‘Tis the season of the bat protection! Some people find bats adorable, others terrifying. But the most concerning would be the nervous people that find themselves sharing a shelter with them. This is the case because most people don’t realize that bats are a protected species here in Florida and it is illegal to harm them or remove them from your property while they are nesting and raising their young from April 15- August 15. We’ll talk about the different species you might see here in Central Florida, what to look out for on your property, why they are important to protect, and how we can help you with them.
Floridian species of bats
There are 13 species of bats that call Florida home. Check out this great poster from the University of Florida’s IFAS Extension. It shows each species and where they like to nest. You’ll notice 8 out of 13 prefer to nest in domiciles!
Of the 13 species native to Florida, 2 of them are listed Endangered, the Florida Bonneted bat and the Gray bat, and the hopes of having the Tricolored bat added this year. That may not seem like a lot, but considering that there are over 160 species of butterflies in our state, 3 out of only 13 species of bats endangered is a lot.
Do I have bats living with me?
Keep a watchful eye around your home, especially at sunrise and sunset, as these are high traffic times for the nocturnal bats’ hunting. They could be nesting in your attic so you might hear some squeaking or scratching around. You might see visible signs around possible entry points such as the guano (bat poo) or urine. Their guano has an ammonia-type smell that may get your attention at some point.
But if you suspect something is in your attic, or you feel confident it is in fact bats, do NOT Indiana Jones it and make the trek to investigate. Their guano can be quite harmful! As the guano dries, disturbed spores can travel through the air and into your lungs, causing Histoplasmosis. Inhaling small amounts might go unnoticed, but larger amounts can cause symptoms such as fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, chest pain, or lethargy. If someone develops flu-like symptoms after being exposed to bat guano, seek medical attention right away. People with weakened immune systems, infants or those with pulmonary disorders can be severely affected, sometimes fatal.
Why bats are so important
After that scary information, I’m sure it’s hard to imagine wanting to advocate for bats! But the truth is, bats are critical to our survival as they are pollinators, just like bees and butterflies. Without pollination and their seed dispersal, the world’s food supply would be dependent on laboratories to feed our 8 billion + people on this planet we call home. They are also one of nature’s great pest control technicians because they often survive on pesky bugs like flies, mosquitos, beetles, and other insects. Studies from Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission have shown that bats have saved over a billion dollars in the US corn industry from crop damage and pesticide costs!
Let us help!
LydyBug Pest Control offers preventative treatment in Orlando for bat and rodent exclusions. Exclusion work can assess what’s going on in and around your home and safely and lawfully manage the habitat issues with bats by sealing up all possible entry points for the bats. We also ensure that the safety of the bats is of utmost importance. Our experts are fully trained and certified in pest control exclusions, so you can be sure they will safely and effectively take care of the problem. Contact us for assistance with bats today!
