During the past few weeks, I have received quite a few calls from homeowners about bats in their houses. Bats in houses are not uncommon because there are usually lots of bats in this area during the summer, and attics and chimneys are attractive nesting and roosting places for bats. Because of the number of calls I have received recently, it seems that this is a good time to share some additional information with you about bats.

Bats may be considered a pest by some people, but in fact, they are very beneficial mammals. Bats consume tremendous numbers of insects each night, far more than purple martins or any other insect-feeding bird. A single bat can consume between 3,000 and 7,000 mosquitoes in one night, so it is easy to see that large colonies of bats can consume thousands of tons of mosquitoes each year.

Bats are the only mammal that can fly. Other mammals, such as flying squirrels, only glide. The wings of bats are like hands with skin stretched between modified fingers. Bats are more closely related to primates, but many people think they are more like rodents. They have very slow reproductive rates with typically only one young per year, and like other mammals, they nurse their young.

So if bats are so beneficial, we should be providing nesting sites for them to encourage them to stay in our area instead of trying to get rid of them. I have several bulletins available about bats, and most of these bulletins include plans for bat houses. If you would like to construct a bat house or if you simply want more information about bats, please call me at 671-3276.

But if you are one of those unfortunate ones who have found bats inside your house or if you know bats are in your attic and the odor from their droppings or their noise is a nuisance, you might not care how many mosquitoes they can catch - you simply want to get rid of them.

The reason so many people call this time of the year wanting information about how to get rid of bats is that this is the time of year bats are most active and, therefore, are most noticeable. They have given birth to their young, so the number in the colony has increased drastically, and the mothers of these young are especially active trying to seek enough nourishment so they can feed their young.

But this is not the best time of the year to try to get rid of them. They have already become well established in the place they have decided to live, and if they have young, they are going to be even more reluctant to relocate. Since most bats migrate for the winter, the best time to start control measures is before they return in the spring, especially if you have experienced bat problems during past years. The best way to keep bats out of an attic or chimney is to make sure all possible entrance sites are eliminated. Chimney covers, available at any good hardware store, should be placed over the chimney flue. All holes, cracks, and crevices into attics should be repaired or covered over with quarter-inch screen wire, steel wool, caulking, or other durable material.

If bats are already in an attic, several tactics can be used to repel them. When started early in the season or late in the fall, these practices usually work pretty well, but these scare tactics are not always completely effective.

If immature bats are in the attic, it is going to be very hard to convenience the mother to leave. In fact, it may not be wise to bat-proof the attic when young are present, since they will surely die and objectionable odors from decay may be more offensive than the bats.

Moth balls are fairly effective repellents for most mammals, including bats. I suggest cutting the legs off old panty hose, placing a handful of moth balls in the resulting bag, and suspend 8-12 of these bags around the attic. Efforts should be made to suspend most of these bags near the site where the bats are entering the attic.

Since bats seek out dark, secluded areas for nesting, they can often be encouraged to relocate by placing flood lights in the attic. If this tactic is used, special efforts should be made to ensure that the lights do not come in contact with rafters or other material in the attic, since these lights can be very hot and can create a fire hazard if improperly positioned.

Another tactic to repel bats is to place a large fan in the attic. Bats cannot tolerate strong breezes and drafts and will often relocate for a more suitable site. Fans, flood lights, and moth balls may all be used at the same time for better results.

Trapping is allowed, but this practice is usually not very efficient and is very time consuming and frustrating. When trapped, bats must be relocated or they may simply return to your attic. There are no chemicals or toxic treatments approved for the control of bats.

Most people fear bats because of concern about rabies. Actually, the incidence of rabies in the wild bat populations is extremely low. The few bites reported each year from bats usually result from people trying to capture the bat or from a bat that is trying to find his way out of a dwelling. Very seldom is the bite a result of a rabid bat. However, anyone bitten by a bat should seek medical attention immediately. If possible the bat should be killed and taken to the doctor for the remote chance it may be rabid.

If you would like more information about bats or other critters that may invade your home, please give me a call.

E-mail address: Everett_Davis@ncsu.edu

Mailing Address:
P. O. Box 2280
Lumberton, NC 28359-2280

Phone: 910-671-3276
Fax: 910-671-6278

Date Created 8/22/05