Bats are often a misunderstood species, mostly due to inaccurate portrayals in media, fear of species like the vampire bat, and misinformation about bats and disease. The truth is that most bat species are actually very useful creatures to have around. Not only do bats eat voracious amounts of pests like mosquitoes, but in some areas, they are excellent pollinators and seed distributors as well. But what are the cons? Bats may be helpful and are not all blood-sucking killers, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have a downside.

Bats and Disease Transmission

Bats can and do carry a lot of diseases, there’s no doubt about that. These diseases are  transmittable to humans through a bat’s scratches or bites. Diseased bats can carry viruses like rabies, ebola, Marburg virus, Nipah virus, and Hendra virus. Additionally, histoplasmosis is an infection that is caused by a fungus that grows on large quantities of bat guano, or feces. Humans become infected when they breathe in the infected spores. In the US, bats usually only carry the risk of rabies and the possible secondary risk of histoplasmosis.

Nuisance Behavior

Another con to bats is that they can cause a bit of a mess in the places they choose to live. Bats often roost in house attics, storage buildings, and other dark and sheltered areas. This can lead to unwanted noise, smell, and the accumulation of the potentially infected guano. While this can be annoying, it is not particularly difficult to use exclusion techniques to move bats out of lived-in buildings safely.

Bat Boxes

While it may seem that the threat of bat disease is quite serious, the truth is that bats pose very little threat when treated correctly. The benefit of having bats around is so great that many people will not only allow bats on their property but will build them houses so as to encourage the bats to stay! These houses are called bat boxes and provide a safe place for bats to roost during the day. An added benefit to bat boxes is that they give bats a sheltered place to roost other than human buildings. These bat boxes are created to mimic a bat’s natural roosting habitat and are generally installed in tree hollows along forest edges. Bat houses allow for bats to live and work their powerful bug-eating magic while keeping any threat of possible disease away from humans.

A Word About Rabies

In the US, a diseased bat is likely to only carry rabies so it is important to know what a rabid bat looks like so you know to leave it alone. Rabid bats will behave differently than normal bats, often acting aggressively and moving around during daylight hours rather than dusk or night. If you see a rabid bat call animal control, wildlife conservation, or a public health agency for help. If you are bitten by a rabid bat, seek medical attention immediately!

In conclusion, the benefit of bats far outweighs any risks. With proper education and management, bats can coexist with humans peacefully. If you have nuisance bats hanging out in your attic or shed, call commercial pest control in Redmond and talk with a professional about how to humanely remove bats from your building.