Interesting Bat Facts

Before you get too upset about the bats in your home or structure, open your mind to the following facts:Bats are the only flying mammals in the world, and bats are very beneficial in that they can eat over 500 flying insects per hour all night long. Over 40 species of bats live in North America – and guess what? There’s not a vampire among them!!Histoplasmosis is an airborne fungus disease that can grow in pigeon and bat droppings (guano). Human inhalation is usually the result of stirring up dust that contains contaminated fungus spores. Guano should only be cleaned up by trained personnel with the proper safety equipment.Bats are also hosts to ectoparasites such as bat bugs (a close relative of the bed bug).  Ectoparasites associated with bats are usually host & colony specific, and can bite pets or humans that have entered the roosting site. Ectoparasites can be controlled by an insecticide treatment to the roost after the bats are evicted.Humans object to the bat’s noise (squeaking, scratching, crawling in attics and walls), stains, and odors caused by urine and droppings. Most bat complaints occur in July and August when bats enter houses via overhangs, eaves, unscreened vents, end construction gaps.Bats can squeeze thru holes 3/8″ wide (a dime sized hole). They occasionally enter the house through chimneys, open windows, and many actually get lost and enter the building interior after migrating through the structure to seek a preferred temperature zone.Bats are nocturnal (active at night) and have a 6 -12″ wingspan. They are insectivores (eat insects), and some species eat up to 3 & 1/2 their body weight each night in flying insects.

‍

More Important Bat Information

Bats usually breed in the late winter-early spring. Pregnant females congregate in maternity colonies until birth occurs between April and May. There are usually 2-4 young that begin flying at 3 – 5 weeks of age.Larger colonies are usually found in caves and mines, while bats that live in trees are solitary. Solitary bats are not normally found in structures, although a few species of bats will enter buildings to roost.Little brown bats commonly invade structures in the spring and summer, while big brown bats use buildings year-round for raising young and hibernation.Exclusion is the number one priority in bat management. Thorough exclusion of all holes larger than 1/4″is needed at all potential openings, especially in the top half of the building. Though they do not chew on materials to make an entry like other rodents, control should be left up to certified professionals. Contact a certified technician at Perimeter Wildlife Control for further information.Poisoning bats is illegal and usually leads to an increased number of contacts with people and pets in the vicinity. Repellents are generally ineffective against bats and may even drive bats further into the structure. Penalties can include imprisonment & up to a $10,000 fine.ALL SPECIES OF BATS ARE PROTECTED!!! Check with Perimeter Wildlife’s experts to properly remove these nuisance critters from your home or structure.