 Although many cultures have stories about them , vampire bats have only recently become an integral part of the traditional vampire lore . Indeed , vampire bats were only integrated into vampire folklore when they were discovered on the South American mainland in the 16th century . Although there are no vampire bats in Europe , bats and owls have long been associated with the supernatural and omens , although mainly because of their nocturnal habits , and in modern English heraldic tradition , a bat means " Awareness of the powers of darkness and chaos " . 
