There are many different species of bat but the most common that you might find in the attic of your home this winter are the little brown bat (Myotis Lucifugus) and the big Brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus). These small bats can weigh no more than an ounce for the little brown bats which are only 2 to 4 inches in length. Much like the names suggest they are dark or light brown in color. While they do eat insects like moths that could be a problem in your home especially when they are destroying your mother’s wedding dress or even your family photos, a bats droppings can also ruin property and even worse transmit dangerous bacteria and diseases.
Bat Diet
A bats main diet includes insects like moths and fleas they also eat those annoying mosquitoes that carry diseases such as malaria, West Nile Virus and more recently discovered to carry Zika virus that can be harmful to your family. These mosquitoes are often found in humid swampy areas where these bats usually live. They can eat their own body weight in insects estimated around 600 in one evening which is when they are most active as they are nocturnal or in other words awake during the night. This is also when they hunt.
Do Bats Come Out During the Day?
They spend their days sleeping and grooming in dark caves or buildings like your home. Finding bats in your home can be scary. Their sharp pointed teeth are rather intimidating especially when you encounter them in your home in the dark of your attic, in rafters of buildings or around your children.
What Happens if a Bat Bites You?
There’s always the fear of being bitten. While these animals are cute they can carry rabies which is spread through their saliva and attacks the person’s nervous system. Look out for bats that are scurrying along on the ground or that are awake during the day as these could be signs that that bat may be infected with rabies and should therefore be avoided. You should give us a call immediately to come take care of these bats so no one gets hurt.
Bat Wildlife Pest Inspections, Exclusion, Control, Removal, Management & More in Canyon Lake, Spring Branch, Bulverde, Timberwood Park, Leon Valley, Alamo Heights, New Braunfels, Selma, Live Oak, Converse, Universal City, Cibolo, Seguin, New Berlin, St Hedwig, Adkins, La Vernia, Elmendorf, Losoya, Von Ormy, Macdona & San Antonio, Texas
While they are great for the environment around your home they are not so good in your home and having someone come and remove them for the cold season which is when bats hibernate. They hibernate for four to six months and you don’t want holiday house guests that long. Brown stains on the siding of your home from their urine and feces, squeaking or scurrying sounds coming from your attic may be signs its time to call an exterminator like A Five Star Termite & Pest Control. You may also notice the strong smell of ammonia from the bats droppings, called guano. This is also an indicator it’s time to get some help. They’re average lifespan is 6 to 7 years or in the case of the Big Brown bat, it can be up to 19. Protecting your family from bats to prevent the spread of rabies and parasites like tapeworms and fleas is important. If your being driven “batty” give A Five Star Termite & Pest Control a call today.
