Little brown bats are among the most misunderstood members of the animal kingdom. Although they are prolific pollinators and keep populations of insect pests in check, many people fear these tiny animals.
Learning more about the species reveals that Levittown area residents have few reasons to be wary of the little brown bat. However, one major area of concern occurs when members of the species choose a building for a daytime or nighttime roost.
Like other bats, little brown bats mainly are nocturnal. This means that they need a safe and sheltered place to rest during the day and during the hours of the night when they are not hunting. Sometimes, a gap or other opening in a building's exterior enables the bats to come indoors to roost. The main problem with this arrangement is that these bats have toxic waste products that cause construction materials to decay. If little brown bat infestations are not taken care of, they can cause extensive structural damage.
Complicating the control of the little brown bat is the fact that this is an endangered species. Raccoons, owls and other predators do hunt this species, but the main threat that is faced by little brown bats is white-nose syndrome. Responsible for a population loss of nearly 90 percent in recent years, this disease is having tragic consequences for bat species across the country.
In trying to save little brown bats, governments have placed restrictions on how and when control methods can be used on the species. Exterminators do not kill little brown bats that are found indoors. Instead, the bats are carefully excluded from the building so that they must find a more appropriate place to roost.
Because only highly controlled exclusion techniques may be used so that no harm comes to the bats, it is always wise for property owners to ask a pest management professional to deal with any little brown bat infestations.
WHAT DO LITTLE BROWN
BATS LOOK LIKE?
Measuring just three to five inches long, the little brown bat does not look like much of a threat. A fully grown bat weighs approximately one-sixteenth to one-half an ounce. Their bodies are covered in shiny fur, and their wingspan typically is about eleven inches. Like the fur, the wings are dark brown. They have relatively short ears, and males are smaller than females.
WHAT DO
LITTLE BROWN
BATS EAT?
Several aquatic insects that people consider pests are favorite foods for the little brown bat. These include mosquitoes, midges, caddisflies, mayflies and crane flies. When observed in the nature, these bats have been seen to eat wasps, beetles, gnats and many other species.
With their preference for aquatic insects, little brown bats frequently are found in wet areas or around bodies of water. Buildings that are found close to lakes or rivers or that have drainage issues may be more vulnerable to a bat infestation. With their ability to eat 110 percent of their body weight in a single night, it is easy to see why so many experts consider little brown bats to be an essential part of the ecosystem.
WHERE DO
LITTLE BROWN
BATS LIVE?
Little brown bats may utilize both day and night roosts. Caves, hollow trees, a pile of wood or rocks or the overhang on a man-made structure all may be used as a day roost. Each day as the sun goes down, the bat moves from its day roost to a feeding area. Most bats will eat for about one to five hours before seeking their night roost. Frequently found in close proximity to the day roost, the night roost also may be in a building, cave or hollow tree. Generally, the night roost space is quite large and able to accommodate many little brown bats so that they can take advantage of each other's body warmth. Most bat infestations consist mainly of females, which tend to be less solitary than males.
DAMAGE CAUSED BY
LITTLE BROWN
BATS
Feces and urine from little brown bats is incredibly corrosive thanks to an unusually large dose of uric acid. Accordingly, even a small amount of these waste products can cause ordinary building materials like bricks, mortar and wood to rot.
If an infestation is caught in its early stages, then it is relatively easy to contain and address the damage. However, long-standing infestations may be responsible for widespread structural damage that requires significant cleanup and repairs. It is essential to have a professional perform these tasks as they have the necessary safety equipment and training.
ARE
LITTLE BROWN
BATS AGGRESSIVE?
Little brown bats tend to give people a wide berth. Nonetheless, encounters do happen, especially when the bats accidentally enter parts of a building where people are present. These bats have incredibly small and sharp teeth and claws. Occasionally, a person will be scratched or bitten in such an encounter without realizing they have received an injury.
Consequently, it is wise to avoid bats that come indoors. Opening exterior doors and windows will help the bat to use its echolocation abilities to find a way out.
DO
LITTLE BROWN
BATS CARRY DISEASE?
Rabies is probably the most common concern that people have with bat species. However, rabies infections in bats are relatively rare. Still, there is a chance that a person might be infected with rabies after an up-close-and-personal encounter with a bat, making it wise to have medical tests performed soon after the event.
By far the greater danger is exposure to bat guano, some of which may contain fungal spores. These spores may cause a lung illness known as Histoplasmosis. Even people who have never seen a bat in or around a building may be infected after inhaling contaminated air.
Many little brown bats carry a parasitic insect called bat bugs. Cousins of bed bugs, bat bugs may feed on people when the chance arises.
HOW TO DETECT
LITTLE BROWN
BATS
Signs of a bat presence include:
• Unexplained ammonia scents in the building • Dead bats found indoors or out • Building exteriors are noticeably stained • Squeaking and scratching noises are heard behind walls or in the vicinity of the attic
HOW TO PREVENT
LITTLE BROWN
BATS
To help prevent bat issues the following steps should be taken:
• Sealing up gaps and cracks in building exteriors • Keep doors and windows closed • Fix leaky pipes and standing water • Install bat boxes in nearby trees • Place bat exclusion equipment on exterior openings in the building • Have an exterminator perform regular treatments to limit food options
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.
