The Benefits Of A Bat House On Your Property

Bats are the only mammals in the world who can fly. They use echolocation to navigate themselves and find small insects to feed on. Bats most often roost in caves and cliffs but can find homes in buildings also. Once inside buildings, they enjoy the steady temperatures and safety offered by four walls and a roof. Despite the many unpleasant myths surrounding them, bats are hugely beneficial to every ecosystem. Continue reading to learn more about these fascinating creatures.

Interesting Bat Facts

As previously mentioned, bats are the only mammals that can fly, and there are over 1,000 species of them all over the world. They mate in the spring and their babies are born the following summer. Bats use echolocation to see in the dark and that’s the reason they never seem to hit any walls. They spend their winters in caves, but during summer they live under trees, bridges, and buildings. Urban areas are very difficult for bats, and that’s why you can find them on the eaves of your house. [caption id="attachment_15024" align="aligncenter" width="450"] Bat houses are a great way to keep the bats out of your home.[/caption]

Why is Having a Bat House on Your Property Beneficial?

A single bat can capture 500-1,000 mosquitoes in an hour. Bats will do the job for free and without any insecticides. On the other hand, in order to accomplish such an impressive feat, they do need a suitable nesting location. Bat houses suit that role perfectly, while at the same time keeping them from moving to your attic where they are sure to cause problems.

Bat Houses 101

A bat house should be:

• Located at least 15' above the ground
• Warm (in full sun is best) and dark
• A tight space that mimics the bark on a tree
• Rough on the inside, so the bats can cling to the interior
• Close to a water source

[caption id="attachment_15025" align="aligncenter" width="450"] Bat houses can be an easy DIY project.[/caption] Poorly designed bat houses will not make a suitable nesting place for bats and therefore won't successfully attract them. Whether you're building or buying a bat house, be sure to look for the most recent designs and guidelines for the best chance of success. As better homes get developed by humans, bats and other wild creatures lose their natural nesting places. Bats play a vital role in natural pest control by reducing the mosquito populations, so it's in our best interests to protect them and encourage them to nest in our yards and gardens by installing bat houses.

Fond of Bats, But Faced with an Infestation in Your Home? Get in Touch With Skedaddle

Although it is true that bats can provide free bug control for your Milwaukee home, that is not always the case, unfortunately. Often enough they will choose to take residence inside attics and walls of homes. These are situations in which you’d be wise to get in touch with professionals who can help you get rid of them in a humane way and possibly encourage them to take up residence elsewhere on your property – preferably a bat house. Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control is the perfect choice as the company has nearly thirty years of experience in dealing with wildlife humanely and has helped more than 200,000 homeowners to date. We also offer 24-hour animal control for those nocturnal critters keeping you up at night. Get in touch with Skedaddle today and ensure your bat visitors are safe and doing their job for the ecosystem from their own residence instead of yours.