Classified as a mouse-eared microbat, the little brown bat is a seriously endangered species that is native to North America. It is active at night, but during the day it must find a place to roost. Occasionally, this bat will use a convenient Feasterville area building as a roosting site.
Many people feel an unreasoning fear when it comes to bats of all descriptions. However, the little brown bat and other bat species are actually beneficial to people and the environment. This is mainly because they are excellent pollinators, but they also perform natural pest control by eating surprisingly large amounts of insects that most people consider unwanted pests.
While it has few natural predators, the little brown bat may fall prey to owls or even raccoons. People similarly can be a danger to it. Little brown bats are endangered mainly because of a disease called white-nose syndrome. This condition has led to significant population losses in the Northeastern United States over the last several years. In fact, some scientists estimate a population loss of a shocking 90 percent.
Accordingly, state and local governments have enacted measures that are designed to protect the remaining little brown bat population. This means that it is effectively illegal to willfully kill members of the species. Exterminators who are called in to deal with little brown bat infestations must do so in a humane manner that preserves the lives of all bats living in the structure.
Because many rules and regulations surround little brown bat control, it is never wise for property owners to attempt to exclude bats by themselves. It is much better to let a professional do the job. Another reason to call in a pest management professional is that these technicians can decontaminate the building to ensure that people do not become ill as a result of the infestation.
WHAT DO
LITTLE BROWN
BATS LOOK LIKE?
Covered in long, brown, glossy fur, the little brown bat's body length typically is only between three and five inches. Adults may weigh about one-sixteenth or one-half an ounce, and their maximum wing span is eleven inches. Females generally are larger than males, and the species' wing membranes are a dark brown. If the bat's ears are laid forward, they probably will not stretch past its nose.
WHAT DO
LITTLE BROWN
BATS EAT?
Members of this species show a distinct preference for aquatic insects like mosquitoes, mayflies, caddisflies and midges. However, the little brown bat is known to eat crane flies, moths, beetles, gnats and even wasps. Common feeding areas include close to or over water, in fields or in wooded areas. Consequently, buildings that are located close to such habitat may be more susceptible to little brown bat infestations. These bats may consume insects equaling half its body weight every night, though nursing females are known to eat as much as 110 percent of their body weight.
WHERE DO
LITTLE BROWN
BATS LIVE?
It is not unusual for little brown bats to occupy both night and day roosts. A day roost may be found in caves or the hollow of a tree, though wood piles or the eaves of a building also may serve. At sunset, the bat leaves its day roost for a one- to five-hour period during which it eats. The bat then may retreat to a night roost where it can rest. A night roost often is close to the day roost, perhaps even in the same building. Wherever the night roost is, it is a space in which the bats can huddle together to share body warmth during the coldest part of the night. In general, it is females that form large community roosts while the males are likely to roost in smaller groups or individually.
DAMAGE CAUSED BY BATS
People frequently are surprised to learn just how destructive an infestation of these small animals can be. Most of the damage is caused by little brown bat waste products, which are extraordinarily corrosive owing to a high concentration of uric acid.
Bat urine and feces accordingly can cause wood, clay and bricks to decay. When an infestation is of long standing, then it may cause extensive damage that is difficult and expensive to address.
Moreover, bats may cause damage to the building's structure as they enter and leave it numerous times.
ARE
LITTLE BROWN
BATS AGGRESSIVE?
Little brown bats generally are a docile species that regard humans as predators that should be feared and avoided. However, some of these bats occasionally do find their way into parts of buildings that are inhabited by people. The bat may panic, especially if people start swatting at it or trying to trap it.
Bites and scratches may be the result, though many of these injuries are too small to notice. Contact with a bat or wounds caused by a bat can make people extremely ill, so seeking immediate medical attention is recommended.
The best approach for encouraging a bat to go outdoors is to open all exterior doors and windows and step back. The bat's echolocation abilities will eventually lead it to an opening.
DO
LITTLE BROWN
BATS CARRY DISEASE?
Although rare, some little brown bats are infected with rabies. A bite or scratch from an infected bat may lead to an infection in the human victim. Additionally, bat guano sometimes contains fungal spores that are responsible for the spread of Histoplasmosis, a lung disease that is transmitted without people even being aware of a bat infestation or coming into contact with a bat.
Little brown bats also may be infested with bat bugs, a relative of bed bugs. These pests prefer to feed on bats, but they will definitely feed on people if given the opportunity.
HOW TO DETECT
LITTLE BROWN
BATS
Signs of little brown bats issue include:
• Strange noises of scratching and squeaking from attics or behind walls • Unidentified stains on the exterior walls of the building • Dead bat bodies on the landscaping • A strong scent of ammonia inside the building
HOW TO PREVENT
LITTLE BROWN
BATS
To help prevent little brown bat problems the following steps should be taken:
• Give them an alternative and attractive roost by installing bat boxes • Ensure that all cracks, gaps and holes in the building's exterior are covered • Correct problems with standing water and leaky pipes so that fewer insects are attracted to the property • Schedule regular pest control treatments to eliminate food sources for the bats • Install bat exclusion equipment that allows bats to get outdoors but ensures that they cannot come back
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.
