

The pallid bat captures crickets, grasshoppers, spiders, scorpions, and other prey on trees or on the ground.Most bats hunt in flight or hang from a perch and wait for a passing insect to fly or walk within range.Washington bat species eat vast quantities of night-flying insects, including moths, beetles, mosquitoes, termites, and flies.Visit the white-nose syndrome webpage for more information.ĭownload the white-nose syndrome fact sheet Washington's first case of the disease was confirmed in March 2016 near North Bend in King County. White-nose syndrome has killed millions of bats in eastern North America since 2006. Less than one bat in 20,000 has rabies, and no Washington bats feed on blood. If a flying bat comes close to your head, it's probably because it is hunting insects that have been attracted by your body heat. When night falls, bats take over: a nursing female little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus) may consume her body weight in insects each night during the summer.Ĭontrary to some widely held views, bats are not blind and do not become entangled in peoples' hair. As predators of night-flying insects (including mosquitoes!), bats play a role in preserving the natural balance of your property or neighborhood.Īlthough swallows and other bird species consume large numbers of flying insects, they generally feed only in daylight.
Bat predators how to#
Watch the video below from Idaho Fish and Game to learn how to safely remove a bat from your home.īats are highly beneficial to people, and the advantages of having them around far outweigh any problems you might have with them. If you have touched a bat or suspect exposure, contact your local Department of Health immediately.Ģ. If you have touched a bat or suspect exposure, contact your local Department of Health immediately. Remember - a small percentage of bats can carry rabies. If you find a sick or injured bat, contact one of the following rehabilitators.ĥ. These reports provide valuable information to track bat populations in Washington.Ĥ. Report sick, injured, or dead bats online. If the bat must be moved, use thick gloves and a shovel or box to gently pick it up and move it to an elevated location.ģ. To learn more about bats and coronaviruses, visit Bat Conservation International's, Bats and COVID-19 Updates webpage. It’s important to remember that people cannot get COVID-19 from bats. At this time, the potential transmission from humans with the COVID-19 virus to North American bats remains unknown. Researchers are investigating the susceptibility of North American bats to the COVID-19 virus. Monofilament recovery and recycling programīats are one of the most beneficial animals to humans, but they may be facing yet another threat in addition to white-nose syndrome.
