Have Bats Invaded Your Home? Learn to Detect the Signs of an Infestation

Have you ever seen what you may have thought was a fast, flying bird around dusk? Well, you probably saw a bat having his dinner! Bats are amazing, and often misunderstood animals. They are the only mammal that can truly fly, as oppose to glide, and if you have witnessed these little acrobats flying around after dark, you may not have known that they were chowing down on a buffet of flying insects! Bats spend their nights chasing and consuming 20 - 50% of their body weight in insects every night!

New York is home to nine different bat species. Three bat species in NY are tree bats and the other six species are cave bats. Baby bats, or pups, are born in the summer months of June and July. As they develop and grow quite quickly, young bats are usually ready to begin flying and hunting within a month of being born. Unlike southern states, the caves and mines of New York are too cold for raising young. 

Therefore, when these nocturnal little creatures return from feeding at night, they sleep during the hot summer days in a variety of places, including buildings, bridges, beneath loose bark, or in crevices in trees and rocks. Despite the old saying "blind as a bat," many bats see extremely well. However, despite their vision and keen hearing, New York bats often wind up sleeping and even getting trapped in places where they do not belong, such as your house!

Since bats can cause pest problems as well as carry diseases, including rabies, it is very important to call a wildlife professional at the very first sign of a bat infestation. There are several ways in which a homeowner or business owner may detect bats. The signs of a bat infestation are listed below!

Signs:

  • Seeing a bat (may be seen exiting the home/building around dusk/early evening hours)
  • Hearing a bat (bats can cause noises inside the home from their routine activities)
  • Visible droppings (bat droppings, as opposed to mouse droppings are segmented and full of insect parts)
  • Brown to black stains (stains result as bats enter and leave an opening, the oils from their fur get deposited)

Remember - Any opening 3/8 inch or larger provides a possible entry for bats! To keep you and your family safe, contact our professionals at Tri-County Wildlife Control and Removal to inspect and successfully manage your bat infestation!

Call Tri-County Wildlife Control and Removal at 845-225-6562 or call 914-804-8444 for emergency service!

For more information, follow us on Facebook or visit www.tricountywildlifecontrolnewyork.com


Source: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

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Submitted by New Fairfield, CT

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