Floridians love the sunshine and the beach, but we all know there are trade-offs to living here. In the summer we not only endure humidity and storms—we also endure living with bats. As someone who has lived in the Orlando neighborhood of Baldwin Park, I have first hand knowledge of these flying furry animals.
Bats are drawn to the natural environment around Lake Baldwin. Animals migrate to find food, and bats take no exception. Summer temperatures in the mid-nineties and frequent rainstorms make Florida the perfect environment for mosquitos, and bats love to eat mosquitos. That’s a good thing right?
It’s good until bats take up residence in your house. The pitched roofs of many Baldwin Park homes invite bats to roost in the attic by squeezing through any opening they might find. Recently a Baldwin Park homeowner told me he heard a strange sound in his living room. The next morning he discovered a bat on the floor of the dining room. It was still alive, but could not raise itself to fly. Quick thinking, he captured the animal in a pool net and released it outside before any harm was done.
Later the homeowner contacted a “bat specialist” for advice, and set up an appointment for a home inspection. The specialist said it’s uncommon for a bat to enter the living area of a home, but it’s not impossible. The inspection revealed there was a colony of bats living in the attic. Since they are a protected species, it’s illegal to disturb their “roost” until August 15!
Attic Nurseries
Hearing about my neighbor’s experience prompted me to know more. My internet research informed me the Brazillian free-tailed bat is the main species found in Orlando. Their maternity season begins April 15 and ends August 15. The female bats gather in dark enclosed spaces (often in an attic) to give birth and nurse their babies. I was surprised to learn that bats are mammals. They even have a belly-button! The babies are very dependent upon their mothers until they are around eight weeks old. Then the juveniles start to find food for themselves.
August 15—Eviction Day
A few years ago bats roosted in our Baldwin Park townhome. Once I was walking our dog at sunrise, and I saw dozens of bats enter a tiny opening in the dormer above our front porch. Their guano (feces) made a nasty mess of our front steps. Throughout the month of July my husband cleaned the porch daily. On August 15, a professional installed a one-way door in the dormer, so the bats could fly out but not return. This is a humane way to eradicate bats from a building without harming them.
Are Bats Dangerous?
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, healthy bats avoid humans. Less than one percent of the bat population contracts rabies. Even so, bats should not be handled—especially those that are active during daylight hours. All bat bites should be washed immediately with soap and water and a physician should be consulted.
Bat guano is a serious health risk for homeowners. When guano exists in an attic or crawlspace, the microscopic spores can be inhaled by humans and cause a serious respiratory infection called histoplasmosis. If they eat the guano, Pets can also become infected.
Why are Bats Protected?
Over half of bat species are in serious decline due to habitat loss, climate change, and a fungal infection called white-nose syndrome. Even though bats cause problems for homeowners, we need them. They pollinate plants and devour their body weight in insects every night. Without bats we wouldn’t have bananas, avocados, and mangos. These heroes of the night are more helpful than harmful.
A Common-Sense Solution
If homeowners want to evict bats from their attics, but not leave them homeless, a bat house might work. Homeowners need to contact their HOA to learn the regulations for their neighborhood.
August 15 is almost two months from now. Until then, my neighbor will need to keep his pool net handy!
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