What You Need to Know About the Brown Bat

Bats are actually very docile creatures despite the many misleading myths about them. These animals play big roles in the balance of our ecosystem, and they do much more than just scaring people at night (although that's not really their intention!) Bats are nocturnal animals and play vital roles in pollination and propagating fruit trees, as well as controlling pests.

You may think that bats belong to just one species. The truth is, there are over a thousand bat species, and each of these species are unique in their own way. One of the most adorable bat species are the brown bats. Sadly, the population of these bats have been shrinking since 2010, because of a disease in the northeast of USA and Canada called white nose syndrome, which has killed and will continue to kill millions of bats.

There are two varieties of brown bats, the little and the big ones. The small ones grow wingspans that are about 8 to 11 inches, and they only weigh less than half an ounce. They live in colonies and roost together as all other bats do, but they are not the territorial kind.

Big brown bats can weigh from half to 1.2 ounces. They can grow and have wingspans ranging from 12 to 16 inches. They are reported to be fast fliers which can reach up to 40 miles per hour.

Brown bats choose den sites that have stable temperatures and roost in colonies. These animals hibernate for most of the year, and their hibernacula, a place where they roost during winter months, should provide them warmth and protection from the cold while they hibernate. This could include caves, and probably your attic or walls.

Yes, these poor animals may even be in your attic right now, as it presents itself as a suitable alternative to their wild hibernacula. Bats can creep into your attics through just a dime-sized hole, and since they don't roost alone, they bring their families and colonies with them. Imagine that number of bats living in there, and the amount of droppings they can make. Also, some bats could catch rabies, and if one gets infected, the whole colony and even you and your own family, could be in grave danger.

Since we don't want any of these bats to lose their lives through extermination, bat exclusion is the only option you can trust. This way, exclusion experts like the trained professionals at Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control will move the entire colony out of your home and back into where they naturally belong-- the wild. You, your family, and your home aren't the only ones saved, but also our dear nocturnal friends, the brown bats.