Use of olfaction during prey location by the common vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus)

Abstract

The common vampire bat, Desmodus rotundus, feeds on mammalian blood and is a major agricultural pest in Latin America. One way to prevent bats from biting livestock is to understand how the bats locate the livestock. We confirmed the role of olfaction in foraging with a modified cafeteria trial. Bats significantly favored blood meals associated with scent (fur, feces) over meals lacking these olfactory cues. These results confirm earlier observations on the role of olfaction during prey location by this species, and have potential to facilitate eradication measures without extensive loss of other bat species. © 2006 The Author(s).