Bats: Nature’s Essential Allies in North Carolina and Beyond
The sight of a bat often conjures images of spooky legends, but these nocturnal creatures are vital to our ecosystems. It’s time to replace fear with facts and recognize the incredible benefits provided by the world’s only flying mammals. They are part of our garden army and will work for food that we don’t want around!

North Carolina’s Insect-Eating Heroes
North Carolina is home to 17 species of bats, all of which are exclusively insectivores. This means they feed entirely on insects, making them one of nature’s best forms of pest control. A single bat can consume thousands of insects in one night, including agricultural pests, midges, and most famously, moths and mosquitoes. By keeping insect populations in check, they reduce the need for chemical pesticides, benefiting both the environment and human health.
It is important to note the difference between North Carolina’s bats and those found elsewhere:
● In other parts of the US and the world, some bats feed on nectar (making them crucial pollinators) and others feed on fruits (acting as important seed dispersers).
● Growing bat-pollinated plants in North Carolina will not attract pollinating bats, as those species of bats do not occur in our state.

Protecting Endangered Species
Many bat populations, including several in North Carolina, face a dramatic decline, making efforts to conserve and protect them essential. This decline is due to a combination of factors:
● The spread of white-nose syndrome, a devastating fungal disease that has wiped out millions of hibernating bats across North America.
● Increased pesticide use, which reduces their insect food supply.
● The loss of roosting locations and degradation of some foraging resources.

Several species, such as the federally endangered Indiana Bat and the threatened Long-eared Bat, are found in NC. Protecting bats is not just about preserving a species; it is about maintaining the delicate balance of our natural world. (Photo of Northern Long-eared bat courtesy of Bat Conservational International.)

What Makes a Good Bat Habitat?
As the world’s only flying mammals, bats require specific environments for survival. They give birth to live young (pups) and nurse them, making safe, stable roosting sites critical.
A suitable bat habitat provides three main things:
1. Foraging Habitat: Areas rich in insects, such as forests, wetlands, and open water.
2. Maternity Roosts: Warm, safe, and stable locations for mothers to raise their pups. These can be in hollow trees, under loose bark, or in caves.
3. Hibernacula: Cool, stable-temperature locations (like caves or abandoned mines) where they can hibernate during the winter without freezing or being disturbed.

Creating Artificial Roosts
You can help local bat populations by providing a safe place for them to rest and raise young. Bat houses are excellent artificial roosts and should be:
● Placed on poles or the side of a building, not usually in trees, as the clear flight path makes it easier for them to locate and use.
● Located in a spot that receives at least 6 hours of direct sun daily to maintain the necessary high internal temperature (around 85-100°F) for maternity roosts.
● Painted a dark color (like black or dark brown) to absorb heat.
● At least 12-15 feet high and positioned near water or a forested edge.

Keeping Bats Out of Your Home
While we want to protect bats, most people do not want them roosting inside their homes or attics. Bats often enter homes through very small gaps to find warm, dry maternity roosts.

To prevent bats from roosting in your house:
1. Seal All Entry Points: Inspect your home for gaps and cracks, especially around the roofline, chimney, vents, and utility conduits. Since bats can squeeze through openings as small as 3/8 of an inch (the size of a dime), use caulk, window screening, or expanding foam to seal these areas.
2. Perform an Exclusion: If bats are already inside, you must allow them to leave but prevent their return. This is called an exclusion. Crucially, exclusions must only be performed after the maternity season (typically late spring through mid-fall). Sealing them in during this time traps flightless young and their mothers, leading to their death and decomposition inside your walls.
3. Install a One-Way Device: A professional wildlife expert can install a temporary one-way exclusion device over the main entry point. This tube or netting allows bats to fly out at dusk but blocks their ability to re-enter.
4. Wait and Seal: After confirming the bats are gone, the one-way device can be removed, and the entry point permanently sealed.
For more information on bats, please contact me at minda_daughtry@ncsu.edu.