7
A naturalized area, rich in voles
and other small creatures, will
give foxes an alternative to
raiding the chicken coop.
Despite their less-than-
favorable reputation in past
years, people are finally beginning
to realize the value of attracting
bats. In addition to being unique
(they are the only flying
mammals in the world), they are
a wonderful natural defense
against pesky insects, including
mosquitoes.
They will each eat more than
500 flying insects per hour!
Unfortunately, most of their
preferred roosting places –
caves, old barns, trees with loose
bark – have been destroyed by
development.
Problems arise when they
decide to roost inside a house,
most commonly in an attic. Their
droppings (guano) have a terrible
odor and can be hazardous if
they come in contact with moist
soil because they can harbor the
histoplasmosis virus.
There is some danger of
rabies, but only if you actually
come in contact with an
infected bat. The easiest way
to get them out of the house is
to turn on a light and open all
the doors and windows after
dark.
There are also devices which
funnel the bats outside when
they leave to eat, then won’t let
them return, but even dime-
sized holes must be sealed or
they will be able to re-enter the
dwelling.
Closing openings can be
done with caulk, screens,
insulation, or flashing. Don’t
seal up the roosting space
between April and August, or
you might trap the flightless
offspring inside.
The best time to bat-proof
your house is in November and
December. By then the young
bats have started flying, and
winter roosting hasn’t begun.
Wait until after dark, when the
bats will be out feeding.
Since even very small openings
can serve as entryways, the
process may take several weeks
as you continue to watch for
those individuals which have
found a way to return.
Put some bat houses in your
yard, giving the animals an
alternative place to roost away
from the house, yet keeping
them in the area to eat the
mosquitoes.
If possible, put the bat house
on a post a few hundred feet
away from the attic, in a very
hot location, and erect it before
July.
When you seal your house in
the winter, the bats will already
be familiar with the bat house
and will use it when they return
in the spring and find that their
old haunts are no longer
accessible.
Another creature that is
under-appreciated and gets a
lot of bad press is the snake.
Many people have what seems
to be almost a genetic
aversion to them, regardless
of whether or not they’re a
poisonous variety.
Snakes avoid, rather than
attack humans, and they
consume large numbers of
rodents and insects, helping to
keep their populations under
control.
Knowing the type of
conditions that attract snakes
allows you to provide similar
habitat in locations that are
acceptable. Usually when they
live near a house they can be
