Bats most
commonly roost in caves, which provide a safe, enclosed area for them to sleep
and raise their young. But they don’t always utilize a cave. They can create a
roost in almost any environment provided it is dark and shut-in. This
flexibility in habitats means that your home could be at risk for a colony
invasion. Also considering the fact that homes have some advantages over a cave because of
the reduction in predators and the advantage of height.
SIGNS OF BATS
Bats are flying
or winged mammals They are known for their habitation of caves and
consumption of various insects over the course of the night. Because of their
habits of hiding in dark part of the homes like roofs and attic they can become
home owners worst nightmare, Their feeding nature can be described as both herbivorous and
carnivorous combined as they feed both on fruits, flowers, insects and other animals
"Bats are important to
humans in three main ways: natural pest control, pollinators of flowers, and seed
dispersers." Here in Africa they are insectivorous and excellent predators
of insects... [they] play an important role as natural pest control because
many species can eat up to one-third of their body weight in insects per night They
target many kinds of insects that are of agricultural importance (e.g. moths,
beetles, flies) and help us reduce the numbers of these insects without the use
of pesticides. also Many plants are dependent on these night time
visitors for both pollination and seed
dispersal so because of
their migratory nature bats are distributed throughout the entire africa, they
provide this free ecosystem service to humans across the continent.The
African continent and Madagascar and its associated islands contain about 321
extant species of bats, which comprises about 25% of the global bat diversity.
PROBLEMS OF BATS
Bats are mammals which means that they shed hair on a regular
basis. This hair can be an allergen
trigger for sensitive individuals. In rare cases, that mold can trigger a
disease called Histoplasmosis, which is an infection of the lungs of those who
breathe in the mold spores found on bat waste.
Another threat
that homeowners must consider is that approximately one percent of bats carry
rabies. While this is a small amount, all it takes is a single bite or scratch
from an infected bat to pass along this deadly disease so bats should never be
handled by anyone other than professionals to avoid any possible transmission
of disease to your family.
HOW TO GET RIDE OF BATS FROM YOUR HOMES
First, the entry and exit points the bats favor should be
carefully noted. Make sure not to seal these access points while the bats are
inside
If the bat is flying inside a house, the best way to deal
with it is by opening a door or window and let it find its way out.I t may help
if you close other doors in the house so that the bat has only a limited area
to fly in. This will make it more likely for the bat to find the open
door/window
Some bats
live in buildings, and may continue to do so with little risk to inhabitants if
they are unable to access living areas and the potential for contact with
people is low.
However,
bats should always be prevented from entering rooms of your home. As noted
above, "bat proofing" your home or living quarters can prevent bats
from using a home for a roosting site. For best results, contact an animal
control or wildlife conservation agency and ask for assistance
From Somplus Environmental and Facility mgt
Services
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