On warm summer nights, you might see a bat or two flying around outside. While you might think of these critters as pests, they do a lot of good in this area. Bats keep insect populations down, including mosquito populations. However, bats can become a nuisance if they decide to make their home in your walls or attic. Although needing Hilton Head Island bat removal to get them out of your home might seem bothersome, these animals are fascinating. Keep the following bat facts in mind.
SC Is Home to 14 Bat Species
Those bats you see flying around could belong to different species. South Carolina is home to a total of 14 different species of bats. These include big brown bats, tricolored bats, evening bats, Eastern red bats, little brown bats, Southeastern bats and more. Five of these species tend to roost in trees and lead a solitary life. Nine of these species live in colonies.
Bats Are Expert Flying Mammals
Some other mammals, such as flying squirrels, are able to take to the air. However, bats are the only ones that can manage sustained flight. Bats can also reach speeds of up to 100 miles per hour when they’re flying, and they can reach heights of up to 10,000 feet.
Bats Rarely Have Rabies
One of the more common misconceptions about bats is that they easily spread rabies. In fact, bats in SC rarely carry this disease. Less than one percent of naturally occurring bat populations have rabies. Keep in mind that people who end up with rabies do tend to get it from bats. However, this is due to the fact that people tend to encounter or touch rabid bats more than other rabid animals, such as raccoons.
Bats Have a Long Lifespan for Rodents
Mice and other rodents usually only live about a year or two, but bats are able to live much longer. For example, little brown bats have been known to live for around 30 years, which is much longer than rats, chipmunks, squirrels and other rodents.
Bats Feast on Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes are a big problem in SC, since they can spread disease. Having bats around helps keep mosquito populations under control. Bats that live in the area are able to eat 15 mosquitoes in one minute, which for a colony can add up to many pounds of mosquitoes in a night of feeding.
Bats Are Good for the Environment
In addition to controlling mosquito populations, bats are beneficial for the environment. Bats provide a natural means of pest control, which has helped reduce the amount of pesticides used. This has helped the environment, as well as local wildlife species in South Carolina.
Bats Are Facing a Big Threat
Bats in SC have had their numbers reduced by white-nose syndrome. This syndrome has resulted in the deaths of more than six million bats since 2006. You can help protect bat populations by using Hilton Head Island bat removal that offers safe methods of removing bats from your home instead of killing them.
Bat Removal
If you need bats removed from your home, it’s best to have this done in early spring or fall rather than in the summer. During summer, removing bats might mean that young bats get stuck inside your home if they’re unable to fly. Pest control professionals can help you determine the right time to have bats removed. This helps ensure that bats are able to remain safe and healthy after their move to a new area.
If you’re dealing with bats inside your attic or walls, contact Island Pest Control for help. Our Hilton Head Island bat removal services can get these critters out of your home safely, so they won’t cause damage or possible health issues.
