Going Batty for Bats

Recently Peachtree Corners resident and Patch reader Theresa Fryer sent in a news tip suggesting we post information on just how important bats are to our ecosystem.

While just the thought of the little critters gives must of us the shivers, the fact is they are beneficial to our environment in a number of ways.

Theresa Fryer directed Patch to a website (www.batconservation.org) that has a wealth of information including a Q&A section that dispells a lot of myths about the winged creatures.

For instance, did you know that bats are not rodents, they are in their own order of mammals called Chiroptera which translates as “hand-wing" according to the bat conservation website.

But the fact is that many of the bats natural habits are being destroyed causing the creatures to locate in undesirable places, like our attics. There is a simple solution, put up a bat house.

Fryer says there are a number of benefits:

Bat houses benefit bats, you, your family, communities, farmers, gardeners and the ecosystem as a whole.

•Bat houses give bats a home and in turn they will eat thousands of insects.
•Bat houses give bats an alternative to our houses thus reducing the chance of human to bat contact.
•Bat populations have decreased significantly and bat houses can help provide secure habitat.

According to the website, bats significantly reduce the amount of pest insects in your backyard and help gardeners by eating insect pests. An individual bat can eat thousands of insects in just one night which in turn means less pesticides are needed.

However, the Center for Disease Control cautions that bats can carry diseases such as rabies and histoplasmosis, which affects the lungs. The CDC suggests a few ways to avoid contact with bats.

• When possible, prevent bats from entering outdoor living quarters and other occupied spaces. Consider "bat-proofing" your living space.
• Screens or mosquito netting can provide a useful barrier against direct bat contact.

You'll find additional information on the CDC's website.