All openings connecting the attic or other roosting areas to inside living areas should be sealed, although entry places on the outside of the house should be left open, allowing bats to exit. At dusk, watch the bats leaving the house to locate exactly where openings are located. Be sure to scout all sides of the house as there is often more than one opening. Entry places should be covered with a plastic mesh or netting that will allow the bats to exit by crawling under the mesh, but not re-enter the house. You should not evict bats during the months of June, July, or August, because there could be many younger bats that have not developed their flight abilities and are dependent on their mothers for food. Also, remember that you will want to put up a bat house nearby several weeks before the planned eviction. It is best to put the bat house in a place close by where the bats will become accustomed to it.
What do bats eat?
Approximately 70 percent of all bats are insectivores, including the majority of North American bats. North American bats primarily feed on night flying insects, especially mosquitoes, and are known to eat beetles, moths, and leafhoppers.
Will bats harm people, pets, or birds?
It is important for people to remember that bats are wild animals and should be allowed to live in their natural environments. Bats are not aggressive animals and do not intentionally attack people or other animals, however, they will bite if touched. Birding enthusiasts should not worry about competition between bats and birds. Since bats are nocturnal, they rarely come in contact with most birds. Also, there is rarely competition for food since there is not typically a shortage of insects that are consumed by both bats and insect eating birds, such as the purple martin.
Do bats carry rabies?
Many people have serious misconceptions about bats. Perhaps one of the most popular of which is the belief that bats are vicious carriers of rabies. The fact is that bats are actually quite harmless, and do not exhibit any higher percentage of rabies infection than any other animal species. In fact, bats infected with rabies usually do not exhibit the aggressive behavior that often occurs with rabies infection in other animals. Rabies infection normally paralyzes the bat, so do not pick up a bat that may be lying on the ground without protective covering. If possible, it is recommended to have a pest removal specialist remove the potentially infected bat.
When do bats hibernate?
In most of North America, bats hibernate from late Fall until early Spring. They often seek out caves and abandoned mines, and will migrate from their current homes (buildings, bat houses, etc.) to warmer, more secure places. Bats in warmer climates, such as the southern United States, do not hibernate. Instead, they go into a state of torpor if outside temperatures approach 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Torpor is a state of inactivity in which the bats stay in their day roosts for extended periods of time to conserve energy until temperatures begin to rise.
Where can I find bat house plans?
We now offer the Bat Builder's Handboook by Merlin D. Tuttle and Donna L. Hensley that includes bat house plans as well as general information about bats. In addition, you may find plans online at: