Just discovered a bat

[plowhog]

Saw a bat today. It was in my barn attic below several layers of wood lattice. I discovered it when I moved the wood.

It moved only slightly. At first I thought it was a small tarantula. Once I figured out it was a bat I replaced a piece of lattice over it and left.

I did not touch it. I was wearing gloves while moving the wood. I'm tempted to leave it alone for the winter-- but am curious if there is anything special I should do? I heard they can hibernate for the winter-- it was below freezing this morning but is 37F now.

 

[grsthegreat]

leave it be. i personally thought they leave for the winter. i have them here in summer, they eat flying bugs. have never seen any in winter though.

ive been contemplating setting up bat houses. i like them as they eat bugs.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

We had the same thing happen here a few years ago, flying around upstairs in garage when I turned lights on. Next day I was sweeping floor downstairs and thought it was a leaf. With gloves I carefully put it in a 5 gallon bucket. I called the International bat conservation (there is one) and ironically they said there was a bat expert 10 miles away. Wife & I took it, it was her doctor's wife. She said they're supposed to migrate South for the winter but this was a teenage male and you know how they are .
She kept it over winter in their basement feeding it mealworms. They brought it back in Spring releasing it from garage upstairs window.
Bottom line unless it has a warm place it won't survive winter.

 

[ponytug]

It is just overwintering. Our bats come out when it warms up a bit. I am always surprised at how low a temperature they are willing to be up and about hunting insects in because I don't perceive much in the way of insects around.

They seem to really like our roof tiles and metal roof edges to roost in.

All the best,

Peter

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

It is just overwintering. Our bats come out when it warms up a bit. I am always surprised at how low a temperature they are willing to be up and about hunting insects in because I don't perceive much in the way of insects around.

They seem to really like our roof tiles and metal roof edges to roost in.

All the best,

Peter

Your winters aren't bad. It gets down to zero, even -10F here and "The bat lady" expert said it couldn't survive that.

 

[ponytug]

Your winters aren't bad. It gets down to zero, even -10F here and "The bat lady" expert said it couldn't survive that.

Yes, our winters aren' that bad here, but not that different from @plowhog's. It was snowing this morning here...

All the best,

Peter

 

[Oaktree]

When we first moved here in '04 we had quite a few bats, and by extension very few mosquitoes. Their population went off a cliff 10 or 12 years ago, I understand there's some sort of fungus they're susceptible to. There has been a bit of a rebound last couple years, but nowhere near what we had before.

 

[plowhog]

Just ran into another one. Under a portable HEPA filter sitting on piece of lumber. It didn't move so I just put things back the way they were.

I'm leaving them alone .... I read if it warms up a little they will become active again and either leave, or change position.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

Just ran into another one. Under a portable HEPA filter sitting on piece of lumber. It didn't move so I just put things back the way they were.

I'm leaving them alone .... I read if it warms up a little they will become active again and either leave, or change position.

I think they'll be ok where you are. How cold does it usually get?

 

[Jstpssng]

Funny, there was a time when the natural instinct was to kill them if they got into places we didn't want them. Now most of us understand the benefits they bring, and strive to keep them alive.

Maybe we ARE trainable!