“The Dead Elm leaves hung like Folded Bats” : Josephine Winslow Johnson November 2020
Once in time there were enough bats to seem like leaves on the trees, poor misunderstood creatures.
Bats! They belong to the Order- Chiroptera; Hand- wing. Warm blooded mammals, there are two classifications: Mega bats such as the “Flying Fox”- South Pacific and Micro bats Such as the “Bumble Bee” Bat- Thailand. They are found in almost all locations of the world. Some migrate, others can hibernate all winter and can survive even if they’ve been encased in ice.
Bats are pollinators and insect eaters and should be integrated into any pest control program. Dead trees, snags, logs, bat houses can all be part of the yard naturalization program which enhances our environments, preserve wildlife and helps our efforts to reduce pests.
They are considered one of the best aerial navigators with their incredible flights and speed.
In the US there are 40 species, they can live more than 30 years and fly at speeds up to 60 mph. They are NOT Rodents. They are very versatile and do well living in various environments. In NY there are two protected under the endangered species Law: the Indiana Bat which is distributed throughout the state and the Northern Long Eared Bat which is down to 1% of its original population. White nose syndrome is effecting the populations. In labs, Bats have been treated with a common bacterium that seems to stop the growth of the fungus. Thye have been successfully released into the wild.
Their hibernation sites are protected in NYS from October 1st to April 30th, disturbance can lead to prosecution. It forces them to raise their body temperatures depleting their fat reserves.
Nocturnal feeders, 70% of Bats eat insects and locate their food by emitting inaudible sounds, and then listening to the echoes- “Echolocation”. For instance: Mosquitoes: they can eat up to 1,200 in an hour and often their body weight in insects every night. 29% of bats eat fruit or nectar. There are only 3 species of “Blood sucking Vampire Bats” and thye are not indigenous to the US.
Bats usually have only one pup per year, making them vulnerable to extinction. Babies feed on the milk of the mothers and can grip tightly to anything that moves. Once they become too heavy for Mom to carry while foraging they are left in nurseries with other bats their age. They can fly in about 4 week: they do crash into vegetation, but learn to fly as any other animal learning to move in their worlds. They are mature enough to breed in two years.
Habitat: Dead trees. Birds, Bats, squirrels, raccoons nest in dead trees. Dead trees left upright are called snags. These can be pruned of dangerous limbs or cracked wood and the rest left to decay naturally. Three “snags” per acre is an estimate for leaving them if possible. Snags and Logs- a snag that fell, attract insects, fungi, lichen, a “buffet” for wildlife. Decaying logs act as “nurse logs” for new seedlings. Best habitat for Bats is dead trees, they provide a rough narrow space between the bark and wood: they squeeze in nice and tight.
Bat Houses: Bats prefer roosts mounted on Buildings or other large wooden or concrete structure to those mounted on poles or trees. The interior should be rough.
They should receive about 6 hrs of sunlight. If poles or trees are the option: place back to back: one north - one south. Bats will move into roosts by groups of 3 or more.
Best bat house siting is 20’-30’ from the nearest trees and at 12’ 20’ from the bottom of the roost to the ground or tallest vegetation. Locations near water sources: approx. ¼ mile or less is preferred. Cats will go after bat houses and roosts, check to see if any curious felines have found a nest. A barrier should be installed if this is the case.
BCI (Batcon.org) has great do it yourself instructions.
Maybe on day we will return to enough bats to look like “Leaves of an Elm”, Bird flocks that block sunlight, Bees we can hear before we see them, Fish that ripple an ocean. It is our job not only to KILL pests but to embrace the LIFE that is also part of our control systems, our balance. Its time.
References: Adirondack Experience: Bat Week www.newyorkalmanack.com
Nature Conservancy: Bats www.nature.org
All About Bats: Australia: www.allaboutbats.org.au
Bats: www.batworlds.com
Nests: www.nwf.org and BCI: Batcon.org