Milwaukee Is Home to 8 Bat Species! Why Protection Is Vital

  Are those bats soaring through the dusky summer skies? How could an animal so majestic not receive more admiration? Wisconsin is home to eight different species of bats and each plays a vital role in the health of our ecosystem. And with continued threats to their numbers, it is no surprise that more and more people are doing everything possible to protect them. Including having a humane bat removal company handle an infestation in a manner that provides the bats with the best possible chance of survival. Despite the negative emotions stirred up at just the mention of their names, bats are actually crucial to the maintenance of the world we live in. They control the insect population because they feed on the annoying little life forms. They also help to increase and maintain Milwaukee's green spaces as through their foraging activities they accidentally drop seeds which later germinate into trees and shrubs. It goes without saying therefore that people must do what they can to protect the world’s bats.

Wisconsin’s Bats

Wisconsin’s natural environment offers a home to eight species of bats. This group comprises the big and little brown bats, Indiana bats, northern long-eared, and the eastern pipistrelle which are classified as cave bats and the other three – the eastern red, silver-haired,  and hoary bats - which are classified as tree bats. All eight of Wisconsin’s bats feast on insects making them effective insect controllers. Unfortunately, four of these species are considered threatened, indicating that the bats are struggling to survive.

Why Bat Removal is Necessary

Even though bats are so crucial to the environment, they are not suited for living alongside human beings in commercial or residential buildings. Clearly bats help out and are therefore good wildlife animals to have around…on the outside. But when they roost inside a building they can cause numerous problems. Marucs Mueller, Owner/Operator of Skedaddle Milwaukee explains "Bat feces, or guano, can cause health risks for humans. Bats themselves can carry parasites and diseases that can seriously jeopardize human health and safety. While they do great work on pesky mosquitoes, it is important to safely and permanently remove and exclude them from any structure that humans call home." Usually, when bats move into a building they will occupy the attic. In the attic, their waste - known as guano - will begin to accumulate, creating a serious health concern to the residents of the home. They also carry parasites and diseases that can have adverse effects on human health. It is therefore important to remove bats from homes as soon as possible and ensure that they cannot re-enter.

When is the Best Time for Bat Removal

During the winter, bat removal is risky as it endangers the animals, who are already facing threats from man-made and natural sources. A winter removal is cruel and inhumane because it rouses the bats from their vulnerable hibernation process. Bats that are disturbed during their hibernation face harsh conditions in the extreme cold temperatures. Their most dangerous foe during this time is starvation. The food sources for bats (for example insect) are low during the winter. Bats store up energy reserves before the winter to sustain themselves during hibernation so they won’t need to hunt. When they are roused, their bodies automatically start using up these reserves and the scarcity of available food means the bats starve to death. The summer months are perfect for bat removal and exclusion activities. In June and July bats are out in their numbers and more so than any other time during the year. Since they are no longer hibernating at this time, homeowners and bat removal companies should capitalize on the opportunity to use humane removal and exclusion strategies to protect Milwaukee homes from bat exclusion. The White Nose Syndrome is already decimating bat populations around the world and Wisconsin’s bats have not been spared this onslaught. This is in addition to some of the misguided human-bat interactions that have also done extensive harm to the bat population. Humans use of unsafe chemicals to control bat populations have led to side effects such as birth defects and death. Many of the region’s bats have faced additional exposure to dangerous chemicals indirectly through the insects they eat (which are often covered in pesticides used by people to exterminate them). An efficient and humane bat removal company must be armed with the information above plus more if they are to effectively remove and keep bats away from your Milwaukee home. Skedaddles wildlife technicians are well prepared to handle any form of bat problem. We know that these animals are facing increasing threats and we want to ensure we are providing them with the best opportunity for survival. Which includes safely excluding them from your home.