ORLANDO BAT REMOVAL AND CONTROL

Bats are the second largest order of mammals, 20% worldwide. Rodents are the largest order.

The world is a dangerous place for Bats. Bats provide a vital environmental and economic services, Bat populations are declining around the globe, largely as a result of human activity. Loss of habitat remains the most widespread peril worldwide

Because Bats reproduce slowly, with females of most species giving birth to only one pup per year, recovery from serious losses is painfully slow and tenuous at best.

Loss of habitat remains the most widespread peril worldwide. The forest many Bats use for roosting and/or foraging for food are disappearing. They are shrunken by timber harvests or cleared to make room for farm crops, mining operations, cattle pastures or cities.

Countless Bats are being driven out of roosts in caves and abandoned mines because of inappropriate guano mining or thoughtless tourism.

In North America, over 5.7 million Bats have been killed by White-Nose Syndrome, a wildlife disease that continues its spread across the continent. It’s caused by a cold loving fungus called Pseudogymnoascus Destructans. WNS attacks hibernating Bats, causing mortality rates that approach 100 percent at some sites.

The dramatic growth of wind energy throughout much of the world is also taking a huge toll on Bats. Scientists estimate that hundreds of thousands of Bats are killed each year in the United States by collisions with the spinning blades of wind turbines or rapid pressure change at turbines that can rupture blood vessels.

70% of Bats are insectivores (they eat insects). These Bats see black, white, gray and primary colors (red, blue, yellow). The other 30% are frugivores (they eat fruit) and see in full spectrum color.

Bats are the only flying mammals.

Bats are nocturnal (active at night)

A remarkable quality found in Bats is their ability to emit high frequency sounds, also known as echolocation. This is similar to sonar. They use this to detect and to catch insect prey, to avoid obstacles and to communicate.

Crevice dwelling Bats live in caves, crevices, abandoned mines and old buildings throughout the year. They will establish both a summer roost and a winter roost. Very few species live in structures. Foliage roosting bats roost in trees year round and may have several roosting trees within their territory.

For most species, breeding occurs in the fall. There are species, such as the Mexican Free-Tailed Bat that will breed in the spring. Females that breed in the fall will store the sperm over the winter and ovulate in the spring when they come out of hibernation. Baby Bats are called “pups”. In most species, pups cannot fly before at least 6 weeks old. It can be 8 weeks or more before a pup can fly in many cases.

Pups are born early to mid-summer. Baby Bats can weigh up to one third of their mothers weight. That would be like giving birth to a 40lb infant for us. Pups nurse for about 4 weeks or until they are able to fly. Interestingly, male Bats are not involved in raising the pups and for bachelor colonies during this time.

Knowing about bats helps when we are asked how to get rid of bats.