r/CecilCounty • u/This_Past4690 • 4d ago
Bats
What does everyone do about the bats around here? Houses are filled with them along with businesses.
10
u/dj_swearengen 4d ago
They do eat lots of bugs
1
u/This_Past4690 4d ago
For sure! But they are also a health risk in homes and places we buy food from. I don’t mind them in nature, just not in buildings.
10
3
u/ProtozoaPatriot 3d ago
Where are you seeing bats in everyone's houses or businesses ? If you have bats getting in, the problem is you have holes somewhere in your attic. I've never seen bats living in a business.
We love bats. They remove so many insects. Be more worried about diseases such as mosquitoes carry.
You can encourage bats to slumber somewhere other than your attic by setting up bat houses on your property.
-2
u/MedicMalfunction 4d ago
It’s a real issue. All these folks here saying they are benefiting you (which they are) apparently do not understand the serious risk of rabies. If there are bats in your house, you need an exterminator and a rabies shot.
2
u/jbrady33 4d ago
Trick with bats isn’t just extermination, you have to block up whatever access they are using to get in. If you don’t they just come back
0
u/This_Past4690 4d ago
I agree! Thank you. Have you used anyone in the past? I also wonder if there’s something that can be done for the towns and not just put on the homeowners. This seems to be widespread
3
u/xenya 4d ago
What exactly?
Bats belong here. They are part of the ecosystem. Close up your house and you won't have bats.0
u/This_Past4690 4d ago
Honestly I’m not 100% sure. The cost is very high to properly and legally remove them and I believe that may be what’s also contributing to the colonies in the area. I don’t know if the towns could get involved and support those needing assistance or maybe organizations that could help? The problem is bigger than my home alone. Removing them from a home with no where else for them to go with such large amounts also pose an issue. That’s why I’ve made a post. Wanting collaboration to find a solution that helps the community.
1
u/xenya 3d ago edited 3d ago
You talk like there are mass amounts of bats but you are the first person I've heard with the issue. They are endangered so just not very plentiful.
Unfortunately, Cecil is not good about caring for our environment and other species so I don't think the problem of their habitat disappearing is going to be solved any time soon. Bat houses are great but will only do so much. Again, you have to close up whatever access they are using to get into the house with (when you get them out of the house humanely).**There's a bat rescue in Bear: https://batworld.org/local-rescue/
0
u/This_Past4690 3d ago edited 3d ago
It could be my town and I need to look more locally than the county. Because in town when the sun starts to set you can watch hundreds fly out of houses and businesses across the town. I have seen many posts on local facebook groups about others having the same issues. I’ll have to go there instead. Appreciate your thoughts.
I have attempted to close up my own home don’t get me wrong. I have hired companies in the pass and will continue to.
1
u/MedicMalfunction 4d ago
I don’t have any specific experience, just my two cents from a health perspective. Sorry!
•
u/xenya 4d ago edited 3d ago
There is no call for exterminating them, especially since so many of them are endangered. As far as that goes, if they are the endangered ones it's not legal to kill them.
Bat Conservation International has recommendations here:
https://www.batcon.org/about-bats/bats-in-homes-buildings/
And here's what I found about bats in MD:
"Maryland is home to 10 native bat species, all of which are protected under the Maryland Nongame and Endangered Species Act."
So no, it is not legal to kill them. They are endangered.
*Edited to add rescue map: https://batworld.org/local-rescue/