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By James Knight, Montguide

For reasons of health, odor and cleanliness, most people do not wish to live in close proximity with bats. Their nocturnal move- ments and quick flight patterns often give us cause for alarm.

But despite their “reputation,” bats provide millions of dollars worth of benefits that should be recognized. Bats are crucial to pollination of many plants, they reduce disease vectors, and they fill a key ecological niche.

This MontGuide describes some of the characteristics of bats and offers several solutions for coping with bats who have taken up resi- dence in human households.

Characteristics of bats

Bats are small mammals, aver- aging three to five inches in length. A few species are solitary, but most bats congregate in groups or colonies. Most leave their roosting places at dusk to fly about in pursuit of the night-flying insects that provide the bulk of their food. All bats in Mon- tana are insectivo- rous, feeding on a variety of flying insects. Many of these insects are harmful to humans. A bat can consume insects equal to one-third of its body weight in 1/2 hour of forag- ing. The bat may fill its stomach in about one hour with prey includ- ing beetles, moths, flying ants,  true bugs, mayflies, caddis flies and other insects. The nightly con- sumption of insects by a colony of bats can be extremely large.

Two bats common in Montana are the big brown bat and the hoary bat (Figure 1). Bats in Mon- tana migrate with the change in seasons, following a steady source of food supply. Some bats come to Montana only during the colder months.

By day, bats roost in dark, shel- tered places. They hang head- down, firmly secured by hooking their toes into cracks or around small projections. From this posi- tion they drop from the roost by releasing their grasp. Momentum from the fall helps them become airborne. Most bats cannot take off from a flat surface. Originally, bats roosted in natu- ral shelters, such as caves and hollow trees. Many still do, but others have found attics, spaces between building walls and unused areas in upper stories much to their liking. The noises created by crawling and squeaking bats are usually disturbing to the house- holder.

The major objection to their presence in buildings is the bat excrement. This excrement per- sists for a long time after the roost is broken up, and some experts speculate it may serve to attract new colonies if thorough sanitary measures are not taken.

Bat excrement

Bat excrement (guano) pro- duces an unpleasant odor as it decomposes in attics, wall spaces and other voids. The pungent, musty, acrid odor can often be detected from outside a building containing a large or long-term colony. Similar odor problems occur when animals die in inacces- sible locations. The odor also at- tracts arthropods, which may later invade other areas of a building.

Bat guano may provide a growth medium for microorgan- isms, some of which are patho- genic (histoplasmosis, for ex- ample). Excessive guano can lead to stained ceilings, soffits and sid- ing, producing unsightly and un- sanitary conditions.

Bats also urinate and defecate in flight, causing multiple spottings and stains on sides of buildings, windows, patio furniture, automo- biles and other objects at and near entry/exit holes or beneath roosts. Bat excrement may contaminate stored food, commercial products and work surfaces. Although the fresh urine of a single bat is rela- tively odorless, that of any moder- ate-sized colony is obvious, and the odor increases during damp weather.

The close proximity of bat roosts to human living quarters can result in excreta, animal dander, fragments of arthropods and vari- ous microorganisms entering air ducts as well as falling onto the unfortunate residents below. Such contaminants can result in airborne particles of public health signifi- cance.

Rabies

Bats, like any other mammal, can transmit the rabies virus to humans. Domestic dogs, domestic cats, skunks, foxes and bats have a higher occurrence of rabies than other mammals. Any bat acting in an abnormal manner should be approached with caution, particu- larly if found fluttering on the ground. Bat bites should be treated by a physician, and the bat should be captured without injury to the head so the brain can be examined by proper authorities.

Control techniques

The only way to permanently rid a building of bats is to elimi- nate all possible entrances. Repel- lents are not lasting control meth- ods, and there are no toxicants registered for bats in Montana. Bat-proofing a building is the only efficient and permanent way to eliminate bats.

Bat-proofing buildings

Bats may enter buildings through large or small openings such as unprotected louvers or vents, broken windows or other open spaces. They may enter through old worn sidings or  around eaves or cornices. The smaller species of bats can crawl through slits as narrow as 3/8 of an inch. It is necessary, therefore, to eliminate all possible entrances.

The larger openings should be covered with sheet metal or with 1/4-inch mesh hardware cloth if ventilation is necessary. It is essen- tial that no openings larger than 1/4-inch are left. Many openings are best plugged and sealed with caulking compound. Foam in- jected in cracks, crevices, roof edges, door jambs, overhangs and similar openings can eliminate smaller entrances.

Control steps

To begin bat control, first iden- tify the primary entrances used by the bats. Do not close these until after the bats have had two oppor- tunities to leave the roost.

In the evening, about 30 min- utes before dark, observe the area you suspect the bats may be using. You will probably be able to iden- tify one or two spots they are us- ing to enter and exit. The next day, plug all holes except the few you have identified as entrances or exits. This will allow the bats to leave the roost and these remain- ing holes can be plugged later. Be sure the holes you leave are being actively used by bats. A brown stain is usually apparent at the actively used entrances.

During the warmer months, bats normally have two feeding flights, one in early evening and one in the early morning. Normally, all occu- pants leave the roost within 15 to 20 minutes after the first one starts out. If they have been disturbed, however, the normal routine may be upset considerably.

The next step is to close the remaining holes in the evening about one hour after dark. They can be reopened for a few days  just before dark to allow any re- maining bats to leave. Remember, however, to close all entrances every night about one hour after dark. If any entrances have been overlooked, the bats will soon find them. It may be necessary to watch the building closely at dusk for several evenings.

One concern with this technique relates to the presence of depen- dent young. If the bats are locked out while they have dependent young, it will cause mortality and a resulting odor. Males are often in small groups, (one to 20 for most species) and widely scattered. If possible, look into the roost for young bats.

Excluding a colony

Most bat species leave in win- ter, permitting exclusion in their absence. If you do not wish to wait for winter, there is a relatively simple exclusion technique that can be used after young are flying but prior to the winter months.

Inexpensive light-weight polypro- pylene netting with a mesh-size of 1/4-inch or smaller can be obtained in quantity to cover areas of nearly any size. Hang the netting during daylight hours above areas where bats emerge, using duct tape or staples (Figure 2). A strip of netting at least two feet wide, hung one to two inches in front of bat exit holes, and extending at least two feet below and to the side of exit points will allow the bats to emerge, but later they will be un- able to find their way back. The netting acts as a simple one-way excluder until repairs can make the exclusion permanent. A sheet of clear, heavy-weight plastic (avail- able at any hardware store) will have the same effect. The netting (or plastic) should be left in place for two to three days to assure that all bats have left the roost.

Repellents

Occasionally, temporary control can be accomplished by the use of repellents. Bats dislike the odor of naphthalene, a chemical com- monly used as a moth and insect repellent. When the roost is lo- cated in attics or other closed spaces that can be reached easily, either of these materials may be used to temporarily drive  them out. Three to five pounds of naph- thalene flakes will usually be suffi- cient to treat the average attic.

Sprinkle the material liberally over the entire area. Bats will usually leave the roost within a short time after it is introduced. The chemical dissipates rapidly on contact with air, however, and application has to be repeated often if no other control is practiced. Bright lights used to illuminate the roost may also act as a repel- lent.

These techniques can be em- ployed to remove bats while bat- proofing is being completed. The repellent techniques should not be considered a permanent solution to bat problems. Remember, bats are quite persistent, and it is often difficult to dislodge them from old established roosts.

Removal of occasional bat intruders

A bat that has blundered into the living quarters of a house will usually find its way out by detect- ing air movement. When no bite or contact with people or pets has occurred, the simplest solution for “removing” the bat is to try to confine it to one room, then open windows and doors leading out- doors and allow it to escape.

If the bat is present at night, the lights should be dimmed to allow the animal to find open doors and windows; some light is necessary if an observer is to ensure that the bat finds its way out. If bright lights are kept on, the bat may become confused and may seek refuge behind shelving, curtains, hanging pictures, or under furniture.

Healthy bats normally will not attack people, even when chased. Chasing a flying bat with a folded newspaper, tennis racket or stick will cause the bat to take evasive action, and a bat’s  flight reversal to avoid a wall is often misinter- preted as an attack. These flailings, often futile, will cause a bat to  seek safety wherever possible, making escape more difficult for the bat and more frustrating for the human.

If the bat has difficulty escap- ing, it can be captured in a hand net (for example, an insect net). Otherwise, wait for it to come to rest, quickly cover it with a coffee can or similar container, and slide a piece of cardboard or magazine under the can to trap the bat inside. Take the captured bat outdoors and release it away from populated areas, preferably after dark. Note that reasonably thick work gloves should be worn at all times when trying to capture a bat. Also, if a bite or physical contact occurs, capture the bat without damaging its head and immediately contact a physician.

Bat houses

For more than 60 years, artificial bat roosts have been used in Europe. Only recently have they gained some popularity in the United States. Though the results are variable, it appears that artificial houses, if properly constructed and located, can attract bats that are displaced or excluded from a structure (Figure 3). It sometimes helps to seed a new bat house with guano from the excluded site.

Alternate roosts should be located away from hu- man high-use areas. Thus, people can enjoy the ben- efits of bats without sharing their dwellings with them and with little risk of direct contact with them.

Summary

Bats are often misunderstood. They perform a valuable natural function but are understandably un- welcome when they take up residence in certain places. Exclusion or “bat-proofing” is the only sure solution to a bat problem.

Lumber needed:

1" x 8" x 153/4"—5 pieces (2 for front, 3 for back) 1" x 4" x 153/4"—1 piece for front

1" x 4" x 161/2"—1 piece for top

1" x 1" x 123/4"—1 piece for entry restriction 2" x 2" x 213/4"—2 pieces for sides

2" x 2" x 123/4"—1 piece for ceiling

Piece of nylon screening, 19 3/4" long x 14 1/4" wide.

 

Fold sides and top over 3/4"