Most of us are afraid of bats, and the thought of them being anywhere near us can send us running for cover. However, are bats really dangerous to us, or could we just be overreacting based on our inherent fears?
Most bats prefer to stay away from people and rarely come in contact with people. They usually prefer habitats that are as far away from people as possible. However, every now and then our paths may cross.
A group of bats may be nesting in or on our houses or a stray bat could fly into our homes. We may come across them at night in places that are filled with insects, there food of choice. We can usually chalk it up to being in the wrong place at the wrong time, but for the most part, bat and human contact is minimal.
The good
Many people assume that bats are bad luck. Their past is riddled with associations to witchcraft, sorcery and all the things that go bump in the night. However, we should not let our misconceptions construe how we view bats. There are any people that actually want bats near their home to help naturally rid their homes and yards of insects.
They build bat houses to keep the bats out of their house but still get the benefit of the bats eating all those pesky insects. They can get rid of mosquitoes and other insects that may be bothering you or destroying your garden in a safe and natural way.
The bad
Bats are known to carry many diseases. The most popular is rabies, and anyone who has come in contact with a bat runs the chance of getting this disease. A bat may not be showing any signs of rabies but still have it. However, many of us may believe that rabies runs rampant in the bat population but it is not true.
There are some bats with rabies, but when you consider their natural predisposition of avoiding people, it is not that huge of a risk of contracting rabies from a bat. Their stool also carries many diseases, and this means that you do not have to come in contact with the bat just the droppings to contract these diseases. A fungus called histoplasma capsulatum loves to grow in their droppings. This fungus is known to cause lung disease in humans. The spores of this fungus can become airborne and infect people. In some cases it is even fatal.
The ugly
Bats love to roost in our attics and on our eaves. Unfortunately, their nests and roosting habits can cause harm to our homes. Not only will their droppings begin to pile up and their urine cause horrible odors throughout your home, but they can damage the structure of your home. They can wreak havoc to your wooden beams and may even damage your wiring. They will also rub up against the area they are using as an entry point into your home and the oils in their body will leave an unsightly brown or black stain. They could also harm the power lines that go in and out of your home. There are many things that they can easily destroy in their everyday coming and going.
For some of us, we appreciate the benefits of having bats around; however, most of us would prefer if they stayed as far away from us as possible. This feeling may be because of our inherent fears or because of the dangers they pose to us and our homes.
Whatever your feelings are about bats, you need to keep a safe distance to avoid any communicable diseases, and if you want to remove them, call a licensed expert that knows which precautions are needed.