People in Yardley frequently express fear when the subject of northern long-eared bats comes up. In fact, people around the world tend to harbor numerous misconceptions about this and other bat species.
The truth is that the bats in the local area are of fundamental importance to the ecosystem. Voracious insect eaters, northern long-eared bats help to keep populations of flies, mosquitoes and other insects in check.
Nonetheless, members of this and other bat species should never be allowed to roost indoors. In residential and commercial buildings where bats have been able to enter and make themselves at home, considerable structural damage soon follows. It additionally is essential to mention that people who live and work in close proximity with roosting northern long-eared bats are exposed to numerous serious illnesses.
Clearly, it is best if bats and people keep their distance from each other. Most of the time, this is not a problem. Northern long-eared bats like to live in forests and similar natural areas where insects are especially abundant.
However, people may unintentionally present an open invitation to northern long-eared bats by allowing holes and cracks to remain in a building's exterior. Bats do not require large openings to wriggle inside. Before long, dozens of bats may be roosting in an attic or chimney.
Property owners who suspect that bats have moved in are encouraged to immediately contact a licensed pest management professional. Bat species are protected by law, which means that people should never seek to kill or harm a bat. Instead, getting rid of a northern long-eared bat infestation involves the installation of bat-proofing materials that allow the bats to leave the roost but make returning impossible. This is a safe and legal method of stopping an infestation.
WHAT DO
LONG-EARED
BATS LOOK LIKE?
As its name suggests, this bat is equipped with exceptionally long ears. This is perhaps its major distinguishing feature from other bat species in the area. Considered a medium-sized bat, members of the species have a wingspan of between nine and ten inches and a length of approximately three inches. Tawny or pale brown fur is on the animal's stomach, but his back features fur of a darker brown.
WHAT DO
LONG-EARED
BATS EAT?
When people can more comfortably enjoy the outdoors during the summer, it is usually because northern long-eared bats have been at work. Eating moths, mosquitoes, flies, leafhoppers, beetles and caddisflies among other pests, this bat ensures that there are not too many insects around to plague people. Bats have no interest in the foods that people eat, so there is little reason to fear that they will contaminate food.
WHERE DO
LONG-EARED
BATS LIVE?
Members of this species may be found in much of the U.S. and Canada. Winter is a time for hibernation, and the northern long-eared bat must find specific habitat to allow for a safe and successful hibernation. Abandoned mines and caves work perfectly for this purpose as long as temperatures are steady, little breeze is allowed and the humidity is relatively high. Northern long-eared bats sometimes choose inappropriate places like chimneys and attics for hibernation.
Large groups of bats tend to hibernate together through the winter. Warming temperatures in the spring awaken them, and a change of roost is needed sometime in March. More likely to roost individually or in small groups for the remainder of the year, the bats may use a tree as a roost, sometimes burrowing beneath the outer layer of bark. Yardley sheds, garages, attics, fireplaces and chimneys are other likely places to find northern long-eared bats resting.
DAMAGE CAUSED BY
LONG-EARED
BATS
They may be a beneficial species when they are outdoors, but that changes as soon as the northern long-eared bat comes indoors. Small and agile, these bats are able to squeeze through very small vents, ducts and other openings that are not properly covered. Bats also have very sharp teeth, which they may use to enlarge a hole to make it a more convenient access point.
Once indoors, northern long-eared bats tend to roost in attics, chimneys, fireplaces and wall voids. Any infested places soon accumulate large amounts of bat droppings. Both the urine and the feces are incredibly toxic, quickly eating through wood, masonry, brick and other materials that frequently are used in construction. Moreover, exposure to these waste products can make people ill.
Staining occurs where the bats enter and leave the building. As more waste products are deposited, the damage can become widespread. Left alone, the damage can cause the building to become structurally unsound.
Bat activity further may bring other pests into the building that might cause damage or expose people to sickness.
ARE
LONG-EARED
BATS AGGRESSIVE?
Members of the species do not seek to harm people. When bats and people have a close encounter, it is not unusual for both parties to panic. This can cause the animal to bite and scratch, and these wounds can result in serious complications.
People who do meet up with a bat are encouraged to remain calm. When these circumstances occur outdoors, the bat will simply fly away. Bats that accidentally enter inhabited rooms will use echolocation to find their way back to the outdoors. People who are in the room are advised to calmly open additional doors and windows to give the bat many opportunities to escape.
DO
LONG-EARED
BATS CARRY DISEASE?
This is one of the main reasons why it is crucial for people and bats to maintain distance. Northern long-eared bats may be infected with numerous illnesses, several of which may be transmitted to people. Rabies is one disease that is commonly associated with bats. Although rates of infection are not as high in bats as people may fear, it remains wise to be tested by a doctor whenever a person has inadvertently interacted with a bat.
An illness that is a more frequent problem in infested buildings is Histoplasmosis. This infection of the lungs is caused by exposure to bat waste products. The risk of developing Histoplasmosis ends only when bats are prevented from reentering the building and the formerly infested areas have been sanitized.
HOW TO DETECT
LONG-EARED
BATS
Signs of a northern long-eared bat infestation include:
• Whitish bat urine stains the windows • People notice unidentified odors and stains within the structure • Eaves and overhangs are stained with droppings • Stains are visible around cracks and holes in the building's exterior • Squeaking and scratching noises are heard indoors • Bat waste products are found somewhere indoors
HOW TO PREVENT
LONG-EARED
BATS
To help prevent northern long-eared bat issues the following steps should be taken:
• Block holes, fissures, vents and ducts • Install stainless steel chimney caps • Equip outdoor light fixtures with yellow sodium bulbs to avoid attracting insects • Scatter mothballs in attics, sheds, garages and wall voids • Cover furnace vents with wire mesh • Place bat houses in trees on the property • Opt to keep doors and windows closed • Ensure that any regularly opened doors or windows are screened
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.
