How Do Bats See?

Louisville Bat Removal and Control

Louisville Bat Removal and Control 502-553-7622

Many people incorrectly assume that bats are blind. The truth is, no species of bat is naturally blind. In fact, most bats have pretty good vision. However, some bats rely on other senses more than they do their eyesight to navigate during flight. If you just learned something new about bats, you will be interested in what comes next.

Continue reading to learn more about bats and how they see!

Bats are Nocturnal

Both primary categories of bats, Megachiroptera and Microchiroptera, are nocturnal. This means they are active between dusk and dawn, and rest between dawn and dusk. Although it is dark outside when they are active, both bats can still see. They can even see well during the day. They are sensitive to daylight changes, however, which is how they sense it is time to start or stop their day.

Echolocation and Other Senses

Because bats are active at night, many people wrongly assume that bats can’t see at night, so they only use echolocation (a natural sonar practice using series of tongue clicks) to navigate around. Although Microchiroptera use echolocation, it is not their only means of vision. They use echolocation to hunt for prey and navigate during flight, but they can also see quite well. In fact, they rely more on their vision to see long distances since these distances are beyond the range of echolocation. Megachiroptera bats, on the other hand, do not use sonar at all, and only rely on their eyesight, hearing, and smell to get around.

Bats are Not Blind!

So in conclusion, bats are not blind after all. Microchiroptera bats have sufficiently-developed photo-receptor cells in their retinas (cones and rods), which allow them to see well during the day and the night. Also, Megachiroptera bats have large eyes and well-pronounced visual centers that allow them to see well. Both species of bat use all their senses to navigate around, just like humans. But some species rely on senses more than others.

Louisville Bat Removal and Control

Louisville Bat Removal Kentucky

Louisville Bat Removal 502-553-7622

Call 502-553-7622 for Louisville bat removal and control you can trust. 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. Call 502-553-7622 to request a free estimate, today.

Here’s What to Do If You Have a Bat in the House

Louisville Bat Control 502-553-7622

Louisville Bat Control 502-553-7622

Has it just been brought to your attention that there’s a bat in your house? If so, do not panic. There is a perfectly safe and effective procedure for dealing with this situation. And bats are very unlikely to attack or harm another living creature unless it is provoked. Even then, it is rare. Remember, the bat is more afraid of you then you of it. So if you have just discovered a bat in your home, continue reading to learn exactly which steps to take next.

Contact a Wildlife Removal Professional

The first step to take when you have a bat in your house is to contact a local wildlife management company that provides bat removal and control services. They can give you instructions on what to do while you wait for them to arrive, whether that be the same day or the next. They may also be able to give you some over-the-phone instruction on how to give them certain information about the situation. You can be their eyes and ears until they can undertake the bat removal process themselves. This will allows them to get an idea of what to expect, and give them a head start on developing a strategy for extraction.

Isolate the Bat

Once you have contacted a trained professional, you may have to wait a little for them to arrive. For companies who offer 24 hour service, you may only need to wait a few hours or so. But for those who do not, you may have to wait until the next business day. So while you wait, you can choose to help the situation by isolating the bat to one area of the home. So if it is in the basement, simply shut the basement door until the contractor arrives.

Do not use a stick or anything else to “persuade” the bat to move to another spot. You never want to risk harming a bat; they are vital parts of our surrounding ecosystem, and in some places, they are protected by law. Instead, if a bat is in an open area of a home that is not easily shut-off, simply close all doors to all other rooms so that it cannot enter another area of the home; and then send your family to one of the closed-off rooms for protection. Be sure to send your cats and dogs too (not just for their own safety, but for the safety of the bat as well).

Provide an Exit

Once all doors are shut and everyone is protected, turn off all interior lights in the main area of the home where the bat is hanging out. Then open a door and turn on the exterior light, and wait to see if the bat flies out. Often times, they do. If they do not, simply join your family in a bat-free room until help arrives.

Louisville Bat Removal

Louisville Bat Removal Kentucky

Louisville Bat Removal 502-553-7622

Call 502-553-7622 for prompt and professional Louisville bat removal and control you can trust. We are DNR licensed wildlife control contractors who provide residential and commercial bat removal services at competitive prices. Whether you have one bat or an entire colony, we are fully equipped to manage any job regardless of size or scope. Call 502-553-7622 to request a free estimate for bat removal in Louisville, Kentucky today.

Do All Bats Have Rabies?

To answer this question right off the “bat”, bats DO carry rabies; however, not all bats are infected with the rabies virus. Basically, it’s a gamble. You never know which bats are infected and which are not. The only way to tell if a bat has rabies is to test their blood or if you observe them exhibiting blatant signs of rabies infection, which you will learn more about below. Continue reading to review some facts about bats and rabies, and what to do if you have a bat in the house or on your property.

The Rabies Virus

Rabies is most commonly transmitted through infected blood or saliva. For example, a bat bite. This commonly happens to outdoor dogs and cats because they are a naturally curious species. When bats are infected with rabies, they exhibit strange behaviors. They might be active during the day even though they are a nocturnal, they might convulse or shake uncontrollably, they might fly around aimlessly, or even appear disoriented or aggressive. It could be a combination of the above behaviors as well.

Protection Against Rabies

In North America, bats are a common “rabies vector species”, meaning most of the documented cases of rabies transmission in the U.S. over the past five decades originated from a bat. And although we don’t have the exact statistics, it is a well-known fact that at least one death every year occurs as a result of rabies transmission. This is why it is important to protect your home from bat infestations, and to avoid bat counters at all costs.

If you ever see a wild bat, even if it’s injured or a baby, never touch it or try to trap it. And most importantly, never harm or kill bats. They are a vital part of our surrounding ecosystem, and provide a wide range of environmental benefits that our society needs to thrive comfortably. Instead, contact a local wildlife removal company for emergency bat removal services. They are highly trained and licensed by the state, and they only use safe and humane methods of bat exclusion and extraction.

As for pets, be sure you keep your dogs and cats vaccinated against rabies and other deadly viruses. Remember, once a pet contracts the rabies virus, there is no cure. The same goes for humans. If you are ever bitten by a bat, whether you think it has rabies or not, immediately go to the emergency room for treatment.

Emergency Bat Removal and Control

Call 502-553-7622 for emergency bat removal and control in Louisville, Kentucky. We are highly trained wildlife control specialists who are licensed by the Department of Natural Resources. When you have a back problem, we are the prompt and professional solution at a price you can afford. We offer a wide range of bat removal and control services for both residential and commercial properties. Call 502-533-7622 to request a free estimate for Louisville bat removal, today.

Fun Facts About Bats

Bats do not have the best reputation. This is a result of story-telling, movies, fear, misconceptions, and more. It certainly doesn’t help their case that they are also a nuisance wildlife in most states. But despite the social stigma that surrounds them, bats are also fascinating creatures, and an important part of our eco-system. They deserve far more credit than they get, and you will soon find out why! Continue reading to learn more about bats, and some fun facts about their species!

There are Two Kinds of Bats

All bats can be put in one of two categories: Microchiroptera or Megachiroptera. Microchiroptera, also called microbats, are small and mostly eat insects and small rodents. Megachiroptera, or megabats, are much larger and consume only the nectar and pollen from fruits and plants. The Vampire Bat and Little Brown Bat are two common micro-species. The Fruit Bat and the Flying Fox are two common mega-species.

Bats are the Only Mammal that Can Fly

Not only is it a surprise to some that bats are indeed mammals, they are the only mammals on Earth that are capable of “true” flight. Other mammals might have the ability to leap, jump, soar, or float to great extents, but the bat is the only one that can actually take flight and maintain flight. This is a cool fact!

Bats Can Eat More Than 1,000 Insects in One Hour

Bats play a major role in our surrounding eco-system simply by the amount of insects they consume on a nightly basis. Bats can eat more than 1,000 insects and mosquitos in as little as one hour! Not only does this make outdoor summer activities more comfortable for us, it plays a part in protecting plant life from over-infestation.

Not All Bats Use Echolocation to Navigate in the Dark

Microbats use echolocation to hunt and navigate in the dark, but Megabats do not. Megabats have a more pronounced visual cortex, giving them better visual acuity, as well as, an excellent sense of smell. For this reason, they do not require echolocation capabilities.

Bats are 20% of the Entire Mammalia Species

Bats are categorized into orders, classes, suborders, genera, and then species. And there are more than 900 species of bats! This adds up to nearly a quarter of all the mammals in the animal kingdom. That is a lot of insect control!

It is Illegal in Most States to Harm or Kill Bats

Most states prohibit those without a proper animal control or hunting permit to harm, trap, or kill bats. Bats are an important part of our eco-system, and should never be exterminated unless they are infected with a terminal disease or injured beyond the point of return. And in the case that a bat needs to be put down for injuries or illness, only a licensed wildlife control company has the resources and license to do so legally. So if you have nuisance bats in or around your home, call a licensed bat removal and control service for non-lethal wildlife control services you can trust.

Bat Removal in Louisville

Call 502-553-7622 if you need prompt and professional bat removal in Louisville, Kentucky. We are DNR licensed and insured wildlife control specialists that have decades of experience in the bat exclusion industry. We offer full-service bat removal and control, all of which are safe and humane. We never harm or kill bats, and instead, relocate them to a safe and faraway habitat where they can thrive in seclusion. We also offer free estimates, free advice, emergency bat removal, restorations for minor attic damages caused by bats, and much more. Call 502-553-7622 for trusted bat removal and control in Louisville and its surrounding locations.