About
Us ~ Bats ~ Beavers ~ Birds ~
Education ~ Groundhogs
Opossums ~ Raccoons ~ Skunks ~ Snakes
~ Squirrels
Links Page ~ Index Page
Big Brown Bats
Eptesicus fuscus
Little Brown Bats
Myotis lucifugus
Bats are beneficial and interesting animals. Unfortunately, they are also some of the most feared and misunderstood animals in America. Most people are unaware of the presence of bats in their neighborhoods until they decide to take up residence in and around homes.
The most common type of bat in our area is the Big Brown Bat. Also common is the Little Brown Bat, Evening Bat and Eastern Pipistrelle.
All Maryland bats are insectivores, feeding on thousands of mosquitoes, moths and beetles every night. Bats play a vital role in controlling crop damaging insects as well as mosquitoes, which are a constant pest on summer evenings. Bats roost in attics, chimneys, and under siding and window shutters. They prefer hot, dark crevices in which to bear young from spring through mid-summer.
Bats do not get tangled in people's hair, and a very small percentage carry rabies.
Bats can also occasionally get into the living area of a home by accident, When this happens do not chase the bat! This will cause it to hide usually where it cannot be found. The best plan of action is to confine the bat in a small room and place a towel under the door to prevent escape. Then, call TS Wildlife Control 24 hours a day for help. A bat in the home may be evidence of a colony somewhere in the structure.
Maryland law only permits bats to be evicted from a structure between the months of September and February. (This protects the young that may not be weaned until then.) It is also illegal to kill bats in Maryland! TS Wildlife Control uses a harmless, passive system of eviction, and we can also provide clean-up of guano. We are certified by Bat Conservation International as bat-friendly removal professionals. Visit them at www.batcon.org.
BAT HOUSES
Pole Mounted Bat House
In Maryland bats will use bat houses, also referred to as bat boxes. We strongly advise that a bat house be mounted on the home or close to it to provide an alternate home for bats, as they will return year after year to consume insect pests. Most commercially available bat houses do not work. TS Wildlife Control sells bat houses that are designed to be successful in our climate. We can also provide advice on the proper placement of the bat house to increase the chance of occupation. Bat Boxes provide an alternate place for bats to live so we can benefit from their presence and avoid damage to our homes.