February is for the Bats

If the thought of bats (not flying rodents) getting caught in your hair or swooping down frightens you, then this article is for you.  Bats are a very misunderstood mammal, and as the only true flying mammal, it is one of a kind. There are over 1400 species of bats in the world, and 13 of those species are found right here in Indiana.

The largest bats, as you may know, are fruit bats. Fruit bats are not indigenous to the United States but can be found in the National Park of American Samoa. The smallest bat, the bumblebee bat, lives in Thailand caves. Here in our state, we have one very special species of bat—the Indiana bat, Myotis sodalis. The Indiana bat was first discovered in 1928 and has since been found throughout the Midwest. These mostly cave dwellers are insectivores, which means they only eat bugs, especially mosquitos. Bats are seasonal migrators mostly, migrating in October and returning in February. They are busy hibernating, slowing their metabolism and body temperature, as well as lowering their heartbeat to 20 beats per minute (normal is around 200 beats per minute)! As the females migrate to their wintering grounds, usually caves or abandoned mines, the males swarm at the entrances mating with females. Pups are then born in May or June and kept in nursing colonies with other female bats and their young. The solitary males return early too, normally to roosts they have used previously, such as barn rafters, loose tree bark, or occasionally in an attic.

Many people are concerned with bats getting into their attics, or even into their houses. There are many passive bat-proofing options that gently encourage bats to find alternative roosting sites besides your house. Other better options include constructing or buying a bat house to hang on your barn or even your house. There are many different kinds, but the basic principle is the same.  It provides a roost for multiple bats and is a healthy alternative to other not so bat-friendly locations.  

Remember, bats are an important component of our food web, providing a much-overlooked service by reducing the number of unwanted insects. They are harmless, with a rabies diagnosis of less than one percent. And contradictory to popular beliefs, bats do not want to suck your blood, or terrorize you by getting caught in your hair—rapid movement confuses bats as they have to use a combination of echolocation AND good vision to navigate their environment. They are just as scared of us as we may be of them. But there is no reason to fear, and if you seek an alternative to bug zappers or mosquito coils, try installing a bat house.

Let’s encourage our winged friends by providing a habitat that will benefit both humans and bats. For more information on bats check our collection: Walker’s Bats of the World by Ronald Nowak (559.4 Now), The Secret Lives of Bats by Merlin Tuttle (599.4 Tut), and of course Stokes Beginner’s Guide to Bats by Kim Williams (599.4 Wil).