They say home is where the heart is. If that’s the case, you want your home to feel safe and secure. Winter, in particular, is essential to that feeling of comfort. Besides ensuring your house is warm, you must prepare for bad weather, which can lead to other issues, such as power outages and flooding.
But there’s one factor you might overlook: animals outside. Where do they go when it gets cold? They need to feel safe and secure, just like us, and perhaps they must care for their families.
Bats are one such species to consider. They are fascinating creatures that navigate by sound and thrive at night. You may see them as a nuisance, but there are some essential facts to learn about their wintertime habits–and knowing why they nest can help you with bat control in Omaha.
When Do Bats Hibernate?
During the summer, female bats form maternity roosts. In the winter, they form hibernation roosts. That’s right–it’s a roost, not a nest.
Bats begin to hibernate from late fall until spring arrives.
Bats’ most common food source is insects. But once winter rolls around and the temperature drops, the bugs disappear, resulting in a scarce food supply. When this happens, bats hibernate. According to the National Park Service, bats hibernate to reduce their metabolic, heart, and respiratory rates. This allows them to survive for long periods without having to eat.
A bat's typical heart rate is between 200 and 300 beats per minute. But during hibernation, that number can drop to 10 beats per minute. Bats have even been known to go several minutes without taking a breath.
Bats' hibernation period is also known as “torpor.” During this time, bats can significantly reduce the energy in their bodies by up to 98 percent. Depending on the temperature, they can remain in torpor for a few hours or up to a month.
Bats require specific temperatures for hibernation, too. An ideal temperature for them is 35-40 degrees Fahrenheit. Too warm, and they will use up too much energy. Too cold, and they will freeze.
This is where they look for places with just the right temperature to hibernate.
Where Do Bats Like To Hibernate?
Where do bats go in the winter? They’re always looking for the perfect mix of temperature and humidity, so they’ll usually look at caves, mines, tunnels, and cellars. These places are called hibernacula.
Do you own a warehouse? The ceiling inside is another excellent hang-out spot, particularly for a large colony of bats. Churches and barns have also become popular destinations.
Humans have destroyed many of the habitats bats prefer, such as trees. Therefore, they nest in man-made structures and on our property. They are forced to adapt by finding places near us.
Sometimes, they can be a little too close to home. Caves and mines can be too wet for their liking, so they’ll seek out somewhere dry. A nice spot is the warm insulation inside your walls or in the attic.
Given the choice, they prefer walls. The inside of a wall preserves a consistent temperature that they like, and they can easily crawl up and down the wall until they get their desired temperature. If there's a temperature spike, they will scramble to find an area more comfortable. Unfortunately, this can also lead to bats entering your main living area or basement.
But how do they get into your house? You’d be surprised how clever they can be.
How Do Bats Get Into Houses?
You might not know it, but bats are crafty little suckers.
Bats can breach any area? Of an inch or greater. We’re talking chimneys, loose tiles, vents, or roof edges. The higher, the better, from a bat’s perspective, because homeowners will pay less attention to points of entry that are not easily accessible for repair.
An important thing to remember is that bats do not chew their way through structures. Once they sense a specific air current or temperature to their liking, they will slide through. These guys are like flying ninjas!
They can also fly through an open window by mistake. They don’t want to enter your house, but the warm air attracts them, so be sure to have screens on your windows.
Once you’ve taken care of the easy precautions, it’s essential to assess whether your house is at high risk for unwanted guests.
What Houses Are More Susceptible To Bat Colonization?
If you live in an area with cold winters, you’re more likely to encounter bats. An older house at least two stories high will be a target. If you haven’t made any repairs to the house in quite a while, bats will use that to their advantage to find any imperfection that can lead them inside.
They’re opportunistic that way.
And if you have a large attic, an entire bat colony may move in due to the space available. Bats need each other to stay warm and prefer to nest together.
Consider the surrounding area of your house. Bats are attracted to dead, hollow trees. They also prefer areas with reliable water sources, so if you live near a pond, river, or lake, be prepared.
Safety And Bat Control
Keeping your house safe is essential, including securing it from unwanted guests. Bats may not be the best-looking animals, but they want a place to call home, just like us. They mean you no harm.
If you have a better idea of when and where they hibernate and how they can enter your home, you’ll be better prepared to deal with the situation and learn how to prevent it in the future.
Is your house a target for bats? It is in your best interest to learn about these animals. Once informed, you can take preventative measures to ensure they never enter your house in the first place. Do you have a residential bat control problem? Give us a call today.