I swim in a local lake and often see bats drinking the lake water. I'm concerned that they will run into me if I am swimming but the evenings are so gorgeous for swimming. Does their sonar keep them from diving into me if I am swimming at the same time as they are feeding?
Answers (2)
Most bats are insectivores and frugivores (ie subsist on insects and fruits). As for vampire bats:
"Vampire bats feed on blood, although they do not siphon blood through fangs as the mythology implies. Vampire bats, usually only found as far north as northern Mexico, create an incision on the skin of animals, commonly livestock. The bat then laps up the blood of the victim. Unless there is huge population of bats on one animal, the host is usually not harmed by the wound."
So collision maybe (personally dubious, not an expert), bite no.
I don't suppose you have a lifeguard around. I'd say that and hypothermia (later in the evening) ought to engender more concern. Watch out for carps.