Do Bats Lay Eggs?
Bats are interesting animals that love flying at night time; many are insectivores. They are known to be pollinators and important for the ecosystem. However, if you find them near your home, you may wonder, do bats lay eggs? No, bats are mammals and they have a maternity season in which they give birth to one pup at a time once a year.
Background of Bats
Bats are nocturnal mammals, and there are over 1,000 bat species in the world. They are different from other mammals in that they navigate around using sound waves. The sound waves help them so they don't have to rely on just sight, which is not very good. Bats carry diseases such as rabies so it is important that if you find them in the home, you are careful.
Reproduction of Bats
Bat mating season in the United States mate is fall or winter. Then, they hibernate in colder areas. During this mating season, the female stores the sperm until ovulation, and then fertilization occurs. This is usually in the spring and the female bats' gestation period is 40 days to 6 months.
The Maternity Roost
In May or June, the female bats gather together in large groups, also known as bat colonies. These colonies can have hundreds to over several thousand bats and this is where the female bats give birth. As mentioned above, bats don't lay eggs but do give birth.
A young bat is called a pup and the litter ranges from one pup to four. An interesting fact about female bats is that they hang upside down to give birth! When they birth the baby bat, they catch it and put it in their pouch so the baby is safe. The mother leaves the maternity roost to forage for food and leaves the pup clinging to a wall in the roost until she returns. Also, the mother bat leaves and returns several times at night so that she may get enough food to feed the baby. There are a lot of bats in the colonies socializing and raising their young.
Removal of Bats
If you are finding you have bats in your home, there are some things you need to consider. You need to be careful as bats can bite and have rabies.
If it is the bats' maternity season, it is illegal to remove the bats. This may sound crazy, but the baby bats will die as they can't fly away and are dependent on their mother to feed them. If you decide to harm them during this period, you can face jail time or fines. It is best to wait until the maternity season is over and they go into hibernation. Reaching out to your local pest control company is helpful for advice during the waiting period and after.
Bats Hibernation
Bats are just like other mammals in that they hibernate in the winter. This is important as they need to save energy and do this by being in a dormant state. Hibernation reduces respiratory, heart, and metabolic rates. This is so they can make it through the cold months with a supply of food that is limited.
An interesting fact about bats' heart rates is that they fall from 300 beats per minute to 10 beats per minute. Wow, that is definitely a resting heart rate! If bats decide not to hibernate, then they head south for the winter so those in warmer states may see more of these nocturnal creatures during the winter months.
How Bats Help the Environment
Even though bats can carry diseases, they also are a great help to the environment. There are over 500 species of plants that need bats for pollination. Bats help fruits, flowers, and plants grow. Also, bats are insectivores and help control the mosquito population by eating them. Lastly, bats are instrumental in reforestation and replanting forests by dispersing the seeds.
Recommended Maintenance
Now that you know more about bats, let's take a look at other areas of pest control.
If you don't have an issue with bats in your home, that is good. Are you wondering what else can take care of the pesky mosquitoes? Dragonflies, birds, fish, frogs, turtles, and spiders can't wait to gobble them up for you and get them out of your yard.
Another area to think about is the annoyance of mosquitos. If you are trying to avoid mosquitos, the time of the day when they are most active is dusk and dawn as they don't like the sunlight. The sunlight dehydrates them so they tend to stay away during that time.
Lastly, no one wants termites in their home. Queen termites can live up to 30 years! Other termites' lifespan depends on the type of termite. You can prevent them by having downspouts that carry the water away from the home, as well as gutters that keep water flowing to name a few.
When to Call a Professional
Even though bats don't lay eggs, they do give birth and can take over your home. If you hear bats in the walls, you will want to call your local pest control company. They can help come up with a plan for eradicating the bats or removing them from the home. It is dangerous for you to do this on your own so having a professional company take care of them is important.
Conclusion
You don't want to disturb the roost of the bats during the protective period. Keep your family and pets away from where the bats are in the home and call on your local pest control company. They can provide you with recommendations for preventative maintenance for bats. Call on Gray Pest Control for all your pest control needs in Jacksonville, FL, and surrounding areas.