maybe it was a vole (?) are the same way. So many little critters 😊 Earth puppies has a nice ring to it and it could cover all the little dirt diggers
@mytwistedsoul dirt diggers, sky puppies, I love the names!
@MistyMagic there's pocket puppies too 😂
@mytwistedsoul oh! What are they?
@MistyMagic It's what I call pet rats 😁 you can teach them the same tricks you can a dog. I know a lot of people think they're gross but they make really great pets 😊
@mytwistedsoul of course we can all benefit from plushies, soft comforting fleecy, velvety, lovely to touch, calming, soothing, smoothing. Imitation of the real.
@MistyMagic Definitely! I've got a bunch of those too 😊
I have to admit a raven or crow like in your gif would be awesome to have too! I've heard you can teach them to talk!
@mytwistedsoul they are very noisy, they hang around in the park trees here. But look scary!
@MistyMagic Oh gosh yeah you're right. They are noisy 😬 Tbh I think all birds are noisy lol There aren't many of ravens where I live so it's a nice surprise when you do spot one
@mytwistedsoul 
@MistyMagic Aww That's so cute 😊 I love ducks! And not as scary as ravens lol
@MistyMagic you have them in your attick😱😱 I only ocasionly see one flying around if I'm sat outside, but we have little ones too 😁 I will not be trying invasion therapy😂😂 thanks for the fun facts though 💖 gives you a giant tiny hug 💗
@Tinywhisper11 tha is! These are tiny furry friends though,the flap very fast in a blur not like the scary slow flapping vampire bats 😬
It would be nice to be able to fly though wouldn't it! Imagine being able to fly
Do you want to go first?
@MistyMagic 😂😂😂 nah you can go first