Bats are nocturnal insectivores (insect eaters) with some species eating up to half their body weight each night in flying insects. Bats are the only flying mammals in the world. They usually breed in fall or winter, and pregnant females congregate in maternity colonies until live birth occurs during June. There are usually 1 to 2 young that begin flying at 3-5 weeks. Bats require a safe place to roost during the daytime and with much of their natural habitat dwindling, many attic spaces and other common construction features serve that purpose quite nicely.
Big Brown Bats are probably the most common species in North America. Their range extends from all of southern Canada throughout the entire United States with the exception of southern Florida and south-central Texas. They give birth in buildings to two young annually in a birthing colony. They have been known to hibernate in caves, buildings and homes, and do not migrate. Individual bats can live to be 19 years old!
Little Brown Bats are one of the most widely studied species of bats. It has a glossy fur and short ears. It is found all over North America, but is primarily a northern species. They produce one young a year in the spring after hibernation, often occupying structures in the spring and summer. They will give birth in buildings but hibernate for the winter in caves because of the higher moisture content found there. Llittle Brown Bats are primarily colonial bats, living in potentially large social groups..
Like other mammals, only a small percentage of bats contract rabies. And while it is possible for humans to contract rabies from bats (it does happen occasionally), the chance of it actually occuring is not very strong. That being said, risk can and should be minimized by avoiding contact with bats, particularly those that appear sick or are not behaving normally (active during the day, having trouble flying, etc.). It is advisable to have your home professionally examined if you believe you may be living with bats. Do not handle bats yourself. Do not employ potentially lethal techniques to try to rid yourself of bats. They are Protected animals.
Most bat complaints occur during the summer after the young are born and they start to move about. Bats can easily enter the home through tiny crevasses in overhangs, eaves, unscreened vents and through construction gaps commonly found in many homes. Bats can squeeze through openings small as 3/8 of an inch and occasionally enter the house through chimneys and open windows with many getting “lost” inside the home as they seek their preferred temperature zone.
Bat removal and exclusion are the specialties of our Wildlife Division. In this process we use non-lethal construction techniques and our extensive knowledge of bat behavior and biology to let the bats out of a structure and take all necessary steps to prevent them from re-entering. These techniques will not harm the bats and will permanently prevent them from re-establishing. Every structure has its unique challenges and the cost of bat work is calculated accordingly. There is a small window of time when bats are raising young that are too young to fly. Exclusion techniques cannot be done during this brief period to protect them.
If you believe you are living with Bats, contact us today to schedule an inspection and estimate.