Why do bats use echolocation?

Bats use echolocation to navigate and locate prey in the dark. By emitting high-frequency sound waves that bounce off objects in their environment, bats can “see” the location, size, and shape of objects through the returning echoes. This allows them to navigate in total darkness, avoiding obstacles and detecting small insects for food. Echolocation is highly effective, enabling bats to hunt and move through environments where vision would be ineffective.