A species of vesper bat, this is a relatively large bat. And believe it or not, the Big Brown Bat has outstanding qualities.
The Bat’s Best Qualities:
To get to know the bat is to learn to love the bat. Believe it or not, their good qualities do exist. Bats are beneficial to our environment in the following ways.
- Bats are natural pest eliminators.
- They fertilize and pollinate crops and gardens.
- The rainforest depends on Bats.
- Bats may aid in human health.
So, below we will go into further detail in the following paragraphs about bats.
They Are Natural Pest Eliminators
There is no doubt, bats eat bugs, and we mean tons of bugs. In fact, farmers are grateful to the bats in their areas because bats save them millions of dollars in pesticides per year. The most common crops they protect are sugarcane, nuts like almonds and pecans, tomatoes, cucumbers, beans, corn, rice, and even cotton.
Pollination and Fertilization
Similar to bees, bats that eat nectar pollinate over 700 different plants. However, their method is a bit different.
As far as fertilization, you can probably guess. The bat’s guano is suitable for our gardens. It contains nitrogen, potassium, and phosphate, which are all good for the soil. And when their droppings have seeds, new plants are spread throughout the area.
Big Brown Bat Facts
Bats are mammals with large, pointed ears, brown fur, and long arms and hands with long fingers. The back fur is reddish on the Big Brown Bat, while the belly fur is lighter brown. The snout and wings are black and hairless. Those muscular wings that are attached to their hands and legs are especially suited for their flight.
Oh, and the bat happens to be the only mammal that can fly. Besides, they are more maneuverable in flight than birds.
- Wingspan: 12.8 to 13.8 inches
- Length: 4.3 – 5.1 inches
- Weight: between 15-26 gram
- Life Span: around 6.5 years
Big Brown Bat Behavior:
The Big Brown Bat lives in deciduous and coniferous forests and woodland areas. They will use rock crevices, tree cavities, woodpecker holes, snags, nest boxes, and abandoned nests for homes. Additionally, it is good to know that these bats hibernate around November.
Diet:
Bats are nocturnal, flying around at night and hanging in dark and secluded places during the day. You see, at night, they have fewer predators to contend with as they search for food. It only makes sense.
One of the most exciting bat facts remains how they use ultrasonic signals, called echolocation, to locate objects in the dark. Echolocation is how they navigate the world at night and look for food.
The big brown bat is insectivorous, and they do not suck human blood. For some reason, it does not like moths, like other bats. However, they love beetles. They also feast on flies, mayflies, roaches, scorpionflies, and more.
Reproduction:
Big brown bat mating season is in the fall. So, after hibernation ends in the spring, females form maternity colonies to give birth to their young. According to Wikipedia, “only one offspring is produced per litter, though twins are common in the Eastern US.”
Are Big Brown Bats Dangerous?
Below are only some of the issues they will create if they go unnoticed in your attic space.
Damage to the Home
If a Big Brown Bat has nested in your attic, there can be extensive damage done. If they do manage to trap themselves in your attic, here is what you may see.
- Nightly noises such as clicking, popping, and scratching as bats move around.
- Large quantities of bat droppings (guano) in your attic or loft.
- A strong toxic smell that is like ammonia.
- Dark stains around small holes in your home.
- Bats flying from your home at dusk.
Worst of all would be the smell of the giant pile of urine and droppings. No one wants that from a colony of twenty Big Brown Bats. Bats typically are not alone, so if you see a solo bat in your home’s attic, there are most likely others hanging around.
Health Threats
Perhaps you have never heard this one. But vampire bat saliva has been found to contain an anticoagulant that helps treat stroke victims. And, if that was not enough, the bat is resistant to DNA damage and malaria parasites. So, scientists have been working on the bat DNA to understand human DNA better and effectively control or eliminate malaria.
But are there dangers to humans? Well, they can be infected by rabies. But most die before they ever get a chance to bite a human and infect them.
Also, the big brown bat can carry the following:
- Histoplasma capsulatum, a fungus found in guano.
- Saint Louis encephalitis virus, a mosquito-borne virus that can affect humans.
- And West Nile Virus can be transmitted through mosquitoes.
Bats are a Protected Species
As a protected species, bats are illegal to kill, which is excellent news for the farmers and rainforests of the world. If you suspect you have bats in your attic or on your property, let Covenant Wildlife Removal assist you with bat removal. We are a top-rated local family-owned, full-service wildlife trapping, removal, and damage repair service company. Our removal team will remove a bat infestation before it becomes a massive problem for you and your family. We provide humane and safe bat removal services in Jefferson and Shelby counties. Contact us to set up an inspection.
Get Rid of the Big Brown Bat Infestation
You can trust the professionals at Covenant Wildlife Removal to get rid of the Big Brown Bats for good. They can do the patch and prevention work for you. Then they help to encourage the bats out safely and humanely, so they can relocate.
At Covenant Wildlife Removal, we will remove the bats, find the entry points and seal them up, and finally, clean up after them. We are fully equipped and experienced at getting to the source of the problem and eradicating the wildlife.
Big Brown Bat Removal Service includes:
- Exclusion
- Clean Up
- Disinfection
- Odor Removal
- Repair of the area
Covenant Wildlife Removal is a top-rated local family-owned, full-service wildlife trapping, removal, and repair service. We can remove a bat infestation before it becomes an extensive problem for you and your family.
Contact us or call 205-850-5760 to set up an inspection.