A Case for Bats: Why They're Great For Your Property and How to Protect Them

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Your spooky decorations just aren’t complete until you’ve hung up those rubbery black bats. And like them or not, nature wouldn’t be complete without the real bats.

This tiny-but-mighty mammal has been dubbed “an unlikely hero with global impact” by bat conservationists. So put those brooms and traps away and prepare to be amazed at everything bats do for us (aside from making the hair on our necks stand up).

Surprising Facts About Bats

We can’t make you love them, but we can help you see why we need them around.

Did someone say chocolate?!

Bees and butterflies aren’t the only pollinators in town. Bats also do their part, and not just in haunted houses. Many species of bats actually live in tropical locations and pollinate plants that produce tequila, chocolate, bananas, avocados and mangoes.

Bigger than the Texas oil industry

Bat droppings (guano) are an unpleasant discovery when found in our homes. But at one point in time, guano was Texas’s largest mineral export—even before oil!—thanks to its rich fertilization properties.

And did you know that roughly 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats reside in Austin, Texas? That’s right: These urban dwellers call the underside of the Congress Avenue Bridge home.

It might not make your bucket list, but Bracken Cave in San Antonio, Texas, has the world’s largest bat colony: population, anywhere from 15-20 million.

Making the blind see

For the record, bats aren’t blind. They just have a different way of seeing through sensing their surroundings. It’s called echolocation. While you won’t find seeing eye bats supporting the visually-impaired anytime soon, scientists have developed navigational aids for the blind through their study of echolocation.

Research on bats has also contributed to the development of vital vaccines, and nearly 80 medications come from plants that rely on bats for their survival.

Batting a thousand

Let’s look at the numbers, via the experts at Bat Conservation International:

The oldest known bat lived at least 41 years.
The world’s largest bat—called the giant golden-crowned flying fox—boasts a wingspan of up to 6 feet.
Aptly called the bumblebee bat, the world’s smallest bat measures 1 to 3 inches in length and 2 grams (0.071 oz.) in weight.
The Mexican free-tailed bat (the aforementioned bats that live under the bridge in Austin, Texas) are the world’s fastest. They fly in short bursts that clock around 100 mph.
There are over 1,400 species of bats in the world. Don’t worry—only three of those are the kind that drink blood!
Want to live in a world without bats? You’ll have to move to the desert or Antarctica, because bats can be found in every other habitat on the planet. Spanning six continents, bats dwell in rainforests, wetlands, woodlands and grasslands.
Some studies suggest bats are worth upwards of $53 billion in pest control savings to the U.S. agriculture system. There are other ecosystems—such as forests which provide lumber—to which bats’ industrious nature also lends extraordinary value.
Bonus fact: Whether this makes them more endearing or more frightening, it’s the strange truth — bats have belly buttons!

Protecting Your Home from Bats

Now that you know more about the value of bats, how do you keep them safe to do their important work without incurring damage to your property?

For all their good qualities, these small creatures can make a big mess if they get into your house. Here are a few pointers to protect your property.

Keep an eye on tight spaces.

To prevent bats from getting in where they don’t belong, you should regularly check areas where they tend to squeeze in: roof eaves, fascia, cornices, anywhere the pitch of your roof changes, or other roof venting and chimney areas. Seal any small or open cracks or slits with caulk, and cover eaves, vents and chimney tops with permanent screening or metal mesh installed by a professional.

Check your homeowners insurance policy.

Not all policies cover all types of animal damage. When it comes to bats, your policy might cover the damage they cause (i.e., shredded insulation), but not the cost of cleaning up their droppings. Learn more about potential scenarios and possible coverage issues.

Help bats get back outdoors.

How do you get bats back outside to catch bugs and pollinate plants instead of roosting in your rafters? Sticky traps and other inhumane means of evacuation are not recommended. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service does suggests these safe methods. Or contact a professional exterminator who employs humane methods of evicting the tiny tenants.

Attracting Bats to Your Property

Don’t have bats but wish you did? Have bats but want to keep them outside where they belong? Here are some ways to attract and provide shelter for these industrious night shift workers.

Make a bat box.

The installation should be 1o to 20 feet high in an area that receives at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight, but not situated near artificial lights. Here’s a helpful video and guide complete with supply lists and floor plans.

Leave the lights off.

Light pollution can disrupt or deter bats, so if you want to see them at work, you’ll need to keep it dark.

Create a bat-friendly garden or yard.

Minimize the use of pesticides and choose plants that attract pollinators from bugs to bats. If you have dead or dying trees on your property that are safely located away from your home, leave them for the bats as a roosting option.

The Bottom Line on Bats

Bats can be our friends if we keep a healthy distance and provide what they need to thrive. That said, experts don’t recommend handling them. While less than 1% of the bat population gets rabies, any bites should be washed immediately with soap and water and you should contact your doctor.

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