Tag Archives: bat facts

Are You Hearing Bat Noises in Your House?

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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.

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

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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.

Learning About Fruit Bats

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Fruit Bats are a species of bat that do indeed eat fruit, but there is much more to them than the words that make up their name. You see, fruit bats are also called Megabats. They are the larger of the two distinct suborders of bat, megabat and microbat. They are found in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. There are so many interesting and surprising facts about this particular species of bat, and each one gives us an added appreciation for them. Continue reading to learn more about fruit bats and what their lives are like out there in the wild.

Megabats

Megabats are scientifically referred to Megachiroptera. They are also called fruit bats, as you already know, as well as, Old World Fruit Bats and Flying Foxes. They are referred to as Flying Foxes because they are one of the most prevalent species of fruit bats in the world. Just as people often refer to all bandages as “Band-Aids” when in fact “Band-Aid” is the brand name not the product name. The same informal use of the term, Flying Foxes, applies to Fruit Bats. There are numerous species of Flying Foxes, such as the Grey-Headed Flying Fox, the largest fruit bat in Australia. Others include the Black Flying Fox, the Spectacled Flying Fox, the Little Red Flying Fox, the Seychelles Fruit Bat, Caroline Flying Fox, the Pelew Flying Fox, and many more.

Megabats are larger than their sister-species, the Microbat. But this does not mean that all fruit bats are large. Some can be as small, or smaller, than some species of Microchiroptera. Physically, fruit bats have large eyes, one of the most recognizable and distinguishable features of a megabat. They also have large ears, another big identifier. When it comes to wingspan, they certainly have bragging rights. Wingspans of fruit bats can extend to great lengths, depending on the particular species. Larger fruit bats can grow wingspans that measure up to 5 feet or more!

Now since they have large eyes and pronounced visual centers, their vision is pretty good. In fact, theories imply that megabats do not use echolocation like microbats do for this reason. The only exception to this fact is the Egyptian Fruit Bat that uses a sonar-like system by emitting sharp clicks with their tongues. As for diet, fruit bats do eat fruit and the juices of fruit, as their name suggests, but they also eat nectar and pollen. This makes them significant parts of the Eco-system as they eliminate seeds they eat and pollinate plants.

Louisville Bat Removal

Call 502-553-7622 for professional bat removal services in Louisville, Kentucky. We are highly trained and DNR licensed bat removal and control contractors with decades of experience in the industry. We offer a wide range of bat removal services for commercial and residential properties. Call 502-553-7622 for free estimates, free advice, availability, and all other forms of information about bat removal and control in Louisville, KY.

The Bat Quiz: Learning about Wild Bats

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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.

Discussing Differences Between Megabats and Microbats

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There are over 100,000 species of bat all across the world. What’s even more interesting than that is, all these bat species fall into one of two categories: Megachiroptera and Microchiroptera. Colloquially, these are referred to as megabats and microbats. Bats come in all different shapes, sizes, and colors; but all of them will either be a megabat or microbat species. Bats are the only mammal on Earth capable of true flight. This is one of the most interesting and incredible characteristics of bats! All bat species, whether mega or micro, are special and unique. Let’s take a closer look at a few individual species of bat, and discuss the differences between Megachiroptera and Microchiroptera bats.

Microchiroptera Bats

Microbats are not called “micro” for no reason; they are the smaller of the two category bats. The smallest microbat, called the Bumblebee Bat, weighs only 2 grams! Other microbats are known to weigh only a few ounces, and range between 4 and 15 centimeters long. They are also called Echolocating bats, small bats, insectivorous bats, and true bats. Although they go by many names and have various sub species, all microbats use echolocation to locate and hunt for food. Echolocation, also called bio sonar, is a method of emitting calls or sounds into the surrounding environment, and waiting for the sounds to bounce of close-by objects and return. This creates a mental grid or map for a bat in hunt of prey at night. Microbats have an interesting diet that mostly consists of insects; but larger species prefer small prey like frogs, fish, small birds, lizards, aquatic organisms, and even smaller bats. A few well-known species of Microchiroptera include the Spotted Bat, Spectacled Bat, Mexican Free-Tailed Bat, Bumblebee Bat, Orange Leaf-Nosed Bat, Little Broad-Nosed Bat, and the Inland Forest Bat.

Megachiroptera Bats

Megabats are much larger than most microbats. They have large eyes and a keen sense of smell. In fact, these two senses are their principle asset in hunting and locating food. You see, Megachiroptera bats do not use Echolocation like the Microchiroptera (with the exception of the Egyptian Fruit Bat that uses high-pitched clicks to navigate in caves). Instead, they see and smell very well. Their diet is frugivorous and nectarivorous, meaning they consume only ripened fruit, fruit juices, nectar, and pollen from flowers. They have long tongues that can reach down to the bottom of flowers in order to get to the pollen. Megabats and plant life practice a form of mutualism called Chiropterophily. Bats consume, pass along, and eliminate pollen and fruit seeds, producing more growth and aiding in the pollination process. Common species of megabat include all Fruit Bat species, all Flying Fox species, the Hammerhead Bat, and the Long-Tongued Nectar Bat.

Louisville Bat Removal and Control

Call 502-553-7622 for professional bat removal and control services in Louisville, Kentucky today. We are highly trained and DNR licensed bat control specialists with decades of experience in the animal removal and control industry. We provide a wide-range of bat removal and control services; including bat removal, bat prevention, bat proofing, bat cleanup, minor attic restorations, emergency services, and more. Call 502-553-7622 and receive a free estimate regarding bat removal services in Louisville, KY and its surrounding counties.