Going Batty, the Halloween Edition – from Tri-County Pest Control
It’s that time of year again, with spooky sights and carefully carved pumpkins around every corner. Ghouls, zombies, and skeletons will be everywhere this Saturday, and maybe even a few bats, too. While bats are definitely an excellent choice for a Halloween prop, they are often a misunderstood creature and labeled as “pests”. Just like spiders, bats have certain qualities that make them a little misunderstood, but meanwhile they may be one of the best things for your property.
Bats are almost always associated with Halloween, drawing from notions that all bats suck blood, and one might be Dracula flying in the sky. Now, while we can’t disprove that one of those bats could be Dracula, we can say that not all bats suck blood. Only the vampire bat in South America will, and they typically only suck the blood of livestock. In North America, there’s no need to worry.
In fact, bats are experts at keeping your home relatively pest-free (ironic considering that they are considered pests themselves). Feeding on mosquitoes, moths, and other critters that make their way outside during night, bats can eat up to 1,000 insects a night—pretty impressive. In this sense, bats shouldn’t be viewed as pests, but rather friends.
The only negative rep that bats have are the fact that they are harbingers for disease. Some of the most deadliest diseases in human history have come from bats (such as the Ebola virus, rabies, histoplasmosis, and that disease from the movie Contagion). While bats are extremely beneficial when outside, they can wreck havoc on the microbe level while inside. If you notice a bat (or a few) in your attic or anywhere in your home, don’t attempt to touch it or shoo it. One wrong move, and you can be bit, or worse, contracted with a disease. Instead, call Tri-County Pest Control, as we’re equipped for the job and will be sure to get them out safely. The most important part in bat removal is to make sure that the bat is not harmed, so it can be released back into the ecosystem to perform more of its “pest control” duties.
Bats are great for Halloween, and great when they’re outside, but no so great when they get into your home. If you see a bat inside, call of right away. You don’t want a disease vector (or Dracula) getting cozy in your attic.
