Bats may get a bad name from their association with rabies and vampires, but they are actually fairly safe and can even help control insect populations. Despite that, they are known carriers of a number of zoonotic diseases (meaning diseases that can be spread to humans from animals) and therefore should not be allowed to coexist with you in your home.
In Winston-Salem, Greensboro, High Point, Burlington, Kernersville and the greater Triad area, bats are fairly common. People often mistake bat behavior as aggressive when they appear to dive bomb towards their heads at night. In reality, insects are hovering over the person as they walk and the bats are simply swooping in to eat some of them. You may even consider them as doing you a favor by getting rid of the bugs pestering you.
Bats in Homes
The idea of ‘bats in the belfry’ is typical behavior. They do prefer places like attics and clock towers because they are dark and secluded. Caves are another dark, secluded area that bats often take up residence. You might see bat droppings on the ground below an opening, or hear them flying around in your attic or garage.
Identifying the Presence of Bats
If you suspect there may be bats in your attic, you can watch your roof from outside at around dusk. Since bats are nocturnal, they will be waking up at around this time and will then leave their roosts to begin hunting insects. You can also go up to your attic at night, when they are likely not around, and look for bat droppings on the floor.
Call in the Experts
You may be able to determine the presence of bats this way, but you should be careful approaching bats or their habitats, including your attic. They do carry diseases and many germs that you will want to stay clear of.
Instead, call in Critter Control of the Triad, and we will determine if there are bats around for you. Then, if some are identified, we will get to work excluding them from your home with professional and humane animal control strategies.
Bats Common to North Carolina
Big Brown Bat: With a wingspan of up to a foot-and-a-half long, the big brown bat lives up to its name. These oily, hairy bats are seen all over North Carolina.
Little Brown Myotis: Similar in look to big brown bats, little brown bats have a smaller wingspan or less than a foot. They are also hairy and are enjoy nesting in buildings during the day.
Brazilian Free-Tailed Bat: Distinguished by long tails, equalling about half their total body length, Brazilian free-tailed bats are brown and have a wingspan of around one foot.
