Bats are both a pest and benefit to human habitats.
Bats are both a pest and benefit to human habitats. They are the world's only flying mammal and can be found everywhere in the world except Antarctica. Sometimes they become a pest when they roost in our attics, porches, buildings or barn lofts. Though a few of them may carry disease, most do not. Nevertheless, it is best to keep them out of human dwellings where your family and pets may be vulnerable to contact with a diseased bat. However, bats are beneficial to humans as well. In one hour, a single bat can eat hundreds of insects, including disease-carrying mosquitoes. For this reason, people who live in areas with high insect infestation may decide to attract bats with bat houses. In this way, humans can control pests naturally, without pesticides. Does this Spark an idea?
Facts about Bats
There are over a thousand types of bats in the world.
Bats are the only flying mammal. There are approximately 1100 different types of bats in the world, with 46 different varieties in North America. Most bat species found in North America are about the size of a mouse. The most common species, big brown bat and little brown bat, have wingspans that range from 8 to 14 inches. Most bats live for 20 to 30 years. Bats mate in fall and winter. Baby bats, called pups, leave the nest in July or August. Bat populations grow slowly since bats only give birth to one or two pups per year. Some species of bats migrate in the winter, while other species will relocate to trees, mines, attics, barns, porches, and caves where the temperatures do not go below the freeze point. Bats often return to the same roost site.
70 percent of bats eat insects or fruit. Only a small percentage eats meat such as fish, birds, frogs or mice. Because most bats eat insects, they are important to the environment and a wonderful pest control aid for humans. One bat can eat from 600 to 1000 insects in one hour! However, if they get into our houses, they can be detrimental to human health because they carry disease.
Bats rest in sheltered areas such as barns, porches or caves during the day and come out to feed on insects at night. A widely held myth about bats is that they are blind. Actually, they can see well; however, their sight is best at dusk and dawn and they use echolocation at night to find food and to fly safely.
Bats and Disease
Bats are carriers of approximately 40 known diseases.
Within the last 40 years, 40 different viruses, such as rabies and histoplasmosis, have been connected to bats. Rabies is a fatal infection for animals and humans. For this reason, it is best to avoid direct contact with bats.
Less than 1 percent of bats carries rabies and rabies is not a widespread or common disease among humans. However, of the small amount of rabies cases reported in the United States, they are often related to bat bites. Though most bats do not have rabies, if it is infected it may be clumsy, disoriented and unable to fly. Therefore, if you see a downed bat, whether alive or dead, do not attempt to touch it; keep your pets and children away from it and call animal control. If a bat does scratch or bite you, your pets or livestock, you should seek medical assistance immediately.
If the bat is alive and has not bitten anyone, then you may remove it from the house. The best method is to open one window, close the doors to the room, and the bat will eventually fly out.
If the bat is dead when you find it, you should store it securely (such as in a disposable container, shoebox without holes or tightly sealed plastic bag) and refrigerate it. Do not freeze it. You should then report it to your health department or animal control. They will give you instructions for proper disposal of the body, and they may wish to examine the animal for disease.
Furthermore, it is dangerous to have physical contact with bats or for them to live in your house because their droppings (guano) are infected with a fungus called Histoplasma capsulatum. Guano is most dangerous when it is dry and granulated, the particles capable of being inhaled. Histoplasmosis is an acute respiratory disease. Some of the symptoms are malaise, fever, chest pains and a dry cough. It will grow worse over time and is fatal if left untreated.
Contact with a Bat
If a bat comes in contact with someone in your home or your pets, call animal control or your health department.
If someone or a pet in your home has come in contact with a live bat, you should immediately contact animal control or your public health department. If you are unable to contact them, you may attempt to capture the bat safely. To do so you will need the following supplies: work gloves, a small box, a piece of cardboard and tape.
Gather the supplies and put on the gloves. When the bat lands, approach slowly and place the box over the bat. To trap the bat inside, slide the cardboard under the box. Tape the box shut and punch breathing holes in the box. Contact animal control or the health department for rabies examination.
Feces Removal
Professionals should remove bat guano.
If bats have been in your home and have left behind droppings, you should contact pest control professionals; they are trained in fecal removal. Since bat guano contains the histoplasmosis fungus, pest control professionals have the equipment to safely remove and dispose of the guano, as well as properly disinfect the affected areas. During removal, the pest control personnel will wear disposable, fully protective coveralls, masks, and gloves. They use vacuums in unreachable areas and use sanitizing sprays that kill bacteria, viruses, fungi, mold and mildew. The disinfectants are applied directly to the guano to neutralize disease and allow for safe removal. The feces is double bagged before disposal. For your protection, it is important to stay away from the work area (and keep your pets out) until given approval to enter.
Bats in Your Attic?
Exclusion is the best method for ridding your attic of bats
Attics or barn lofts attract bats because the summer heat incubates bat pups. Bats can enter your attic through un-screened or loosely screened vents, small holes in the roof or siding. Bats can enter quarter-sized holes! Exclusion is the best method for keeping bats out of your attic.
Bat-Proofing Your Home
The best time to bat-proof is in the fall and winter.
There are professionals available to remove existing bats and seal your home against further invasion. You may also choose to bat-proof your home on your own. First remove the bats from your home so they don't starve and die in the sealed-up attic. Look for any holes that will allow bats to enter. You should seal any openings larger than a quarter-inch by a half-inch. You may use caulk to seal these areas. Screen windows and vents, cap chimneys and use draft guards on attic doors. Fill electrical or plumbing holes with copper wool or caulk. Make sure doors to the outside close securely.
Keep in mind:
Avoid exclusion during the summer months (May - August) because bat pups are too young to leave. If the adults are excluded during this time, the pups will be trapped inside, starve and die or they may make their way into the living quarters of your house. Bat carcasses in your home could pose health threats.
The best time to bat-proof your house is in the fall and winter since bats will leave the roost to hibernate or migrate.
Bats and Pest Control
Bats can control annoying insects around your home and garden.
Though bats can sometimes be a pest to human habitats, they are extremely beneficial for controlling pests around our homes; after all, one bat can consume hundreds of insects in an hour. If you live in an area heavily infested with mosquitoes, you may consider attracting bats to your area with a bat home. Similar to a bird house, you can buy or build them and hang them on a pole or building. Houses hung on trees are less successful in attracting bats. Bats are a wonderful, natural and environmentally safe pesticide.
Bat houses are long, with multi-chambers and dark interiors. Bats favor long houses over short ones, prefer the multi-chambers because they offer a variety of temperatures. The interior should have notches every half inch. The notches provide a surface for the bats to cling to, so they can hang upside down.
Of course, if you desire to hang a bat house to attract bats to control annoying insects, you should leave the bat house undisturbed. Do not allow your children or pets to play around the area. You should hang the bat house as far away from your home as possible.
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