Common Crops That Benefit From Bats

This summer, farmers all across the state are thrilled with the results of their yields. But did you know that local bat populations might have something to do with the excellent quality of all the fruits and vegetables you love so much? Not only is it possible, it is very true! Continue reading to learn how bats are helpful partners for Kentucky farmers, including which crops tend to benefit the most from bat interference.

Louisville Bat Removal and Control 502-553-7622
Louisville Bat Removal and Control 502-553-7622

Nature’s Pesticide

Bats are known to be threats, not just because of old movie and scary tales, but also because they can actually be a nuisance to residential and commercial properties since it is common for colonies to take shelter inside attics and similar hidden areas, and inflict a long list of structural damages and sanitation concerns.

However, aside from being a potential nuisance to property owners, bats provide a wide range of advantages, both ecologically and economically. They deliver such benefits to our local economy and surrounding ecosystem in a number of ways, but the top two are pest control and pollination.

Pest Control and Pollination

Bats are insectivores, and primarily eat flying bugs like mosquitoes, flies, gnats, moths, and more. A single bat can consume more than it’s own body weight in insects. In fact, in just one night, a single bat can eat more than 1,000 flying insects! Think about a colony of 100 bats darting and diving for insects each night. Now that is some excellent pest control!

This type of “nature’s pesticide” benefits local farmers because their growing crops are less affected by pest outbreaks and infestations. Bats are also excellent pollinators, which helps keep crops growing healthy and strong, season after season. Not only does this reduce the amount of money and labor put into pollinating crops each season, it also increases the results of seasonal bounties.

Best of all, this level of added pest control and pollination is free, so farmers are saving money! This actually rolls into how bats help the local economy too! Since farmers are saving money on raising better-quality crops, more crops are grown and sold at the market, keeping the local economies stimulated on both ends of the sales transaction.

Kentucky Crops Aided By Bats:

🌽 Corn
🍚 Rice
🌿 Tobacco
🌱 Soybeans
🌾 Wheat

Got Nuisance Bats Around?

If bats are a nuisance in or around your property, contact 502-553-7622 for safe and non-lethal bat removal and control in Louisville, Kentucky. We are DNR licensed and insured bat control contractors who use safe, non-lethal methods of extraction and exclusion. We serve both residential and commercial clients, and at the most competitive prices in town. Emergency 24 hour service is also available. Request a free estimate, today.

The Pros and Cons of Having Wild Bats Around Your Home

Bats are well-known species of mammal found all across the world. There are several fascinating qualities and characteristics that make bats a fun topic to learn about. There are many wonderful attributes to bats, but for many, bats are quite the nuisance mammal. There is a good side and a bad side to everything, and bats are no different. Continue reading to learn both the pros and the cons to wild bats found in our cities and towns.

The Benefits of Bats

Let’s give bats the benefit of doubt, and begin with the good qualities they demonstrate in nature. For starters, bats are amazing, and not-to-mention, free, pest control. That’s right; bats consume thousands of insects, mostly mosquitoes, each night! In the summer months, this makes camping and backyard barbecuing much more enjoyable. You know this if you are plagued by heavy mosquito populations each year! Without bats, insects and mosquitoes would be out of control, and we would be suffering the consequences of these nightly visitors each summer.

Aside from free pest control, bats have other beneficial attributes. For example, bat guano is a widely-used resource in certain countries across the world. If you don’t already know, bat guano is the scientific term for bat feces. Although off-putting to think about, bat guano is fertile and nutrient-rich. Many organic farmers use bat guano for fertilizing their soil. In the past, some people used bat guano to make explosives because it retains high levels of nitrogen! It is even rumored that scientists have discovered enzymes in guano that can be used in cleaning agents and laundry detergents!

Another great advantage of bats is their pollination abilities. Megabats, also called Fruit Bats, feed primarily on flower and plant nectar, making them great nectar pollinators. This occurs particularly in rain forests. When bats fly from one plant to another, they get pollen all over their bodies and its spreads everywhere they go!

The Disadvantages of Bats

The chief disadvantage of wild bats is their role as nuisance wildlife in residential and suburban areas. AS more forest and woodlands are cut down to make room for new city development, bats and other wildlife are being forced in closer proximity with humans. They are forced out of their natural environments and forced to find other sources of food and shelter.

One area bats use as shelter that causes problems among humans is attics. Attics, crawl spaces, garages, porches, and more are common areas of a residence that bats form colonies and take shelter. This causes costly damages that require tedious repairs. Bats also carry disease that can be transferred to humans, cats, and dogs. Having them around can cause health problems among kids, adults, and pets.

If you have bats in the attic, or a bat problem on your property, contact a licensed bat removal and control company for professional assistance. They can offer safe and humane bat exclusion services you can afford. Be sure they use safe methods to remove bats and can offer prevention services to stop future infestations. Never harm or kill a bat. Always call a professional for help. Remember that bats will not attack unless provoked.

Louisville Bat Control

Call 502-553-7622 for Louisville bat control you can trust. We are DNR licensed bat control specialists that offer a wide range of affordable bat exclusion services for residential and commercial properties throughout Kentucky. We also offer free estimates, free advice, emergency service, and much more. Call 502-553-7622 for prompt and professional bat removal services in Louisville, KY today.

Comparing Megabats to Microbats

Did you know there are over one thousand different species of wild bats found all across the globe? This can certainly make it hard telling one apart from another, right? It is fascinating to think about how so many species of bats have acclimated and adapted to several climates and habitats all over the world. Wild bats are grouped into two main categories; megabats and microbats. Within each group contains various species of bats with a diverse range of characteristics and features. It is all quite interesting. Continue reading to learn the differences between megabats and microbats, and which species belongs in each group.

Microchiroptera

Most bats seen today are microbats. Microbats, scientifically referred to as Microchiroptera, are smaller than megabats; with “micro” meaning tiny or small, and of course “mega” meaning big or substantial. They have very small eyes but large ears. They release a high-pitched sound from their mouth or nose, to locate and hunt down food. This activity is called echolocation, a familiar term to most. Through echolocation, microbats sustain a diet that consists mostly of insects, fish, lizards, frogs, and even birds. Certain species of microbat even consume the blood of their prey. There are several species of microbats, all ranging in different sizes. The bumblebee bat happens to be the smallest; weighing only 2 grams or so. Here are a few examples of common microbat species found all across the world:

• Bumblebee Bat
• Vampire Bat
• Spear Nosed Bat
• Spotted Bat
• Inland Forest Bat
• Ghost Bat
• Orange Leaf-Nosed Bat
• Northern Free-Tailed Bat
• Mexican Free-Tailed Bat
• Little Broad-Nosed Bat
• And Much More

Megachiroptera

Megabats, or “Megachiroptera”, are less common and live in more tropical areas and climates around the world. They are much larger than microbats, and different in many ways. Megabats have large eyes and a good sense of smell. They use their sense of smell to locate food; such as fruits and flower nectars. Although primarily nocturnal, some megabats prefer to search for their meals during the daytime when these items are more bountiful and available. The largest megabat in the world is called the Gigantic Flying Fox Bat. It can weigh more than 2 pounds and have a wingspan of nearly six feet! Here are some species of megabat found in warmer and tropical climates around the planet:

• Fruit Bat
• Flying Fox Bat
• Spectacled Flying Fox Bat
• Grey-Headed Flying Fox Bat
• Hammerhead Bat
• Long-Tongued Nectar Bat
• Black Flying Fox Bat
• Little Red Flying Fox Bat
• And Much More

Even though bats are extraordinary and fascinating creatures, we certainly do not want them inside our homes! Not only can they cause extensive structural damages, they can pose a serious health threat to humans and pets. Get prompt bat removal service if you suspect you have a bat in the attic or other area of your home.

Louisville Bat Removal and Control

Call 502-553-7622 for professional Louisville bat removal and control, if you suspect you have a bat problem in or around your property. Our DNR licensed and insured bat control technicians have decades of experience and training working with nuisance wildlife. We provide commercial and residential bat removal and control services, as well as, bat cleanup and animal damage repair. Call 502-553-7622 for a free estimate or to schedule a consultation for bat removal services in Louisville, KY and its nearby counties.

Are Bats Aggressive?

Many people immediately panic out of fear when they discover a bat in their house. This is mostly a result of a stigma influenced by Halloween, bedtime stories, vampire movies, and more. But the truth is, there is not much to be afraid of in terms of your own safety, because bats are not naturally aggressive mammals, and are not likely to “attack” a human. The only way you can be harmed by a bat is if they are infected with a disease or virus, and that virus is passed along via blood, saliva, or other bodily fluids from direct contact. If you are simply in the same vicinity as a bat, there is no need to panic. Simply take a breath, and then review some tips for handling a bat in the house. Continue reading to learn more about the surprisingly docile demeanor of bats, and what to do if one gets into your house.

Bats in the House

In the case that a bat has somehow made it into your house, there are a few things to remember about them before you run for the door screaming for help. For one, bats are not aggressive mammals. As mentioned before, they are not likely to attack a human. They would be simply too frightened to do anything of that nature. And although they are not known to harm humans intentionally, bats are known carriers of certain dangerous diseases, so it is best to avoid directly bodily contact with it. They are known to bite if provoked, so don’t get your fingers to close to its mouth, especially without heavy-duty gloves!

Second, bats that are perched off the ground, perhaps on a curtain rod or banister, are likely to take flight again. So if you approach a bat in your house that is in a high location, be prepared for it to fly away. But don’t be scared, they are flying to reach safety from you, not to attack you! Oppositely, if a bat is on the ground, it is not going to attempt flight again. Instead, they will crawl until they reach something they can climb. This is a good situation to be in because you can simply grab some gloves, goggles, and a long sleeve shirt and scoop it with a shoe box to release it outside. If you do this, be sure to release the bat somewhere high up, like a picnic table or tree branch, since you already know they can’t take flight from flat ground.

It is not suggested to try catching and releasing the bat, but if you insist on trying, the above method is a good start. It is better to simply open all doors and windows, and encourage the bat to fly back outside. This way, you can avoid direct contact with the bat, eliminating the potential of harming yourself or the bat. The best method of handling a bat in the house is to call a professional bat removal and control company. They retain the proper tools, licenses, and training to safely and humanely remove the bat and release it into a faraway habitat.

Louisville Bat Removal

Call 502-553-7622 for safe and humane bat removal in Louisville, Kentucky. We are DNR licensed and insured bat exclusionists with decades of experience in the wildlife control industry. We offer a wide range of bat removal and control services for residential and commercial properties. When you have a bat in the attic, we are the experts to trust for safe and efficient service you can afford! Call 502-553-7622 to get rid of bats in Louisville, KY today.

Northern Long-Eared Bats are on the U.S. Threatened Species List

Under the endangered species act, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service added the Northern Long-Eared Bat to the list of threatened species in our country. The ruling when into effect in May of this year.

The difference between “threatened” and “endangered” is significant. A threatened species is predicted to become endangered in the foreseeable future; whereas an endangered species is soon to be extinct.

Although not yet facing extinction, this is a sad year for this incredible species, and we should take some time to learn more about Northern Long-Eared bats and why their populations are facing endangerment.

Northern Myotis

The Northern Long-Eared bat, formally known as Myotis Keenii, is commonly referred to as Northern Myotis or Myotis septentrionalis. It is a small bat native to North America, averaging sizes no more than 3 to 5 inches and weighing no more than an ounce or two. They are primarily found in the Mid to Eastern parts of the country, starting in states like Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee, down through the Carolinas and even Alabama, and all the way up to Main and Canada.

Northern Long-Eared bats dwell in caves and wooded forests, roosting in trees during the day and searching for food at night. Being nocturnal, they are mostly active during the dusk, evening, and early morning hours, and then rest during the daytime. After a few days, they switch roosting areas, so they are often in search of new shelter at night as well.

As microbats do, they eat a wide variety of small insects, like moths, mosquitos, beetles, flies, gnats, and more. In the fall they migrate to caves and other similar locations to hibernate for the winter in populations of 100 bats or more. Emerging in March or April, Northern Long-Eared bats then breed and raise their young though the spring and summer.

White-Nose Syndrome is to Blame

One of the conclusions scientists and researchers have come to regarding the downfall of the Northern Long-Eared bat is that disease is the threat. White-Nose Syndrome (WNS) is a common disease that spreads easily and quickly among bat populations, and most all bats are at risk of contracting the illness. This disease seems to be the reason why this species of bat have now become a threatened one.

White-Nose Syndrome is a fungal disease that attacks the bat’s skin. It is caused by the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans and can be detected by a visible white fungal growth around the wings, snouts, and muzzles of bats; hence the moniker. Assumed to come from Europe, this disease is now wide-spread throughout North America and has wiped out over 5 million bats in just the past four years. White-Nose Syndrome can kill up to 98% of a bat population at a time. It is a serious threat to all species of bat, and mammal as well.

Protect Bats and Your Home

It is important to never harm, kill, catch, or trap bats under any circumstances. Not only are they an imperative part of our natural surrounding Eco-system, it is often against the law to do so anyway. If you have a bat in the attic, or bats around your house, it is best to call a professional wildlife removal company for safe and legal assistance. They use non-lethal methods to exclude bats, prevent future bat problems, and relocate bats to a faraway habitat.

Bat Removal Louisville

Call 502-553-7622 for prompt and professional bat removal in Louisville, Kentucky. We are DNR licensed and experienced wildlife rescue and control specialists that only use safe and humane methods of bat exclusion. We offer a wide range of services for residential and commercial properties, including minor structural damage repairs, bat removal and control, bat cleanup, bat proofing, and more. Call 502-553-7622 to learn how to protect bats and your home from bats 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.

The Bat Quiz: Learning about Wild Bats

Bats are wonderful creatures that are found all across the globe! You may be scared of them, or you might be fascinated by them. Either way, learning about bats is fun! Take this bat quiz to test your knowledge on wild bats, and perhaps learn a thing or two while you’re at it! Once you complete the quiz, match your answers to the answer-key and see just how much you know about these amazing creature we call bats!

Get Started!

Question 1

What “Class” of Species are Bats?

a. Birds
b. Mammals
c. Reptiles
d. Aquatic

Question 2

Bats are Nocturnal. True or False?

a. True, bats are active primarily at night.
b. False, bats are diurnal and active at day.
c. False, bats are neither nocturnal nor diurnal.

Question 3

Where Do Wild Bats Predominantly Live?

a. Beaches
b. Jungles
c. Caves
d. Deserts

Question 4

What is the Scientific Order for a Bat?

a. Procyon Lotor
b. Mammalia
c. Insectivore
d. Chiroptera

Question 5

What Do Megabats Generally Eat?

a. Birds and Lizards
b. Other Bats
c. Nectar and Pollen
d. Mosquitos

Question 6

Bats Drink Human Blood. True or False?

a. True, bats like the taste of human blood.
b. False, only vampire bats will consume the blood of other animals.

Question 7

Bats are the Only Mammal Capable of True Flight. True or False?

a. True, bats are the only mammals that can really fly, rather than float or glide.
b. False, other mammals can fly.

Question 8

Will Bats Attack People?

a. No, Never.
b. Only if Frightened or Provoked, but Rarely.
c. Yes, Always.

Question 9

Are Bats Blind?

a. Yes, Blind as a Bat!
b. No, Bats Can See

Question 10

Why Does a Bat Use Echolocation?

a. A Way to Talk to Other Bats
b. To Scare Away Predators
c. To Build Nests
d. As Sonar to Map their Surroundings

Let’s See How You Did!

Answer Key: 1-b, 2-a, 3-c, 4-d, 5-c, 6-b, 7-a, 8-b, 9-b, 10-d

Well hopefully you learned something new about bats! Although bats are fascinating to learn about, they can sometimes be a bother to our homes and properties. In this case, be sure to contact a Louisville Bat Removal company that only uses safe and humane bat control methods. We must respect and protect all bat species, but we don’t have to invite them to our homes!

Bat Removal in Louisville, KY

For safe and humane solutions for bat removal in Louisville, Kentucky, call 502-553-7622 today. We are highly trained and DNR licensed bat exclusion specialists with decades of experience in the bat removal and control industry. We offer a wide range of bat removal services for both residential and commercial properties, at the most competitive prices in town. We also offer free estimates, emergency services, insurance compatibility, and cleanup and restoration services. Call 502-553-7622 for licensed and insured bat removal and control services in Louisville, KY and its nearby counties.