Interesting facts
In the United States and Canada there are no vampire bats. While some bats carry rabies, the number of carriers is far lower than in many other wild animals such as raccoons. Besides, rabies kill bats quickly so they rarely show the aggressiveness seen in rabid dogs or cats. Even the less than half of one percent of bats that carry rabies normally bite only in self-defense and pose little threat to people who do not handle them.
A colony of 150 big brown bats can protect local farmers from up to 33 million or more rootworms each summer. The 20 million Mexican free-tails from Bracken Cave, Texas, eat approximately 200 tons of insects nightly. Best of all, a single little brown bat can catch more than 1,200 mosquitoes-sized insects in one hour!
Loss of natural roosts--such as tree cavities or caves--has impacted our most common species of bats. Providing an alternate roost can encourage bats to your yard and keep them from seeking shelter in attics.
Suggestions for providing shelter
Bat houses can be purchased or you can make your own. Books containing plans can be purchased at many bookstores or you can visit the Bat Conservation International, Inc. website for criteria for successful bat houses and answers to frequently asked bat house questions.
The best-designed houses are 24 to 36 inches tall, 16 to 24 inches wide, and 4 to 5 inches deep. Most houses have 1 to 4 (three-quarter inch wide) roosting chambers. Rough lumber allows bats to cling more easily.
Houses should be placed at least 10 feet above the ground, 15 to 20 feet is better. Houses placed on poles or on buildings are preferable to those hung on trees.
Bat houses mounted on poles or sides of buildings provide the best protection against predators. Try to locate the house 20 to 25 feet from the nearest tree. Using three-quarter inch roosting spaces helps limit colonization by wasps.
Houses should be placed so they receive at least 6 hours of sun a day (more in northern climates), but are protected from bright lights at night.
Greatest success will be in areas where water is within a quarter of a mile and there is diverse habitat, including natural vegetation.
Bat houses will be most successfully colonized the first year if they are installed before migrating bats return in the spring.
Caution
As with all wildlife, bats should not be handled. If a bat is close enough to pick up, it may be sick and should be left alone. You should not attract bats to places where curious children may try to handle them.
While fear of bats persists in the United States, the Chinese consider bats a symbol of good luck and some Native American cultures considered them powerful deities. Given a chance, bats can be a fascinating and beneficial addition to the wildlife in your neighborhood as they swoop around at dusk devouring annoying insect pests.
Bats, Birds and other Wildlife
- Make more use of bats in integrated pest management (PDF, 54.7KB)
- Role of bats in integrated pest management (PDF, 2 MB)
- Bats and Mines (PDF, 535 KB)
A guide to surveying and evaluating abandoned mines for use by bats, with alternatives to mine closure. A continuing partnership between the Agricultural Wildlife Conservation Center and Bat Conservation International has produced a number of publications and other information on bat habitat needs as well as the value of bats in the ecosystem. The materials show why and how to include the needs of bats in conservation planning.
A user friendly guide that provides information on proven methods for increasing wildlife safety and accessibility at artificial watering features without diminishing their usefulness for livestock. Although aimed at Western livestock producers, the wildlife escape structures and techniques apply east of the Mississippi River also. This was a cooperative effort between the Agricultural Wildlife Conservation Center and Bat Conservation International.
A user-friendly guide and workshops for owners of woodlots and forestlands providing practical measures to conserve and enhance habitat for forest-dwelling bats. This is a cooperative effort between AWCC and Bat Conservation International.
COMMENTS