Bats are nocturnal animals that may infest your home, if
they think your property is suitable for a den. Understanding their
mating and reproduction habits will prevent them from breeding in your
attic, roof or the spaces between walls.
Animal control
experts agree that bats may multiply quickly, if they infest your home
in pairs. Once you see a couple flying out or around your property at
night, chances are they already have offspring and may grow their
colony.
Brown Bat Mating Season and Reproduction
In
most of Canada, brown bats mate in two phases, passive and active. In
the latter phase, both partners are alert and fully awake. In their
passive phase, active males will try to mate with drowsy bats regardless
of gender. The active mating phase is more common because these are
times when testosterone are at peak levels. Active mating reaches its
highest in August, while passive mating lasts until winter.
When
mating, males mount the female from the rear and sometimes use a
copulation call to calm her so that there is no struggle. Bats will mate
promiscuously, neither male or female bats are selective of their
potential mate, and males cannot monopolize females even when they are
in torpid.
In spring, females live in nursery colonies which may
likely be the same place where they were born. These comprise mainly of
adult female bats with their babies; they may also roost in attics of
warm homes or buildings because of their humidity. These colonies may
reach thousands per forest or cave. Gestation may last 50 to 60 days;
females have one baby per year or twins, from late May to early June.
The
young enter an altricial state when born, they keep their eyes closed
and will hang in their nursery while their mothers look for food at
night. They only open their eyes on the second day and cling to a nipple
until they reach two weeks old. After three weeks, they start flying
and by the fourth week, they reach adult size.
Females mature
sexually in the fall after their birth, while males may take a year;
most male bats and approximately half of females start breeding during
their first autumn.
Problems Caused
When you fail to get bat exclusion
services after you discover an infestation, you will have to deal with
the foul smell of urine and guano. Bats are also carriers of the rabies
virus, which it can transmit to you through its bite. These animals also
bring all sorts of bacteria and insects that may cause harmful
diseases.
Bats may also damage drywall, insulation and electrical
wiring. The damage may affect the energy consumption of your home,
leading to a higher energy and repair bill. With the help of an animal
control expert, you can prevent infestation or remove the bats already
in your attic or other parts of your house.
Removers will use
humane and proven techniques to remove bats in various parts of your
house. Some will also remove the guano and urine left behind by these
animals. They will deodorize the area and clean up the mess to prevent a
re-infestation.
