Bats

There are more than 40 species of bats in the United States, each with distinctive physical characteristics.

Bats are the only mammals capable of true flight. Because they are nocturnal, they hunt at night and roost during the day in trees, bat boxes, under eaves and in buildings where they can gain access through open spaces in roofs, attics or walls.

All bats in Washington State are insectivores, and usually live around fresh water where insects are plentiful. Most active in the spring and summer, many bats migrate or hibernate during the winter. Contrary to popular belief, bats are not blind. They have fairly good eyesight, but do navigate and find food primarily by using a sonar-like system called echolocation.

Most bats give birth to a single baby which is unable to fly for several months. Babies cling to their mothers until they are too big to be carried, and are then left behind in a nursery colony while the adults hunt. Accessible attic spaces, which are often warm and dark, are sometimes used as nurseries until the babies are old enough to fly on their own.

For centuries, bats have been the subjects of negative mythology, but in reality they are useful predators and help to control insects. A single, little bat can consume up to 2,000 mosquitoes in one night.

Solving and preventing conflicts

Bats and rabies

Healthy bats prefer to keep their distance from humans. Stories about bats becoming entangled in people's hair are myths. Bats can be rabid, although this is an exaggerated danger. That said, there are rare instances of rabid bats biting humans and other animals.

Never attempt to pick up a bat with your bare hands. If you find a sick or injured bat, contact PAWS Wildlife Center (if you live in King or Snohomish Counties in Washington State) for assistance, or if you live outside of Western Washington find your local wildlife rehabilitation center.

There are only a very few cases in the U.S. of rabies transmission from bat to human. Possible signs of rabies in bats include activity during daylight hours, and the inability to fly. If a bat is around people and the noise of human activity (all of which a normal bat will avoid), that is another possible sign the bat may have rabies. Rabid bats may also be lethargic, which unfortunately renders them docile and approachable.

If you come into contact with a bat

If you or a domestic animal in your care is bitten, or if material such as saliva or droppings comes in contact with your eyes, nose, mouth or a wound of any kind, wash the area thoroughly with soap and water and seek medical advice immediately.

Some bats will bite and not leave any marks. That is why it is crucial to seek immediate medical advice, if you awaken and find a bat in your living area, near a child, or a disabled or impaired person. If you think a pet has been similarly exposed, immediately take the animal to a veterinarian.

Bats in your living space

Like other wild animals, bats sometimes find their way into buildings. They do not chew or dig their way in, but squeeze through cracks and holes less than an inch in diameter. Damage caused by bats is usually minimal, but the smell of their droppings can be offensive.

If you discover a bat in your living space:

Remain calm and provide a way for the animal to leave the house.
Close interior doors, turn out the lights, open a door or window, and wait for the bat to locate the exit.
If you find the bat during the day, you might have to wait until nightfall before the bat leaves. Once the bat is gone, determine how he entered, checking for possible entry points around door and window casings, air conditioners, vents and chimneys. If you are sure there are no other bats in the house, seal all holes and cracks.
If you suspect that a colony of bats has taken up residence in a wall or attic space, watch for bat activity at nightfall and look for telltale signs of accumulated droppings below the entry.

Strategies for bat-proofing

Allow the bats to leave on their own. Do not use repellents because they will drive the animals further into the house. From May until late August, assume there are young bats in the space, and wait until the babies are old enough to fly out with the adults.
At the end of the summer when you are certain there are no more young, begin excluding the bats by closing off all available entries, but one. Fit the open hole with a one-way door with a hinged flap so that bats can escape but not re-enter the space. Leave this in place for several days, continue to watch for bat activity, and if possible inspect the space until you are certain they are gone.
Permanently exclude bats by sealing all possible entries. Caulk cracks during warm, dry weather when cracks are the widest. Use weather stripping to seal spaces around doors, windows, and vents, and replace loose boards and roofing materials. Be sure to secure every crack and hole in outside walls, eaves and roofs.