Bats are a fairly common pest in Sioux Falls, so it makes sense that local homeowners would have a lot of questions about them. There’s a lot of misinformation surrounding these pests, so this article will focus on answering a few important questions about bats and bat control. We’ll talk about the general diet of bats, the diseases they might carry, and what makes bats important to the environment.
Because bats do contribute to the ecosystems they inhabit, they should be mitigated humanely, so we’ll also talk about that as well. CP Bat Mitigation offers the best bat pest control in Sioux Falls, and we pride ourselves on customer service and humane exclusion techniques.
What Do Bats Eat?
Let’s talk about what different species of bats eat, as well as their general appearance. Bats are mammals, though they are sometimes incorrectly labeled as rodents. Their bodies are covered in hair, and they tend to have large ears. They usually range in body length from just over two inches to seven and a half inches and in wingspan from 6 to 15 inches. Their color can be anywhere from tan to black. Their front two legs are connected to their wings, which are hairless.
The diet of most types of bats consists mainly of insects or fruits. Beetles, mosquitoes, and moths are some of the most common insects that bats target. Bats that eat fruit tend to like mangoes, bananas, dates, and other similar fruits. There are some species of bats that eat fish, frogs, birds, and even other bats. There are bats that drink blood, also known as vampire bats. There are only three known species, none of them live in the United States, and they all prefer animal blood.
What Diseases Can Be Transmitted By Bats?
Bats can transmit a couple of diseases that can potentially cause some major problems. The most well-known of these is rabies. Rabies is a disease that causes inflammation of the brain and can lead to death if not treated quickly. The good news is that most bats do not carry this disease, but you don’t want to take any chances.
Bat droppings also contain a fungus that can cause a lung disease called histoplasmosis. These droppings can also attract more bats and other pests like cockroaches, which bring their own set of potential diseases.
Why Are Bats Important To An Ecosystem?
Despite how annoying and potentially dangerous it can be to have bats in your house, they do actually contribute a great deal to the environment. Here are just a few of the helpful things bats do in a local ecosystem:
- Encourage plant growth by spreading seeds from the fruit they eat
- Control insect populations by eating large numbers of them
- Help pollinate flowers by feeding on insects that are also part of the pollination process
- Reduce the impact of pests like mosquitoes on your home and yard
For these reasons and more, humane bat control practices are the most responsible course of action when trying to get rid of these pests. Let’s take a look at what that looks like.
How Do You Safely And Humanely Remove Bats From A Yard?
You have several options for humanely excluding bats from your house and yard, including bat boxes, exclusion devices, and other treatments. But the best way to control bats in Sioux Falls is to hire CP Bat Mitigation.
We’ve been working to provide the best possible services to customers like you for years. We specialize in taking care of bats, so you won’t find a company with more expertise in this area. Every bat needs a home, just not yours. Contact CP Bat Mitigation today!