why-animals-do-the-thing:

11eagle:

@why-animals-do-the-thing do you know if this bat is comfortable swimming or has someone just dropped it in water and it’s trying to get out?

I haven’t been able to find the source on this specific video, but it does appear from a couple searches that bats of different species do seem to be able to swim. This is a flying fox (a type of bat), and I did find this:

“Although there is little scientific data on the subject, observations by naturalists in the field seem to support the fact that some bats swim in stressful situations but that it is not normally part of their ordinary behavior patterns. For example, flying foxes, often island inhabitants, may have to fly long distances to obtain food. A forced landing or a foray over water to collect fruit which has dropped and floated there may necessitate an unexpected swim. Photographs of the flying fox, Pteropus giganteus, show the animal actually swimming, using its wings and feet to reach land rather than floating or paddling. (Source)”

Apparently most cases where bats are observed swimming by people is when  they try to drink from swimming pools and fall in – another good reason to keep them covered when not in use.