Do You Think Bats Are Blind?

Who ever said they were “blind as a bat” has a lot of explaining to do! There are over 100 species of bat in the world and every single one can see fairly well. The truth is that bats are not blind at all; they just have different visual capacities than other animals. Because they are nocturnal, they use alternative senses as well to communicate and see at night. Continue reading to learn about the differences between major bat species when it comes to their eyesight and sight aptitude.

Megachiroptera Bat Species

There are two species of bats, Megachiroptera and Microchiroptera. They are believed to share the same descendants, but overtime, evolved separately from each other. Megachiroptera bats are mostly medium and large in size. These megabats generally feed on fruits, nectar, and at times, fish or small animals. Additional terms for Megachiroptera bats include Flying Foxes, Fruit Bats, Megabats, and Old World Fruit Bats.

Megachiroptera bat species have large eyes and visual centers; allowing them to see better at night. They use their sight, as well as, their sense of smell to navigate in the dark and catch their prey. For example, a Flying Fox can also see during the day and in color as well! In fact, they cannot see or fly well on moonless nights, making them rely on their daytime vision.

Microchiroptera Bats

Microchiroptera bats are the smaller species of bat. They mostly eat insects and hunt them through the process of echolocation. Echolocation is the system that allows bats to navigate around, map out their surroundings, and catch their prey. It is like a sonar system that bounces high-frequency sounds off nearby objects; allowing them to grid their surroundings. You see, in mammals, there are two types of photo-receptors: cones and rods. Cones are primarily for daytime and color vision; whereas rods are for night vision. Without mentioning, you can already guess which species of bat has more of what. It’s not that micro bats do not have cones, they simply have under-developed ones compared to their sister species, the Mega bat.

Bat Removal Services in Louisville, Kentucky

Call 502-553-7622 for licensed bat removal services in Louisville, Kentucky. We provide several safe and humane, non-lethal bat control services for residential and commercial properties. Service include attic restoration and repairs, prevention, cleanup, exclusion, and more. Call 502-553-7622 for affordable bat removal and control in Louisville, KY and its surrounding neighborhoods.

Are You Hearing Bat Noises in Your House?

Have you heard some strange noises in your home lately and you suspect they are coming from bats? Sometimes, homeowners hear scratching, squealing, chirp-like sounds commonly associated with bats, but the truth is, bats are fairly quiet creatures. You are more likely to SEE signs of bat infestation before you actually ever hear them. This includes seeing unusual stains on walls and ceilings (urine and guano stains most likely), gaps and openings in the exterior of the home (roof shingles, siding, etc.), and actual bats flying around your property.

This means, bat infestation problems tend to go on for quite some time before they are noticed by homeowners. And if you can actually hear bats on your property, it has reached a level where the numbers are now very large. The best strategy against bat infestation is bat-proofing services. Professional wildlife control companies offer preventative maintenance for homes and properties to protect against bats and more. Continue reading to learn some more facts about hearing bats and bat noises in the home.

Bat Sounds

Bats, although quiet, do make characteristic sounds. Squeaking and scratching are common sounds made by bats, either flying around or during stationary activity. The problem with bat sounds and homeowners is that many people think they are hearing bats, when in fact, they are hearing something completely different. For example, there are birds called Chimney Swifts that take shelter in, you guessed it, chimneys. When these birds are occupying chimneys, they produce similar sounds as bats do. Many homeowners think they have a bat infestation when really, they actually have Chimney Swifts.

Other times, homeowners believe they have a cockroach or mice infestation, when in fact, it is a bat infestation. This is why it is important to hire a professional wildlife control company for accurate diagnostics and bat removal services. They retain the proper tools, training, and resources to identify a bat problem and provide affordable solutions to get rid of them.

Bat Removal Louisville Kentucky

Call 502-553-7622 for DNR licensed bat removal service in Louisville, Kentucky today. We offer a wide range of bat removal and control services at the most competitive prices in town. Our highly trained and certified wildlife rescue contractors only use safe, non-lethal methods to extract bats and prevent them from returning. We also offer bat cleanup services. Call 502-553-7622 for prompt and professional bat removal and control services in Louisville, KY and its surrounding counties.

Will My Homeowners’ Insurance Pay for Bat Removal Services?

It is very expensive to repair damages from a long-term bat infestation in your home. Bats can cause a substantial amount of damage; in even a short amount of time. Bat Removal Companies do offer services to repair these damages; such as bat proofing, Histoplasmosis mitigation, bat guano cleanup, exclusion, and more.

The extent of time the bats were in the home, plus the degree of damage incurred, will roughly determine the cost of the repairs, renovations, and exclusion services. Once a professional Bat Control Company inspects the property and begins their exclusion process; can they accurately convey if there will be more unexpected costs.

Usually at this point, homeowners are sweating the total bill. How can they pay for all these repairs and services? Insurance is usually a first thought. Interestingly enough, many homeowners are in the dark on whether or not their home is covered on bat damages. Continue reading to learn more about standard homeowners’ insurance policies in relation to bat removal services and repairs.

Bat Removal Insurance Policies

Animal damages are not typically covered by home insurance plans. They imply that it is the homeowner’s responsibility to prevent animal infestations, and to eradicate them on their own before damages accumulate. If an extensive amount of damage occurs, it is considered the homeowner’s burden for not tending to the situation before it got too bad. The insurance companies call pest and animal infestations “maintenance issues”, which are not covered in many policies. Regularly inspect your home for problems like these; to prevent future costly repairs that won’t be covered by insurance.

Bat Removal Louisville Kentucky

Call Bat Removal Louisville Kentucky at 502-553-7622 for superior bat cleanup and attic restoration services you can afford. We are highly trained and certified bat control specialists with over 20 years of experience in the bat exclusion industry. We offer a wide variety of services; such as bat removal, bat cleanup, bat proofing, inspections, repairs, and more. Call 502-553-7622 to speak with a DNR licensed bat exclusion professional about getting rid of bats in the attic in Louisville, KY fast!

Popular Bat Guano Fertilizers on the Market

Last month we discussed how bat guano is used as a fertilizer for gardens, crops, flora, and more. So now that you know that guano is a known, effective fertilizer, you might want to know which kind to buy! In this blog, we’ll point out a few of the most popular and effective bat guano fertilizers on the market, and the qualities that make them so great. Continue reading for a list of recommended bat guano fertilizer products and brand names for better growing and gardening at home.

Smart Natural’s Happy Frog Potting Soil

This fine-screened potting soil is a light-textured and rich fertilizer, containing bat guano, earthworm castings, forest humus, microbes, fungi, and more, and comes ready to use for indoors or out. It’s well aerated, abundant in nutrients, and pH balanced to get the best possible results. You can expect to see this product come store-ready in 51.4 quart bags that range in price from $45 to $55, depending on the retailer.

Greenbelt Organics Bat Guano Fertilizer

This odorless, easy-to-use, indoor or outdoor bat guano fertilizer is one hundred percent organic. And it is guaranteed to never burn. It is formulated with high amounts of phosphate to enhance blooming and taste. It is biodegradable, building and cleaning the soil with special microbes and microorganisms. It is the perfect fertilizer for lawns and potted plants. You can expect a 2 pound bag to cost anywhere from 8 to 10 dollars.

Sunleaves Indonesian Bat Guano Fertilizer

Another highly-rated and reviewed bat guano fertilizer, the Sunleaves brand has much to offer gardeners. This dry fertilizer can be diluted in water or applied directly to soil for enhanced blooms and root growth. It has a high phosphorous potency, making it very effective. An 11 pound bag will cost anywhere between $25and $35.

Although bat guano is beneficial in our gardens, it is quite the opposite in our attics or other areas in our homes. If you notice bat droppings anywhere on or inside your property, you may have bat activity nearby. It is best to stop a bat problem before it becomes a costly mess. Contact a licensed bat removal service to get rid of bats and clean up bat guano messes in your home.

Bat Removal in Louisville Kentucky

Call 502-553-7622 for safe and humane bat removal in Louisville, Kentucky or its surrounding counties. We are DNR licensed bat removal and control contractors with decades of experience providing residential and commercial work. Aside from bat removal, our highly trained contractors provide bat cleanup services, bat proofing, preventative maintenance, and even minor attic restorations and repairs. Call 502-553-7622 for Louisville bat removal services you can trust.

Can Bat Guano Be Used as Fertilizer?

The feces of bats is called guano. It is known for its soil-enriching qualities, which is why many cultures and societies use it for fertilizer. Bat guano can also be used for several other purposes, like gun powder and arguably, women’s mascara. But fertilization is predominantly the most sought-after quality of bat manure. Continue reading to learn how bat guano is used as fertilizer, how it works, and why so many gardeners and cultivators are interested in its benefits.

Plant-Growing Nutrients

Guano is a fantastic fertilizer because it contains high traces of three primary plant-growing nutrients. These nutrients are nitrogen, potassium, and phosphate. For this reason, bat droppings make the perfect fertilizer. Additional benefits of using bat dung for a fertilizer is that it works fast, it has minimal odor, and it is easy to work into the soil. On top of fertilization, bat guano is also highly effective for conditioning soil, fungal protection, and even improving soil drainage and texture. Bat manure can also be used to control nematodes in the soil, as well as, a compost material to activate decomposition.

Fertilizing with Bat Guano

To use bat guano as a fertilizer, simply add a small amount on top of soil, and work it into the top layers. In contrast to regular fertilizer or manure, bat guano is so enriched with nutrients, less is needed for the process to work. It is perfect for lawns, grass, greens, and plants. You can obtain guano is fresh form, or in a dried form. Both have been proven effective in all areas of lawn and garden fertilization.

Bat Problems

Although bat guano is a highly-purposely natural resource, that does not mean we want to see it all over our properties and inside our homes! Bats are wonderful assets to our surrounding eco-system, but they can become nuisance wildlife in the presence of residential and city areas. If you suspect you have bats in the attic, or a bat problem on your property, contact a local Bat Removal Company for prompt and professional bat exclusion services. Be sure to use a service that only uses safe and humane methods to remove bats and prevent their return. Bats should never be harmed or killed for no reason.

Bat Removal Louisville Kentucky

Call 502-553-7622 for prompt and professional bat removal and control services in Louisville, Kentucky. We are highly trained and DNR licensed wildlife rescue and control contractors with over 25 years of experience in the industry. We only use safe and humane methods to extract bats and relocate them to faraway and safe habitats. Call 502-553-7622 to learn more about our Louisville bat removal services, prices, and availability. We offer residential and commercial bat control services at the most competitive prices in town.

White-Nose Syndrome is a Dangerous Disease in the Bat World

Bats are prone to various illnesses and diseases, just as all living creatures. But there is a disease that seems to only target cave-dwelling, hibernating bats. This disease is called White-Nose Syndrome (WNS) and it has killed thousands of bats. It was first discovered in early 2007 in New York. Bats at that time started evincing unusual behavior, like neglecting to hibernate or remaining active during the daytime in cold weather. This was an indication to scientists and researchers that something wasn’t quite right. After years of liberal investigation and testing, White-Nose Syndrome was given a name.

It started in the Northeastern parts of the United States, and continues to spread to the central parts to this day. More than 25 states have been infected by this disease since winter 2008, as well as, a handful of Canadian provinces. White-Nose Syndrome causes a growth of white fungus all over a bat’s body, including the ears, muzzle, and wings. This is where the name, “White-Nose” comes from.

When a bat is infected with White-Nose Syndrome, on top of white fungus growth on its wings and muzzle, it might also demonstrate certain signs and symptoms. For example, when scientists are determining whether or not a bat is infected, they will look for microscopic pattern of skin erosion, but they will also consider a bat’s behavior as another key identifier of the disease. When bats are not hibernating as they should, or flying far from their roosts in cold or hazardous weather, they are showing common signs of the syndrome. This doesn’t mean that all bats flying far from their hibernation roosts in cold weather are infected, it simply means that infected bats often evince this particular behavior. Severe emaciation is another indicator.

Several organizations and governmental departments are working together to stop this disease from plaguing even more bat colonies than it already has. The USGS National Wildlife Health Center, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, ivy league collegiate teams, and more have all collaborated to find a means to control this disease.

Bat Removal Louisville Kentucky

Call 502-553-7622 for bat removal and control in Louisville, Kentucky today. We are highly trained and DNR licensed wildlife control contractors with decades of experience in the bat removal industry. We use safe and humane methods to remove bats and prevent their return, never killing or harming them in any way. Call 502-553-7622 for more information about bat removal services in Louisville, KY and its surrounding counties.

Bats in the Basements are a Real Problem!

Specific signs can indicate that a home has a bat infestation somewhere on its property. Signs such as foul odors coming from the attic, strange clicking or chattering sounds at night, fallen roof shingles, and more are common indications that bats are present. No matter where bats are on or in a property, it is vital to get them out fast! Bat’s, although magnificent and beneficial mammals, fall under the nuisance wildlife category and can cause large amounts of structural damage to a home, as well as, jeopardize our health and the health of our beloved pets. Bats in the attic can simply mean a few loners have found a space to get warm, but if you have bats in basement, this is a big problem because it most likely means infestation. Continue reading to learn about the damages bats can inflict on our homes, and how to get rid of bats in the basement as fast as possible.

Remove Bats in the Basement

Bats, the only mammal capable of true flight, prefer higher elevations when it comes to roosting. This is why we commonly think about bats hanging from tree limbs or cave ceilings. For us, this means they typically enter houses at a high point, like the roof, chimney, or attic; however, if they have made their way to the basement of a home, the outlook is not good. This is because bats in the basement often means they have made the journey from the top of the home, all the way down to the bottom, likely occupying the walls and everything in between along the way. More structural damages occur this way. And damages leads to costly repairs.

A frequent mistake made by frustrated and frightened homeowners is sealing off the basement. For obvious reasons, this will only keep bats in, and does nothing to remove and prevent bat infestations from entering from above as they did before. A professional bat removal company can provide safe, humane, and effective bat exclusion services, as well as, bat-proofing strategies and more. Experienced wildlife removal contractors will even offer minor attic, drywall, insulation, and other bat damage restorations for residential properties.

Bat Removal Louisville Kentucky

Call 502-553-7622 for professional bat removal and control in Louisville, Kentucky. We are DNR licensed bat exclusionists with decades of experience in the wildlife control industry. Our bat control technicians offer bat removal, bat cleanup, bat prevention, inspections, minor attic restorations, and much more for both residential and commercial properties. Call 502-553-7622 for safe and humane bat removal services in Louisville, KY you can trust.

What is a Bat’s Natural Habitat?

All year round, countless species of bats use several varieties of habitats for shelter, roosting, breeding, feeding, traveling, and more. All across the country, bats are making homes and traveling back and forth between them. Many people think bats only live, thrive, and stay in caves, but the truth is, they are open to all kinds of locations in between their roosts! Continue reading to learn a few interesting facts about bat habitats and behaviors.

Bat Roost

A bat roost usually is located somewhere hidden and dark. Here, bats can stay protected from predators and harsh weather. Here they can also breed and nurse their offspring. Bats are known to have several roosts in different locations, and it’s the habitats they choose to hang out at that make for interesting conversation. There are two common habitats that bats like to use for hunting and traveling; foraging habitats and shuttling habitats. Foraging habitats are basically good hunting grounds, like fields, grasslands, parks, ponds, forests, woods, rivers, creeks, and more. These areas provide an abundant amount of insect and small wildlife that bats prey on for food. They can even take a gulp or two at a river or other waterway. Shuttling, or commuting, habitats are the areas bats use for traveling from one roost to another. These are typically safer passageways for bats, and can be trusted for easy and obstacle-free flying. These locations include wood and forest edges, river banks, and more.

When it comes to hibernating and breeding their young, bats prefer cave-like environments, as mentioned before. Since caves are not a common landscaping feature in city and urban areas, bats use other forms of dark and secure shelter; like buildings, dumpsters, tall trees, power lines, attics, culverts, residential properties, and more. If you have a bat infestation in your home or property, call a licensed bat removal and control company for prompt and professional assistance. Never attempt to kill, harm, trap, or touch a bat. Bats can carry several infectious and contagious diseases, but still do not deserve to be harmed. A professional bat exclusion specialist can remove a bat, or bats, and relocate them to a safe and faraway habitat.

Bat Removal Louisville Kentucky

Call 502-553-7622 for safe and humane bat removal in Louisville, Kentucky. We are highly trained, DNR licensed wildlife contractors with decades of experience in the bat removal and control industry. We offer a wide selection of bat control services, like bat cleanup, minor attic restorations, bat proofing, and more. We also offer free estimates and information about how to get rid of bats, safely. Call 502-553-7622 for licensed bat removal services in Louisville, KY today.

How Do Bats Fly?

One of the most fascinating and fun facts about bats is that they are the only mammal on earth that is capable of true flight. This means bats are the only member of the Mammalian family that can really fly. Most other mammals can glide, float, hover, or soar, which makes them appear to be natural flyers; but bats are the only species of mammal that can actually achieve true flight. Bats use their own body and wing power to fly and control their flight. Continue reading to learn more about bats, how they fly, and more.

Bat Wings

Bats are not like birds and covered in feathers, instead, they are covered in fur. They have large wings that, depending on the species, can range in length and width. The wings are a thin and almost-transparent membrane that are similar to the webbing in our hands. At the tip of a bat wing is one large hook-shaped claw, which is used in the same way we use our thumbs. Bats use this “thumb-like” talon to climb, mostly. Some species of bat have wing-membrane that extends all the way to their tail, capable of being used a as a pouch. But it’s not just the wings that help bats fly, it’s also their bodies.

Bats are light in weight. They have short, thick bodies, with a chest-size broader than their tail-span. All of these traits, as well as their wings, assist them in achieving flight. In order to fly, bats use a row-like maneuver to create lift-off. Their wings also retract, allowing bats to tuck their wings close to their chest to move more swiftly, mid-flight and between flaps.

When it comes to flying, bats are agile, aerodynamic, and swift. Many people believe bats are blind, and that their eyesight affects the way they fly. But this is simply untrue. Bats have very good vision, and can see just fine; but they do have narrow optical centers that inhibit their vision capabilities. This is why microbats also use echolocation, a sonar-like ability, to locate food and map their surroundings. Megabats, like the Flying Fox, have larger and wider visual centers that allow them to see well and not need echolocation.

Bats are amazing creatures and a significant part of our Eco-system, but sometimes they can be in the wrong place at the wrong time, making them nuisance wildlife. If you have a bat infestation on your property, or may have bats in the attic or some other interior area of your home, contact a Louisville bat removal company for safe and humane assistance.

Bat Removal and Control Louisville, KY

Call 502-553-7622 for professional and licensed bat removal and control in Louisville, Kentucky. We are DNR licensed bat exclusionists with decades of experience in the industry. We provide several bat removal and control services for residential and commercial properties all throughout the state. We also offer free estimates, emergency services, bat-proofing, and more. Call 502-553-7622 and speak with a friendly and knowledgeable Louisville bat removal expert about getting rid of bats, today.

A Newly Discovered Technique Bats Use to Navigate in the Dark!

A new study recently revealed that microbats use more than echolocation to navigate around at night. No more is sonar the only navigational resource used by bats! Just to review, echolocation is a type of sonar system that microbats use to map their surroundings in the dark. Although not blind, microbats have small visual centers that inhibit their vision capabilities. By emitting small sounds and listening for the return echo, bats can make a mental grid of their surroundings, and better hunt for prey. The only megabat known to also use sonar is the Egyptian Fruit Bat. All other megabats retain a large visual center that allows them to see well at night.

Microbat Navigation

Now back to the topic at hand! The newly discovered ability in bats involves polarized light! That’s right; microbats apparently use patterns of polarized sky light to navigate their way around. They can actually calibrate their internal magnetic compasses by using the pattern of scattered sunlight in the atmosphere! This is a truly remarkable gift! You see, depending on the position of the sun during the day, polarization patterns and directional sunlight vary.

What we don’t know is how microbats detect polarized sunlight. I guess that answer will come later after more research and studies! One interesting fact is that bees also use this type of navigational resource, and other insects as well. Bats truly are fascinating and wonderful creatures that are a vital part of our Eco-system; however, when they trespass onto our properties, they can make quite the mess and cause quite the disturbance. When this happens, be sure to call a licensed Louisville Bat Removal contractor for safe and humane bat exclusion services and assistance. Bats should never be trapped, harmed, or killed.

Louisville Bat Removal

Call Louisville Bat Removal at 502-553-7622 if you have a bat infestation problem. We are DNR licensed bat exclusion specialists with decades of experience in the bat removal and control industry. We offer emergency services, free estimates, DIY advice, and a wide range of bat control services. Call 502-553-7622 for licensed bat removal services in Louisville, KY and its nearby counties.