Bats. The very idea of them in our yard makes some people shudder. Long a victim of legend, these flying furry animals are finally getting the recognition they deserve. There are still doubters, those who refuse the value of this ugly, flying mammal. Actually, the bat is very necessary. Sure, they eat small insects, but are you aware they are responsible for 95% of tropical rainforest reforestation through seed dropping? Bananas, which bloom at night, depend on bats for pollination. The same can be said for the saguaro cactus. Lets take a closer look at this animal and why we should provide them a home. The value of bats for insect control - mainly mosquitoes - is enormous. There are many birds which also eat insects and do a good job. However, most insect eating birds feed in the daytime. The bat feeds at night when mosquitoes, gnats, and other small bothersome insects are out. A single brown bat can eat 3,000 to 7,000 mosquitoes in one night. This is the most widespread and numerous bat in the U.S. When you consider a lifespan of 20 years, that is a lot of mosquitoes! Consider also there are no poisonous insecticides or damage to the ozone, just nature's mosquito annihilator.
So why do people resist? Legend, fear, and rumor abounds. The truth is, these creatures are quite harmless to people. The best way to avoid a disease from a bat is to never handle one. They do not attack humans, so the odds of harm or illness are extremely remote. Compare this to the dangers of disease carried by mosquitoes such as encephalitis which affects several children each year with dire outcomes. Bats do not get tangled in people's hair. They have such a sophisticated navigation system a single human hair can be detected and avoided. The bat uses sound energy and can fly in total darkness without hitting obstacles.
Successful houses need to be designed with a narrow crevice for entrance at the bottom. Inside surfaces should be screened or rough for the bat to hold on to. Houses should be 10 to 15 feet off the ground. The house should not be obstructed by branches or power lines that would interfere with flying. Water sources such as a marsh, lake, or stream help attract bats as there is an abundant food supply. The interior of a nursing colony requires temperatures of 100 to 110 degrees, so the house should be placed to receive several hours of direct sunlight. Cold winter months bring either migration or hibernation. Most bats cannot survive subfreezing temperatures. This means bats from Canada and most of the US head south or find caves in which to spend winter. Even in the deep south, where I live, bats can be found hibernating in our caves. There are 43 species of bats in the US. Most are considered endangered. Through habitat loss and human misunderstanding they are declining at an alarming rate. A female bat usually has only one offspring per year, so any comeback for these creatures will be slow. They need our help and protection to survive. That they are valuable members of nature and provide benefit has been amply proven. Maybe it is time we consider the value of natural insect control and provide housing for these beneficial flying mammals. Place a bat house, nursery house, or smaller batchelor colony on your property and watch the mosquitoes disappear. The houses pictured as well as others are available in our catalog. |
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Bat Houses - Why you Should Attract Bats to Your Backtard Birding Area | |
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Bats, as with many birds, are losing their roosting sites. Hollow trees, barns, and old houses are disappearing and these mammals have fewer and fewer places to raise their families. Caves in my area have been sealed off to humans to ensure survival of local endangered species. Feeling the strain, bats are now using man made houses for their 
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