Bats crash into buildings because smooth surfaces trick their echolocation

Scientists have figured out why bats crash into buildings: smooth, vertical surfaces like window panes throw off their navigation systems, basically keeping them from “seeing” those obstacles.

The findings, published this week in the journal Science, help explain why injured or dead bats are often found near buildings. The study also shows yet another way that humans are altering the environment in a way that hurts wildlife.

Bats, the only flying mammals, use echolocation to move around. They emit high-frequency sounds and listen for echoes to determine where objects are. A previous study, published by two of the same authors, showed that bats mistake...

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