‘Tis the season for bats. Spring is here and the bats are searching for a place to raise their young. Every year about this time, we begin to get an increase in bat calls. There birthing period begins in late May and hence their search for a safe place to raise their pups. There are two types of bats most commonly found in our service areas, the big brown bat and the little brown bat. The little brown bat is approximately 3 to 4 inches long while the big brown bat is 4 to 5 inches long.
Bats are wonderful mammals that play a crucial role in our ecological systems. Bats consume enormous quantities of mosquitoes and other insects such as beetles, moths and leaf hoppers. Why are they so beneficial? Because they reduce the risk of humans contacting the diseases carried by mosquitoes, i.e. West Nile Virus and they naturally protect food crops that we all benefit from eating. At Wildlife Busters all of our bat removal techniques are environmentally friendly and ecologically safe to ensure that only humane bat control is practiced. Under no circumstances are poisons or chemicals ever used or needed to properly remove a bat or bat colony. One of our main ways to remove bats is by installing a one-way exclusionary door made specifically for certain areas for the bats entry. This door allows the bats to leave, but not come back. Hence, we do not recommend removing bats beginning in late May/ early June through August when their pups might be left behind.
Prevention is always the best way to avoid human/wildlife conflicts. At Wildlife Busters we offer bat prevention plans. Bats bodies are made of cartilage and hence they are master contortionists—they can squeeze through a hole the size of a dime. Our wildlife technicians are trained to locate these access points throughout your commercial or residential property. We will come in and perform a thorough site inspection of your home and seal all entryways. All of our prevention plans come with a 1 to 5 year warranty. Please don’t hesitate to call us at our toll free number 855-945-1212 to set up an appointment.
…And just for informational purposes, the disease that impacts the bats of our service area is called White Nose Syndrome. It truly is a wildlife health crisis, white nose syndrome, is named for the white fungus evident on the muzzles and wings of affected bats. Scientists are still researching and learning about the disease, but they believe it causes the reduction of fat reserves, which they need to survive through their hibernation period. This causes them to leave their hibernacula during the winter prematurely and die. Some signs of white nose syndrome in bats include
- White fungus, especially on the bat’s nose, but also on the wings, ears and tail
- Bats flying outside during the day in temperatures at or below freezing
- Bats clustered near the entrance of a hibernacula
- Dead or dying bats on the ground or on building, trees or other structures.
If you have seen bats with these characteristics, please notify your local DEC office.
If you are experiencing a bat removal issue or just want to get a jump-start on preventing an issue from arising, please contact us toll free at 855-945-1212. We look forward to resolving your animal control issue in a professional and humane manner.
Inspirational Quote of the Week
“Never look back unless you are planning to go that way”
Henry David Thoreau
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