Bats are not blind and are clean animals. They do not interfere with feeding backyard birds and will not be disrupted by pets or children. Many people have serious misconceptions about bats. Myths that they are vicious carriers of rabies and pests are abundant. Bats are actually quite harmless and are important indicators of a healthy environment. Because bats are sensitive to pollution and pesticide levels, they are useful as a warning sign to potential environmental problems.
Bats can be important in combating insects that are actually dangerous to humans. With the increased media coverage of the deaths caused by the West Nile Virus, many people are looking for effective ways to prevent the spread of the disease. The West Nile Virus is primarily spread through mosquitoes and mosquitoes are a significant portion of a bat's diet. As previously stated, a small bat can capture more than 1,200 mosquitoes in a single hour! Bats cannot contract the West Nile Virus by eating infected mosquitoes. In addition to mosquitoes, bats can help control the populations of beetles, moths and leafhoppers. Even the very presence of bats in an area can reduce insect populations as many insects can hear bats up to 100 feet away and will keep their distance from areas occupied by bats.
The effectiveness of bats in some areas diminishes the need for pesticides, which will harm both the pests and their natural predators. Installing a bat house then is one of the most effective and environmentally friendly ways to reduce the mosquito population near your home. A bat house may be mounted on a tree, a pole without nearby obstructions, or a building. However, bat houses mounted on poles or buildings tend to have a slightly higher occupancy faster than those mounted on trees. For mounting on buildings, wood, stone or brick buildings are best; and your bat house should be mounted under the eaves with some sun exposure to protect it from rain while still allowing it to be heated by the sun. You should mount your house 15-20 feet above the ground where it will not be exposed to bright lights, the higher the house the greater the chance of attracting bats.
