Can a Bat Ray Hurt You

While not aggressive, bat rays can inflict a painful wound with their venomous spine. When entering waters where there may be rays, swimmers are advised to shuffle their feet through the sand, movements which cause buried rays to move away. The walk-in-the-water is called a “ray shuffle”.

Do bat rays bite?

A bat ray has one to three venomous barbed spines at the base of its long tail, where the tail meets the body. But this docile animal only stings to defend itself. Bat ray teeth are fused into plates that can crush the strongest clam shells.

Can you touch a bat ray?

(The rays in the outdoor exhibit have their barbs clipped, allowing humans to touch them without fear of coming in contact with the animal’s sharp and potentially venomous tail spine, or stinger.)