Urban Wildlife Damage Control

Bats are unique and interesting ani- Silver-haired (Lasionycteris noc- mals, but their nocturnal nature makes tivagans): them one of the most mysterious and Slightly larger than the little brown misunderstood in . bat, but smaller and less common Bats belong to the mammalian order than the . Fur is dark, Chiroptera, which means “hand-wing.” nearly black, with white-tipped They are the only mammals capable hairs. Seasonally solitary, migrates. of true flight. In terms of the number Eastern Pipistrelle bat (Pipistrellus of , Chiroptera is the second subflavus): largest group of mammals in the world. Our smallest bat, yellowish-brown Only the order Rodentia (rodents) with pink arms, only 3 inches long. Western small-footed Myotis (Myotis contains more species. Not commonly found in buildings. ciliolabrum): Of the approximately 900 species Prefers caves, abandoned mines and Uncommonly found in northwest- of bats found in the world, 45 live in rock crevices. Solitary, hibernates. ern Kansas. Roosts in rocky bluff the United States and 15 of those have cracks, old swallow nests and been found in Kansas. Contrary to Red bat ( borealis): abandoned buildings. Colonial, popular belief, there are no vampire About the same size as the big hibernates. bats in Kansas. All Kansas bats feed brown bat, but fur is rusty red and on . Large numbers of bats may be washed with white. Seeks Evening bat (Nycticeius humeralis): are capable of eating tons of insects daytime refuge in trees. Solitary, Found in the eastern two-thirds of each year, making them beneficial to migrates. Kansas during the spring, summer humans. and autumn. This bat is occasionally Brazilian free-tailed bat (Tadarida One species sometimes found in found roosting in buildings. Mi- brasiliensis): Kansas is the Brazilian free-tailed bat grates south in winter. Has strong musty odor. Has been (Tadaida braziliensis). A colony found in most counties of Kansas Western big-eared bat (Corynorhinus of this species has about 20 million and roosts in buildings. Highly gre- townsendii): individuals that eat 100,000 pounds of garious. Disperses widely. Migrates. This bat is a year-round resident in insects per night. the gypsum caves in the Red Hills of Cave Myotis (Myotis velifer): southwestern Kansas. May roost in Kansas Bats Sometimes roosts in buildings. buildings, but hibernates singly or in Little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus): Found in south-central and south- small clusters. Especially sensitive A brown, mouse-sized bat that in- western Kansas. Roost in large colo- to disturbance. frequently occurs in eastern Kansas nies in caves or mines. Hibernates. and may live in attics and buildings. Pallid bat (Antrozous pallidus): Gray Myotis (Myotis grisescens): Colonial, hibernates. Found rarely in gypsum canyon Similar to cave myotis, but found systems of the Red Hills of western Northern long-eared bat (Myotis sep- only in southeastern Kansas. An Barber County. Roosts primarily in tentrioralis): . rocky bluff cracks and caves, but has Similar in size and appearance to the little brown bat, except that the ears extend beyond the nose when flattened forward against the head. A resident of eastern Kansas but Urban Wildlife Damage Control uncommon. Bats, L-855 Skunks, L-862 Big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus): Birds, L-856 Tree Squirrels, L-863 A large bat, perhaps twice the size of Blackbirds in Roosts, L-857 Snakes, L-864 the little brown bat, but still weigh- Cottontail Rabbits, L-858 Woodchucks, L-865 ing only ½ ounce. Probably the most common and widespread bat in Muskrats, L-859 Woodpeckers, L-866 Kansas in buildings and attics where Opossums, L-860 Woodrats, L-867 it may hibernate. Colonial. , L-861

Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service 1 roosted in buildings. It usually lands bounces off insects or objects and Urban Bat Problems and on the ground to capture . returns to the bat’s ears. Echolocation Control Measures Hibernates in small clusters. is unique to bats and some species Although bats cause little damage to of dolphins and whales, and enables Big free-tailed bat (Nytinomops mac- buildings, their presence is usually un- bats to catch insects in flight. Most rotis): wanted. Bat droppings and urine have of the high-frequency sounds emitted Related to the Brazilian free-tailed a strong, persistent odor that attracts by bats for echolocation are inaudible bat. Found a few times in southwest- other bats if the area is not properly to humans, although many bats make ern Kansas. Emits a sharp, piercing cleaned. CAUTION: If any amount of sounds that humans can hear. call while feeding. bat droppings are present, wear a dust By the first frost, bats begin to pre- mask while cleaning to avoid breathing Hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus): pare for winter. Some species migrate fine dust particles from disturbed drop- The largest bat in Kansas. Has a south. Migration distance may vary pings. is an airborne 15-inch wingspan and weighs about from a few miles (if a suitable cave is disease caused by a microscopic soil 1 ounce. Grayish yellow-brown nearby) to 1,600 miles. Bats mate as , capsulatum, color, overcast with grayish white. they gather near caves in which they which affects the lungs of humans. Prefers northern forests, but is found will hibernate. Although bats mate in Noise is another problem bats cause occasionally in Kansas. Solitary, the fall and winter, the females do not inside buildings. Many bats create migrates. give birth until mid-May through mid- noise that can be disturbing to hu- July. Most bats only give birth to one mans. Occasionally, a bat may get into Biology and Habits or two young, but a few may produce the living area of a house (Figure 1). three or four annually. Bats found in Kansas are members While this is often disconcerting to the Young bats grow rapidly and most of two families, and occupants, it doesn’t have to be. The are capable of flight three to four Molossidae (free-tailed bats). Kansas bat will often leave at dusk if doors or weeks after they are born. They are is the northern part of some species’ windows are left open. Do not try to weaned one to two weeks later. Bats range and is home throughout the year capture the bat unless you are wearing often live 10 years or more, and some for others. Other bats are migratory heavy leather gloves or using a net. live as long as 30 years. and pass through during the spring and fall. Most Kansas bats are small. One group of small bats are the Myotis or mouse-eared bats with a body length of only 3 to 4 inches. The largest bat in Kansas is the hoary bat (Lasiurus cinerus). The hoary bat’s body is less than 5 inches long, but it can develop a wingspan of 16 inches and fly at speeds exceeding 50 mph. Bats naturally roost in the leaves of trees, in caves or under loose tree bark during the day, but many species prefer to roost in or around buildings. Depending on the species, bats be- come active during the twilight hours or shortly after dark. When bats leave the roost, they normally fly to a source of water before feeding. Some species feed occasionally throughout the night, but most feed around sundown and then again before daylight. Bats found in Kansas locate insects and avoid obstacles during flight by echolocation, which is similar to radar or sonar. A sound emitted by the bat Figure 1. Places bats can get into a house.

2 ing bats to exit the dwelling but not provide many more benefits than most re-enter (Figure 2). people realize. Some people place bat houses Diseases around their dwellings to provide a Harboring bats in homes and schools roost for bats and reduce the chances should be discouraged because on rare of them using their attic. Plans for occasions a bat may develop paralytic building a bat house are in Figure 4. and fall within reach of children Commercially made bat houses are and pets. Rabies is the most important also available. public health hazard associated with bats, but its effect has been exagger- For Further Reading ated. Whether or not the bat is infected, “Amazing Bats, Why We Need a house bat will not attack when Them,” International Wildlife Maga- molested, but it will bite defensively if zine, July-August, 1983. handled. “America’s Neighborhood Bats,” Figure 2. A batproofing valve is To keep bats from living in build- M.D. Tuttle. 1988. U. of Texas Press, placed over a hole in a structure. ings, seal entry holes after bats have Austin, TX left. Wear gloves and get an antirabies “Bats: Biology and Behavior,” J.D. vaccine if you bat-proof when bats are Altringham. 1996. Oxford University If bats are roosting in an attic, place present. Press, Inc., United Kingdom. one or two bright lights in the area to Histoplasmosis is another disease “Bats of America,” R.W. Barbour encourage them to leave. High-wattage humans may contract from bats. This and W.H. Davis. 1969. The University lights create a lot of heat. Use caution airborne disease, caused by a micro- of Kentucky Press, Lexington, KY. to avoid starting a fire. scopic soil fungus sometimes present 1969. Excluding bats from a dwelling with bat droppings, affects the lungs “Bats of the United States,” M.J. is the only long-term solution. Have with symptoms similar to influenza. To Harvey, J.S. Altenbach and T. L. Best. several people watch the outside of avoid contracting histoplasmosis, wear 1999. Arkansas Game and Fish Comm. the house around dusk to locate areas a respirator or dust mask while clean- and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. where bats are exiting. After all bats ing bat droppings. “The Bat House Builders Hand- have left the house, close the openings. Like many other , bats cause book,” M.D. Tuttle and D. L. Hensley. Because small bats such as the Eastern problems when they conflict with 1993. Bat Conservation International, Pipistrel (Pipistrellus subflavus) can humans. When this happens, con- Austin, TX. crawl through an opening as small as trol measures, not necessarily lethal, For additional information contact of an inch in diameter, all openings ⅜ should be taken to solve the problem. Charles Lee, Wildlife Specialist, 131 such as cracks, vents or holes in the The presence of bats in the area or Call Hall, Kansas State University, siding should be plugged or covered neighborhood is not detrimental. Bats Manhattan, KS 66506-1600. with ¼-inch hail screen. If bats are leaving the building in numerous places, plug or cover all of the openings except one or two. Observe the openings for two or three evenings to make sure all bats are out of the building before closing them. To avoid trapping young bats inside, do not plug or cover all entrances from mid-May to mid-July. Dead bats can create an objectionable odor. The best time of the year for bat- proofing a house is between November and March. One way is to install a “Constantine’s bat-proofing valve.” This device, made of a rigid base tube with an outer pliable sleeve attached, is placed over the entrance hole allow- Figure 3. Big brown bats may use buildings year-round.

3 Figure 4. Plans for constructing a bat house.

Charles Lee Stan Roth Wildlife Specialist Educator/naturalist K-State Research and Extension Kansas Biological Survey

Brand names appearing in this publication are for product identification purposes only. No endorsement is intended, nor is criticism implied of similar products not mentioned.

Publications from Kansas State University are available on the World Wide Web at: www.oznet.ksu.edu.

Contents of this publication may be freely reproduced for educational purposes. All other rights reserved. In each case, credit Charles Lee, Bats, Kansas State University, March 2005.

Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service L-855 March 2005 K-State Researcch and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension Work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, as amended. Kansas State University, County Extension Councils, Extension Districts, and United States Department of Agriculture Cooperating, Fred A. Cholick, Director.

4