With its unusually large ears, the northern long-eared bat is distinctive among the other local species of bat. Found throughout the eastern U.S., this bat is most likely to be found living in forests. However, it will roost in urban and suburban areas where trees are present, and it may even roost inside man-made structures.
Mainly active at night, northern long-eared bats need to roost during the day. They look for places that are dark, quiet and protected to do so. When the moon rises, the bats emerge to hunt for the insects that make up their daily diet.
Northern long-eared bats do not have good eyesight. Because they must be active at night, they rely on echolocation to find their way around and to locate the insects they need to survive. When winter arrives, northern long-eared bats enter a state of hibernation, frequently choosing a cave or an abandoned mine as a roosting site. Many also will hibernate in the upper reaches of a structure, such as an attic.
Hollywood has done a disservice to bats, as these animals only rarely bite people. If anything, they prefer to avoid running into humans. When encounters do occur, the bat may react with aggression as it tries to defend itself from a perceived threat. Northern long-eared bats and other species may be infected with diseases that can be transmitted to people through such an encounter. This means that it is always wise to seek medical treatment after getting up-close-and-personal with a bat.
Most bat species in the local area are threatened or endangered. Numerous laws and regulations prohibit people from harming or interfering with bats in any way. Still, it is not desirable to have bats in a building as this can cause damage and expose people to illness.
When northern long-eared bats roost in a building, it is wise for the property owner to contact a local pest management company. These professionals work in compliance with the law to ensure the safe exclusion of bats from a building. It is not recommended for people to try to remove bats by themselves as this may lead them to inadvertently break the law.
WHAT DO
LONG-EARED
BATS LOOK LIKE?
Its oversized ears make this species relatively easy to identify. The fur on this bat's body may be medium- to dark-brown on its back with a belly that is covered in tawny or brown fur. Most northern long-eared bats are between three and four inches in length with females being the larger gender. Adults weigh approximately five to eight grams and have wingspans ranging between nine and ten inches.
WHAT DO
LONG-EARED
BATS EAT?
Northern long-eared bats and other bat species in Ewing are beneficial members of the ecosystem because of the number of pest insects that they consume. In addition to spiders, these bats eat a steady diet of moths, flies, leafhoppers, caddisflies and beetles. These bats are skilled hunters that can catch prey on the wing or while standing at ground level.
WHERE DO
LONG-EARED
BATS LIVE?
Eight Canadian provinces and 37 states in the U.S. are home to northern long-eared bats. Members of the species tend to prefer roosting habitat that features relatively still air, constant temperatures and somewhat high humidity, especially when they are hibernating. Abandoned mines or natural caves can serve this purpose admirably. Given the bats' relatively small size, even a minuscule crevice or crack can provide the ideal habitat, and this can be found in buildings too.
Hibernation lasts throughout the winter months, but the bats begin to awaken as spring approaches. Accustomed to hibernating in large groups, March brings changes as the bats may now roost individually or in colonies. Spring, summer and fall roosting locations may include various places within trees such as in crevices or beneath the bark. Relatively undisturbed barns, sheds and attics serve this purpose well.
Forests are the preferred habitat of the northern long-eared bat given their preference for roosting in trees. Accordingly, any buildings that are surrounded by trees or are close to a forested area are particularly vulnerable to infestation.
DAMAGE CAUSED BY
LONG-EARED
BATS
Bats do not require an especially large opening in order to get inside a man-made structure. Cracks and openings that appear too small to people may not look so to bats. The animals also may make an opening bigger to suit their purposes, and they will certainly leave considerable staining around the exterior walls of the building in the places where they are entering and exiting.
Bat guano and urine possess extraordinarily high concentrations of uric acid. This makes these substances toxic and destructive. They pool and drip in places such as attics, chimneys and fireplaces, causing bricks, wood, particle board and sheet rock to sustain significant damage. If bat infestations are not attended to in a timely manner, they can cause the structure's interior to collapse.
Bats may bring other pests into buildings with them. These include bat mites, which people frequently mistake for bed bugs. It is essential to evict bats to prevent additional pest issues from becoming a problem.
ARE
LONG-EARED
BATS AGGRESSIVE?
Shy around people, northern long-eared bats do their utmost to avoid contact. Nonetheless, they will panic when people get too close or, even worse, begin swatting at them. Equipped with extremely sharp and small teeth and claws, these bats may bite or scratch a person without the victim being aware. This can lead to the transmission of a serious disease.
If any bat does happen to enter a building in which people are present, the best course of action is to open up any doors or windows that lead to the outside as this will help the bats to find an exit.
DO
LONG-EARED
BATS CARRY DISEASE?
Some members of this species are infected with rabies. This means that it is possible for people to become infected with rabies after an up-close encounter with a bat. Rabies infection numbers in northern long-eared bats are lower than people might expect. Still, it is wise to visit the emergency room after encountering a bat.
No direct contact between people and bats is needed for people to get sick. Bat guano may carry Histoplasmosis spores that can be inhaled by people in infested buildings. The spores settle in the lungs, causing symptoms like headaches, fatigue, chills, fever, chest pain and general body aches.
HOW TO DETECT
LONG-EARED
BATS
Signs of long-eared bats issue include:
• Bat guano and other waste products anywhere in the building • Milky white urine stains appearing on windows • Eaves and overhangs are marred by bat droppings • Curious odors and stains are found in the interior and on the exterior of the building • Squeaking and scratching noises come from behind walls • Entry points in the building's exterior are stained with grease and dirt
HOW TO PREVENT
LONG-EARED
BATS
To help prevent long-eared bat problems the following steps should be taken:
• Place bat houses on the premises to provide alternative roosting sites • Eliminate holes and cracks in the building's exterior • Try to keep doors and windows shut, and use screens on any open portals • Discourage insects by using yellow sodium bulbs in outdoor light fixtures • Scatter mothballs in attics and other common roosting sites • Use stainless steel caps on chimneys and wire mesh on chimney and furnace vents
HOW TO TREAT FOR BATS
Bat control can be complicated and potentially dangerous involving many procedures that are governed by state law. A licensed pest management professional should always be consulted to ensure safe and proper bat removal, decontamination, and prevention.
