Occasionally referred to as the mouse-eared bat, this species is most easily identified by its oversized ears. Northern long-eared bats are found in forested areas across the eastern United States and in Canada.
Bats are nocturnal creatures. During the day, they find a safe, dark place to roost, usually in trees or man-made structures. By night, northern long-eared bats forage for food, which consists mainly of insects.
Because they are most active at night, northern long-eared bats rely on echolocation to navigate and find food. They hibernate through the winter, usually in places like mines and caves, though they may use the upper reaches of a building for this purpose.
In general, this species of bat does not bite people. This mainly is because they feed on insects and have no need to attack people. Still, some members of the species may be infected with rabies, which can induce them to act contrary to their natural inclinations. Moreover, people may accidentally be scratched during an inadvertent encounter. People who believe they were bitten or scratched by a bat are encouraged to seek immediate medical care.
However, it is the northern long-eared bat that is an endangered species that deserves protection and preservation. Some people are fearful of bats, but this is unnecessary. Bats are beneficial animals that perform effective natural pest control and usually seek to avoid people. Additionally, because many bat species are threatened or endangered, they are protected by law.
Northern long-eared bats may move into homes and commercial buildings across Pennsylvania and New Jersey. When this occurs, it is critical that the situation is handled carefully. Pest management companies have trained professionals who know how to safely and effectively evict bats from buildings without causing them harm. In most cases, the assistance of a qualified professional is the only method of removal that will not have the property owner running afoul of the law.
WHAT DO
LONG-EARED
BATS LOOK LIKE?
At between three and four inches long, the northern long-eared bat is quite small. Its wingspan may be between nine and ten inches, and it weighs only five to eight grams. Females tend to be slightly larger than males. Common fur colors are medium or dark brown on the back. The underside of the bat may be pale brown or tawny. This species gets its name from its unusually long ears.
WHAT DO
LONG-EARED
BATS EAT?
This bat species has a voracious appetite for insects, many of which are considered pests. Common food items include arachnids, beetles, caddisflies, leafhoppers, flies and moths. Northern long-eared bats catch prey in the midst of flight, though they also capture prey that is standing still on the ground.
WHERE DO
LONG-EARED
BATS LIVE?
During the winter, members of the species seek a cave or mine in which they can hibernate. They look for characteristics such as high humidity, constant temperatures and a lack of air currents. Small cracks and crevices are ideal places for hibernation, and the right conditions sometimes are found in man-made structures.
Sometime in March, northern long-eared bats emerge from winter hibernation. Their roosting behavior changes so that they may roost either in colonies or singly. Common places to roost during the spring, summer and fall include dead trees, underneath bark and in crevices in trees. Males and females that are not reproducing tend to roost in colder places like mines and caves. Members of the species demonstrate flexibility when it comes to selecting roosting places, which is why attics, sheds and barns frequently are the sites of bat infestations.
In general, northern long-eared bats prefer a forested landscape. This means that buildings that are surrounded by or close to wooded areas may be more likely to be infested.
DAMAGE CAUSED BY
LONG-EARED
BATS
Bats are quite small, which means that it is easy for them to squeeze through cracks and fissures in building exteriors. Structural damage to buildings can become severe if bat infestations are not promptly and properly treated. While they do not chew on buildings like some pests do, northern long-eared bats do leave behind large deposits of urine and guano. These substances are heavily caustic, eating away at many common building materials.
Moreover, these waste products accumulate and drip over time. This can damage ceilings, ruin insulation and completely soak into particle board and sheet rock. The outcome can be the collapse of the interior of the structure.
Bats further may be infested with bat mites. These tiny pests may be mistaken for bed bugs, but they are a completely separate species. Unless the bats are prevented from returning to the building, bat mite problems will be ongoing.
ARE
LONG-EARED
BATS AGGRESSIVE?
Bats in general prefer to avoid interactions with people. This means that they easily can become alarmed when suddenly and unexpectedly confronted. For instance, bats sometimes accidentally enter buildings not in uninhabited places like attics but in living rooms or spaces where people are working.
This causes both people and bats to panic, and the result can be bites and scratches. Staying calm is a much better approach. Simply open all of the exterior windows and doors to provide the bat with ample opportunities to find an exit.
DO
LONG-EARED
BATS CARRY DISEASE?
An infestation of northern long-eared bats in a building can lead to sickness. Rabies is a risk, though fewer bats carry this disease than people suppose. Still, anyone who is bitten or scratched in a bat encounter is encouraged to seek immediate medical attention.
Bat guano is dangerous to people too. This waste product frequently carries spores for Histoplasmosis. When these spores settle in people's lungs, they may develop symptoms such as fever, body aches, fatigue, cough, chest pain, headaches and chills. The symptoms may remain for weeks or months, and ignoring the infestation will only make the condition worse.
HOW TO DETECT
LONG-EARED
BATS
Signs of long-eared bats issue include:
• Dirt and grease smears around an entry point the bats are using • Noises like scratching and squeaking are heard in walls and attics, particularly before dawn and dusk • Odors and stains left behind by waste products • Finding droppings beneath overhangs and eaves • Windows stained with urine, which may appear milky white • Bat guano accumulating anywhere indoors
HOW TO PREVENT
LONG-EARED
BATS
To help prevent long-eared bat problems the following steps should be taken:
-Install stainless steel chimney caps and wire mesh coverings on all furnace and chimney vents -Place mothballs in attics or other places where bats are likely to roost -Use yellow light bulbs in outdoor fixtures to discourage insect activity -Keep doors and windows closed, especially at night -Doors and windows that are opened should always be screened -Seal cracks and fill up holes in building exteriors -Install bat houses on the property
HOW TO TREAT FOR BATS
Bat control can be complicated and potentially dangerous involving many procedures that are governed by state law. A licensed pest management professional should always be consulted to ensure safe and proper bat removal, decontamination, and prevention.
