Worried about bats in Baltimore? Learn more about their habits and how to control them.
Bats dwell in all parts of the world, the majority of them found in tropic regions where they can easily find food year-round. There are over 1,000 species of bats worldwide, outnumbered only by rodent species. Of those, 10 species of bats are found in Maryland. Three of these species migrate south during the colder months and the rest can be found dwelling in trees, caves, attics or crevices. If you find a bat in your home, do not attempt to capture it yourself or kill it. Instead, attempt trapping it in a designated area and call Shumaker’s Animal Control 24 hours a day for assistance. Let’s learn more about bat species in Maryland and their habits.
Types of Bats in Maryland
The migrating bat species in Maryland are the: Silver-haired bat, Eastern Red Bat and Hoary Bat. The hibernating species are the: Eastern Pipistrelle, Evening Bat, Little Brown Bat, Big Brown Bat, Northern Long-eared Bat, Indiana Bat and Eastern Small-footed Bat.
Diet
The majority of bats eat insects. Since insects are plentiful in the summer and drawn to light, bats can commonly be found following their lead (especially around swimming pools). If you aren’t a fan of mosquitos you should thank the brown bat, who is capable of eating up to 3,000 mosquitoes in a night! In the summer months, bats nearly double their body weight because of the amount of food available to them. In the winter months, it is much harder to find food which is why some species migrate and others hibernate.
Habits
Big brown bats and little brown bats tend to congregate in groups (or colonies). However, other species like Eastern Red Bats prefer to spend time alone. Most bat species that prefer solitude can be found roosting in hollow trees, caves, rock crevices or under tree bark. For the most part, colonizing bat species are found roosting in man-made structures – like your attic or chimney.
In Need of Bat Control? We Can Help!
Call Shumaker’s Animal Control today. Shumaker’s Animal Control is a twenty-five-year veteran of the animal and pest control profession. We are the Kingsville rodent control experts and can help you return your house to a cozy pest-free home. If you have any questions about raccoon removal or other rodent control, contact Shumaker’s Animal Control by calling (443) 854-8072 or click here today! You can also follow us at our Facebook, Google+, Twitter, Pinterest, and LinkedIn.
