Posted: August 23, 2024

Written by: 2024 Summer Intern, Nova Dowdell


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Bats are a crucial part of ecosystems all over the world, including here in Winneshiek County. We have nine different native species of bats in Iowa. Several of those are threatened, including the Indiana Bat, the Little Brown Bat, and the Eastern Red Bat. It is vital that we protect them and their habitat. Bats are major pollinators and help disperse plant seeds. They also feast on pesky insects like mosquitoes and gnats. While these unique winged mammals are important and often helpful to humans, sometimes they can be pests themselves.

 

Bats are often attracted to buildings and homes because it provides them with stable temperatures, an escape from predators, and a safe place to raise their young. While your attic seems like the perfect spot to live from a bat’s perspective, we often don’t see eye-to-eye.

 

It is key to check your property for bats and take preventative measures in the late summer/early fall to ensure no bats are roosting. Bats tend to hide in attics, crawl spaces and closets, barns and outbuildings, garages, and other small holes and crevices. If you do find bats on your property, it is important to relocate them and bat proof sooner rather than later. Bats hibernate in the winter and look for places to roost in the fall as it starts to cool down. Bat removal in the winter often kills the bats because they are sensitive to cold temperatures. The other option is to be stuck with a bat in your home all winter long!

 

Bat removal can and should be done humanely. Many bat species are federally protected so harming or killing the animal can lead to hefty fines. If you or someone in your home has been or suspects they have been bitten by a bat, it is extremely important to seek medical attention right away. Bats are wild animals and, although unlikely, can carry diseases such as rabies. As long as you take the proper precautions, bat removal should be simple and safe.

 

There are professionals who can safely remove and relocate bats from your property. Research online in your area to find a bat-removal service that is right for you and your budget. Professional bat removers or rehabilitators are a great option for removing bats from your home, especially if there is a colony.

 

The best way to prevent bats from entering your home is by keeping windows and doors sealed and screened, making sure all buildings are in good repair without structural voids, capping chimneys, and keeping entrances to attics and crawl spaces sealed. Bats can fit through crevices and holes as small as a half inch wide! You can fill gaps with weather stripping, insulation materials, duct tape, caulk, steel wool, screening, and more.

 

Another way to prevent unwanted entry is by giving the bats a home of their own! Bat houses are similar in concept to bird houses. They provide warmth and shelter to roosting bats and are great to install in residential areas. Organizations such as Bat Conservation International have designed and tested hundreds of different models of bat houses in order to create the perfect environment for bats to roost. When purchasing a bat house, it is important that you look for vendors who have the Bat Approved Certification to ensure that the bat house is the proper habitat.

 

Bat houses must be installed properly in order for them to attract bats. Install them on wooden and pivot posts, steel poles, and hanging from buildings. It’s important to note that you should not install bat houses in or under trees. Tree branches can obstruct bats from dropping into flight and bats living in trees are more susceptible to predators. Bats enjoy roosting in warm areas so make sure your bat house is installed somewhere that gets plenty of sun. Bat houses should be placed east or south facing at 10-20 feet above the ground in order for bats to find them. Keep bat houses away from busy roads, electric wires, artificial lights, and thick vegetation. For more information about bat house installation or how to build them yourself, visit Iowa’s Department of Natural Resources website at https://www.iowadnr.gov/About-DNR/DNR-News-Releases/ArticleID/2140/Help-a-Bat-Build-a-Bat-House and Bat Conservation International’s website https://www.batcon.org/about-bats/bat-gardens-houses/.