Why are bats important? By eating insects, bats save U.S. agriculture billions of dollars per year in pest control. Some studies have estimated that service to be worth over $3.7 billion per year, and possibly as much as $53 billion. This value does not, however, take into account the volume of insects eaten by bats in forest ecosystems. U.S. Department of the Interior
Is it dangerous to have bats in your house? Bats can also damage your home. They can chew into walls, damage insulation or damage wiring as well. Bat guano is a carrier of the fungus histoplasma capsulatum. Another serious risk from bats, although rare, is the possibility of a bat transmitting rabies to a human from a bite.
How do I bat proof my house? Use window screens, chimney caps, and draft-guards beneath doors to attics, fill electrical and plumbing holes with stainless steel wool or caulking, and ensure that all doors to the outside close tightly. Prevent bats from roosting in attics or buildings by covering outside entry points. CDC Bat Management
What does bat pee smell like? Bat excrement produces an unpleasant odor as it decomposes in attics, wall spaces, and other voids. The pungent, musty, acrid odor can often be detected from outside a building containing a large or long-term colony.
What time of day are bats most active? Bats are the most active at night between the hours of dusk to dawn. As night approaches, bats begin to increase their activity. They will start flying around their cave and then leave in search of food and water. Bats will typically feed for about an hour or two, rest for a bit, then feed again before daybreak.
Bats become a nuisance when they roost in large numbers in human dwellings. The rapid accumulation of guano (bat droppings) is unsanitary, and serves as a fertile breeding ground for a fungal disease called Histoplasmosis, which is transferable to humans who breathe in the fungal spores.
How do you find a bat hiding in your house? Bats will most likely land somewhere they can hang—behind curtains or upholstered furniture, on hanging clothes, or in house plants. Carefully place a plastic tub or similar container over them. Gently work a piece of cardboard or stiff paper under the container, trapping the bat inside. Humane Society