Bats of the United States and Canada

Controlling “Nuisance” Bats

recto runninghead 55 Controlling “Nuisance” Bats The news media are often guilty of sensationalizing stories about rabid bats or colonies of bats in buildings and exaggerating the dangers involved.Evensomewell-respectedmagazineshavepublishedridiculous bat-scare stories. One such article, “The Nightmare House,” described the experiences of a family that didn’t know “there was another presence in the house ‘strange and ominous’ that was soon to shatter the quiet and suddenly plunge them into terror.” A few unscrupulous pestcontrol companies have charged exorbitant fees for removing (killing) colonies of bats from the homes of “terrified” people. It is true that a few species of bats in the United States and Canada, given the opportunity, may take up residence in attics or other parts of Oily stains may indicate that bats are roosting in a building. Here, a net attached to the ventilation panel allows a colony of big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) to exit, but not to return. Exclusion should be done only when no bats are present in the roost. Troy L. Best 56 bats of the united states and canada buildings, and most people prefer not to have “bats in their belfry” or anywhere else in their residences. The best method of preventing bats from roosting in houses or other buildings is simply to close the openings through which they enter. Bats do not gnaw their way into buildings , as some people believe. Bat-proofing should be done during the time of year when bats are not present (usually September through March) or at night after bats leave to forage. Care must be taken not to trap flightless young in buildings. Chemical toxicants are rarely a good solution to “bat problems” in buildings. In fact, they may create far worse problems because the poisons may be dangerous to humans or cause poisoned bats to fall to the ground where they die slowly and are more likely to come into contact with children and pets. In addition, bat-proofing procedures often result in energy conservation. This university administration building serves as a summer roost for a colony of big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus). Many species of bats inhabit buildings during summer and some occupy buildings during winter. Because bats, unlike rodents, do not gnaw, they can be excluded from buildings simply by closing the openings through which they enter. Michael J. Harvey ...