As we loo at the night skies over Durham, those small, swooping silhouettes against the moonlight are often performing one of nature’s most impressive feeding frenzies. What do these creatures eat? It’s a question that reveals far more about them than you might expect. 

While many Durham residents recognize bats fluttering around street lamps capturing insects, their dietary habits are as diverse and fascinating as Duke University’s gothic architecture is to our cityscape. 

At Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control, we’ve dedicated decades to understanding bat behaviour, including their feeding patterns. This knowledge helps us provide more effective and humane solutions when these animals take up residence where they shouldn’t. Let’s explore the fascinating world of bat diets and what it means for your property and the environment.

What Do Bats Eat: The Basics of Bat Nutrition

Contrary to popular belief, bats have remarkably diverse diets that vary dramatically between species. While the majority of North American species are insectivores, their menu extends far beyond bugs. This dietary diversity underscores their ecological importance and influences our approach at Skedaddle.

Insect-Eating Bats: Nature’s Pest Controllers

The most common species in Durham are insectivores, and their appetite for insects is nothing short of astonishing:

• A single little brown bat can consume up to 1,000 mosquito-sized insects in a single hour.
• Nursing mothers can eat more than their body weight in insects nightly.
• A colony of 100 members can consume over a million insects every night.

These impressive numbers demonstrate why they are considered natural pest controllers. When a colony establishes itself in an area, local insect populations —especially mosquitoes, moths, beetles, and flies—can be significantly reduced.

The hunting process: Bats use echolocation to find their prey, emitting high-frequency sounds that bounce off objects and return to their sensitive ears. This sophisticated biological sonar system allows them to detect insects as small as gnats while flying at speeds of up to 20 miles per hour in complete darkness.

Seasonal patterns: During warm months in Durham, insectivorous species are most active, capitalizing on abundant flying insects. Their feeding habits intensify in spring after hibernation when they need to regain up to 50% of body weight lost during winter months.

Beyond Insects: The Surprising Diversity of Bat Diets

While our local bats primarily consume insects, worldwide species showcase remarkable dietary diversity. Bats around the world are often categorized by their unique feeding behaviours that extend beyond insects.

Fruit-Eating Bats: Nature’s Gardeners      

Fruit bats, primarily found in tropical and subtropical regions, have evolved to consume fruits, nectar, and pollen. They play critical roles in:

1. Seed dispersal for hundreds of plant species, aiding in plant genetic diversity.
2. Pollination of economically important crops such as bananas and mangoes.
3. Forest regeneration after disruptions, vital for natural disaster recovery.

Though not common in Durham , these frugivorous bats represent about 70% of all species globally. Their feeding habits directly benefit human agriculture and forest health worldwide.

Nectar-Feeding Bats: The Forgotten Pollinators

Some species have evolved long snouts and tongues specifically for feeding on nectar from flowers. They are responsible for pollinating:

• Agave plants (used to make tequila).
• Bananas, mangoes, and guavas.
• Several types of cacti.

Fun fact: Without nectar-feeding bats, there would be no tequila! The agave plant depends almost exclusively on these mammals for pollination.

Carnivorous Bats: The Top Predators

A smaller percentage of species worldwide have evolved to consume:

• Small vertebrates like lizards, frogs, and birds.
• Fish, using their claws to scoop them from water.
• Even other bats in rare cases.

The vampire bat, perhaps the most misunderstood of all species, does consume blood but primarily targets cattle and other livestock—not humans as popular culture suggests. These specialized feeders have important compounds in their saliva that have led to breakthrough medications for stroke patients.

Bat Diet Facts: How Feeding Habits Impact Our Ecosystem

The eating habits of bats create ripple effects throughout our ecosystem that many Durham residents never consider. These ecological services translate to significant benefits for humanity at large.

Economic Benefits of Bat Diets

The insect consumption of bats provides enormous economic value:

• Scientists estimate that bats save the U.S. agricultural industry at least $3.7 billion annually in pest control services.
• By controlling insects that damage crops, bats indirectly improve food security, a critical component for ecosystems and economies alike.
• Their consumption of disease-carrying insects like mosquitoes indirectly reduces healthcare costs.

Agricultural impact: By consuming pests that would otherwise damage crops, these mammals help reduce the need for chemical pesticides. This is particularly important for farmers in the Durham region who benefit from the natural pest control services that local bat populations provide.

Ecological Benefits Beyond Pest Control

While pest control gets most of the attention, bats’ diets benefit our ecosystem in several other ways:

• Their droppings (guano) are nutrient-rich fertilizer that enhances soil productivity.
• By consuming insects at night when many birds are inactive, bats help maintain insect population balance and protect crucial agricultural yields.
• Their feeding behaviours help regulate populations of hundreds of insect species.

Seed dispersal: Even among insectivores, some opportunistically consume fruits and can disperse seeds across substantial distances, contributing to plant genetic diversity and forest regeneration. This is especially important in disturbed regions where forest recovery is necessary.

When Bat Feeding Habits Intersect with Durham Properties

Understanding what bats eat helps explain why they might choose your property as a home base and why professional intervention is sometimes necessary. A particular focus on their feeding needs reveals much about their environmental patterns.

Why Bats Choose Your Property

Bats select roosting sites based largely on their feeding requirements. Your property might attract these animals if:

• It’s near water sources that attract insects, a staple of bat diets.
• You have outdoor lighting that draws moths and other night-flying insects, providing easy feeding grounds.
• Your property provides easy access to foraging areas like open fields or wooded areas, which are rich in insects.

Seasonal considerations: During summer months when insect populations peak in Durham, bats are most active and hungry, especially females nursing their young. This increased activity can make their presence more noticeable to homeowners.

When Professional Intervention Becomes Necessary

While bats provide valuable ecological services, a colony in your attic or walls can create problems:

• Droppings accumulate over time, leading to odor issues and potential health concerns from guano exposure.
• The sounds of a feeding colony returning at dawn can disturb sleep, impacting daily routines.
• Occasional “lost” bats may find their way into living spaces, causing panic and potential disturbances.

At Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control in Durham, we understand the balance between appreciating bats’ ecological role and addressing the legitimate concerns of homeowners. Our approach focuses on humane removal and exclusion that protects both your family and these beneficial animals.

Humane Solutions for Bat Issues in Durham Properties

When bats take up residence in your home unexpectedly, professional intervention should respect both your needs and the important ecological role these animals play. Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control provides solutions that prioritize safety and conservation.

Our Approach to Bat Management

Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control has pioneered effective techniques for bat removal that work with their natural feeding and roosting behaviours:

• We identify all entry points, considering that bats can squeeze through gaps as small as a dime.
• Our technicians install one-way doors during appropriate seasons that allow bats to exit to feed but prevent their return, ensuring humane removal.
• We seal all potential entry points with our specialized wildlife exclusion sealant after the colony has been removed, preventing future intrusions.

Timing matters: Because of bats’ hibernation and breeding cycles, removal must be carefully timed. In Durham, we can only safely and legally perform bat exclusion during spring before birthing season begins and in fall before hibernation. This ensures no dependent young are orphaned in your home.

After the Bats Are Gone

Once the colony has been humanely removed, we address any contamination issues to restore your home and protect your health:

• Our technicians safely remove droppings that could pose health risks and ensure all areas are thoroughly cleaned.
• Contaminated insulation is properly disposed of, mitigating any further risk.
• All affected areas are treated with odor control and bacteria-eliminating solutions to ensure a comfortable return to normalcy.

Understanding bats and their diets offer insight into their ecological value and why humane solutions are crucial when they overlap with human spaces. If bats have colonized your property, act to protect your family and the bats by contacting Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control in Durham. Our team will restore balance to your home environment while preserving the contributions of these remarkable creatures. Reach out to us today for a safe and professional bat management service.