Bat lovers/haters
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Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: Langhorne, PA
Bat lovers/haters
I have about 50 to 60 bats roosting in a colony behind my brick chimney.
They come in and out at thru a small crack between the brick and siding.
I am not having any problems yet, there are a few small droppings under the hole every day, but other than that, they are quiet, pay their rent every month, and keep the mosquitos down.
I imagine they live in a small space between the exterior house sheathing and the cinder block structure that makes up the core of my chimney.
My local animal rescue lady, told me it would be OK to evict them, and told me how to do so, but she also asked me "why don't you just leave them alone?" She said the myths of bats destroying houses, are mostly false, and having bats around is much better than not having any at all.
Anybody have any good bat stories? Should I kick them out or let them be?
They come in and out at thru a small crack between the brick and siding.
I am not having any problems yet, there are a few small droppings under the hole every day, but other than that, they are quiet, pay their rent every month, and keep the mosquitos down.
I imagine they live in a small space between the exterior house sheathing and the cinder block structure that makes up the core of my chimney.
My local animal rescue lady, told me it would be OK to evict them, and told me how to do so, but she also asked me "why don't you just leave them alone?" She said the myths of bats destroying houses, are mostly false, and having bats around is much better than not having any at all.
Anybody have any good bat stories? Should I kick them out or let them be?
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: Princeton, MN
If you ever want to sell that house, get rid of them. If you are planning on living there till it burns down and you don't mind keeping rabies around, keep them.
Taken from Rabies.com "Of the 32 human rabies cases reported between 1990 and 2000, 24 were caused by contact with bats, making bats a major concern when it comes to rabies and humans. Because bat teeth are small, bite marks are small as well. And bat bites don't hurt as much as a bite from other, bigger animals, so they have been known to go undetected"
Taken from Rabies.com "Of the 32 human rabies cases reported between 1990 and 2000, 24 were caused by contact with bats, making bats a major concern when it comes to rabies and humans. Because bat teeth are small, bite marks are small as well. And bat bites don't hurt as much as a bite from other, bigger animals, so they have been known to go undetected"
Jäger
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,491
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From: Northern Arizona
Originally Posted by bigskymt
No chemical bug killer you buy at the store will kill more insects than those little guys will eat, I would keep them.
I've never been bitten by a bat nor do I know of anyone who has. We've probably all been bitten by mosquitos, several dozen times!
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: Princeton, MN
Studies estimate that 1 in 200 bats are infected with rabies. And you don't have to be bitten to get infected. The virus has been isolated from the air of bat living quarters and it is known that rabies can be contracted through inhalation. If you are going to keep them you should probably get vaccinated.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Lancaster County PA
I agree with the point made of their ecological value. I don't dispute the rabies concerns, but personally wouldn't mind having them on my property (as we do up at our cabin). I agree that it is undesirable to actually be living in some portion of your house.
There are plenty of plans on the internet to build bat houses.
Maybe build them a new home at the rear of your property or in a neighboring woods or something, wait the recommended amount of time to get the human scent out of the bat house, then evict them in the hopes that they move into their new digs?
But whatever you do, don't kill them. They play an important role in insect control.
There are plenty of plans on the internet to build bat houses.
Maybe build them a new home at the rear of your property or in a neighboring woods or something, wait the recommended amount of time to get the human scent out of the bat house, then evict them in the hopes that they move into their new digs?
But whatever you do, don't kill them. They play an important role in insect control.
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i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
the old house had cedar shake siding, and for 45 years we had bats living under the shakes.
in 45 years, no one ever got bit, and we only had 1 bat get in the house when as kids my little sister opened the side door as a bat came out. it took about 5 minutes to catch it with a net, and release it outside unharmed.
we also never had bug problems for the 45 years my parents and then i owned that house.
the new owners put vinyl siding on the house, and now can not go out at night because of all the bugs.
so my advice would be, as long as they do not get into the attic or house, leave them be.
in 45 years, no one ever got bit, and we only had 1 bat get in the house when as kids my little sister opened the side door as a bat came out. it took about 5 minutes to catch it with a net, and release it outside unharmed.
we also never had bug problems for the 45 years my parents and then i owned that house.
the new owners put vinyl siding on the house, and now can not go out at night because of all the bugs.
so my advice would be, as long as they do not get into the attic or house, leave them be.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Lancaster County PA
When we bought this old house, there was evidence of bats in the attic. Twice we had one appear inside the house, scaring the bejeezus out of my wife, but we shooed them outside after a bit.
Once, I had a short piece of aluminum siding come loose between a second story window and the corner of the house. I climbed up there on a ladder and as soon as I wriggled that piece of siding, one of the little critters flew out from behind it! Darn near sent me down the ladder the fast way.
I still see them flying around in the evenings, but they no longer reside in any part of my house.
Once, I had a short piece of aluminum siding come loose between a second story window and the corner of the house. I climbed up there on a ladder and as soon as I wriggled that piece of siding, one of the little critters flew out from behind it! Darn near sent me down the ladder the fast way.
I still see them flying around in the evenings, but they no longer reside in any part of my house.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 184
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From: Ohio
I think bats are kind of cool!
I had never seen one in person until a few years ago. There was a dead bat on our back patio. Then, acouple months later hubby and I were watching TV and I thought I saw something move through the house. We thought it was our cat, but when we turned on the lights we realized it was a bat.
I have really curly hair so my instinct was to hide in a corner with a towel over my head. I was sure that thing was going to try to roost in my hair
! Instead we just opened the front door and the bat flew out.
Then, the next summer we had another bat in the house, but it was mid-afternoon instead of night time. Our boys and the neighbor kids all thought it was really cool since they had never seen a bat before. The poor thing flew to our upper level bedrooms, so hubby just opened a window for it and it flew out.
In the evenings I can see them swooping after bugs. They don't freak me out at all anymore. They are really interesting looking critters.
I had never seen one in person until a few years ago. There was a dead bat on our back patio. Then, acouple months later hubby and I were watching TV and I thought I saw something move through the house. We thought it was our cat, but when we turned on the lights we realized it was a bat.
I have really curly hair so my instinct was to hide in a corner with a towel over my head. I was sure that thing was going to try to roost in my hair
! Instead we just opened the front door and the bat flew out.Then, the next summer we had another bat in the house, but it was mid-afternoon instead of night time. Our boys and the neighbor kids all thought it was really cool since they had never seen a bat before. The poor thing flew to our upper level bedrooms, so hubby just opened a window for it and it flew out.
In the evenings I can see them swooping after bugs. They don't freak me out at all anymore. They are really interesting looking critters.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Lafayette, IN
24 cases of human rabies from bats in 10 years?!? Where did rabies.com get that number?
I agree that they are great at getting mosquitoes and other nuisance bugs, so if they're only inbetween the core of the chimney and the brick veneer, I'd let 'em be. I had a total of 3 bats get into my previous house in 11+ years (actually they all were within the first 4-5 years). I just threw a blanket over them to catch them and released them outside (couple of them took a while to catch--you wouldn't believe how fast they fly around a 12x15 room).
Jason
I agree that they are great at getting mosquitoes and other nuisance bugs, so if they're only inbetween the core of the chimney and the brick veneer, I'd let 'em be. I had a total of 3 bats get into my previous house in 11+ years (actually they all were within the first 4-5 years). I just threw a blanket over them to catch them and released them outside (couple of them took a while to catch--you wouldn't believe how fast they fly around a 12x15 room).
Jason
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2005
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i would leave them.
as far as the rabies thing is concerned, you have a better chance of getting killed driving, walking, getting struck by lightening, drowning, murdered, coconut falling on your head, etc... you get my point.
i had bats fly around where i lived in greece, they lived in a cave on a hill near my house, never minded them at all, they would swoop by all the time i guess eating and such.
as far as the rabies thing is concerned, you have a better chance of getting killed driving, walking, getting struck by lightening, drowning, murdered, coconut falling on your head, etc... you get my point.
i had bats fly around where i lived in greece, they lived in a cave on a hill near my house, never minded them at all, they would swoop by all the time i guess eating and such.
decadent and depraved
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,703
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From: Right Behind You
I bet that everyone telling you to keep them are vampires themselves, and they just want you to become one of them...Get rid of them man, for the love of God, get rid of them before it's too late.
Tim
Tim