Bat Facts
Of the 1,000 species of bats in the world, 40 live in North America.
Bat habitats are found in almost every environment except extreme arctic and desert regions. Bats are nocturnal and forage for food at night. Most species in North America eat insects with the exception of the three species found in Texas and Arizona. These three species eat nectar.
Bats are nature’s form of pest control because they eat insect pests like mosquitoes. They can eat almost half their weight in insects every night. Bats use echolocation by bouncing the sound they make off of objects. Echolocation helps them find food and keeps them from colliding into other bats.
Some bats hibernate while others migrate to warmer places during the winter months. Bats have a long lifespan, usually over 20 years. Some species lead solitary lives while others live in colonies.
Bat Damage
Although rare, bats can carry and transmit rabies. Rabies is a virus that affects the central nervous system of mammals and is spread through saliva. A bat may have rabies if it is acting unnaturally, such as flying during the day or scrambling around on the ground. If you believe you have been bitten or scratched by a bat and are experiencing flu-like symptoms, seek medical attention immediately. Protect your family and pets from exposure to rabies by contacting a pest management professional to remove any nuisance wildlife in your home or on your property.
Types of Bats
Bat Identification
Bats commonly have dark brown to golden brown fur. They possess a membrane that sits between their wings and legs. This membrane is generally hairless, and dark brown or black in color. Most people recognize bats when they are flying because of the distinct shape of their wingspan.
Bats in the House & Attic
Do you hear scratching and other funny noises at night? Do you smell ammonia? Are there stains on your siding? These are all signs that you may have bats in the house.
Bats look for warm, safe places to rest during the day, hibernate in the winter, and raise their young in the spring and summer. Sometimes this might end up being inside a house’s crawlspaces, whether it’s in the attic, behind the walls, or between the shutters and the exterior of your home.
We know you don’t want bats inside your home, but these mammals are important to our environment. A single bat eats hundreds of insects every night including pesky bugs like mosquitoes.
This is why Catseye Pest Control follows state regulations and uses an exclusion process to ensure bats are protected when being removed from a property.
From mid-April through the end of May, after bats are awake and feeding and before they start having young, Catseye will seal-up the area where the bats are living and install an excluder.
This funnel-shaped “door” allows bats to exit the building, but prevents them from getting back in. It is a safe way to force the bats into leaving your home. Once all the bats have left, we remove the excluder and seal the opening.
In June, bats begin having babies. The pups remain in the roost and are dependent on their mothers for food. Catseye does not do exclusion work in June and July, as the pups aren’t strong enough to leave the roost.
By August, however, once the pups are able to fly and leave the nest, Catseye can resume bat exclusion and bat-proof services until October.
Different Types of Bats
Frequently Asked Questions
Do bats bite?
Bats rarely bite humans. Their teeth are extremely tiny and sharp. They are so small, in many cases, you won’t even notice being bitten.
How do I get rid of bats in my attic?
Bats can be extremely difficult to remove from your attic. Since bats help keep your yard bug-free, they belong outside. The best approach is to exclude the bats from your home. This not only protects you from their hazardous waste, but also protects the bats as well.
Moreover, as bats eat pesky bugs, allowing them to continue living outside the property helps keep your yard mosquito-free.
What are the benefits of professional pest control for bats?
A pest control professional has the education, equipment, and skills necessary to effectively address a bat problem.
Locating and treating bats can be challenging. Pest management professionals can identify the pest problem and determine the best possible solution to resolve the bat infestation.
If bats are invading your property, don’t hesitate to seek help from an experienced bat pest control specialist. Our technicians are prepared to address the issue in a way that is safe for people and animals alike.
Contact us today to schedule a free inspection.