Tips from the help desk…Bats in your belfry, October 2022

Tips from the Help Desk…

Bats in your belfry

by David Austin
Residential Horticulture Agent and
Master Gardener Volunteer Coordinator

Bats are known for their scary Halloween personas. That is if bats can have personas. Nevertheless, they have been tied to vampires and other scary things. Of course, the vampire bat hasn’t helped things, seemingly scary in its own right. Fortunately for Floridians, vampire bats are only found in Mexico, Central America, and South America.

Realistically, bats are very beneficial to have around. They are voracious toward insects and can tame a mosquito population. These flying mammals can also be pollinators. Many of them feed on flower nectar and can move pollen from plant to plant. Living mostly in outdoor sheltered areas, they rarely interact with humans in any dangerous way.  Although, when they do take up residence in your home it can be disconcerting!

Evening photo of a bat house with thousands of flying bats leaving their roost
Bats fill the sky while leaving their daytime roost from a bathouse.  Photo by Thomas Wright. IFAS Communications

It’s important to understand that bats are protected mammals year-round. They are especially protected from April 15th through August 15th when they are not allowed to be excluded from your home or structures without special permitting. This is the time of year when they are rearing their young. If bats do become a problem in your home, it’s probably best to contact a professional bat mover and leave the job up to someone that understands the rules and laws behind dealing with a protected mammal.
Learn more about Florida bats by clicking here.

Keep in Touch with UF/IFAS Extension, Highlands County

That’s what’s new from the Hometown Gardener. Like and Follow me on Facebook at Hometown  Gardener.

Read my other blogs by clicking here.

Sign up for our Highlands County Master Gardener Volunteer, “Putting Down Root” Newsletter Here

Join our Facebook groups Highlands County Master Gardeners,   Central Florida Butterfly and Pollinator Club, Science-Based Florida Gardening Answers, and

Heartland Beekeepers

0

david austin
Posted: November 26, 2022


Category: Agriculture, Home Landscapes, Horticulture, Pests & Disease, UF/IFAS Extension, , Wildlife
Tags: Bats, Conservation, Highlands County, Highlands Horticulture Digest, Hometown Gardener, Insects, Master Gardener Volunteers, Mosquito, Pollination, Tips From The Help Desk, Wildlife


Subscribe For More Great Content

IFAS Blogs Categories