The Importance of Rabies Vaccinations For Pets

As a pet owner, it’s important to do everything you can to keep your furry friend healthy and safe. That’s why vaccinating against the Rabies Virus is so important. Continue below to learn more about the Rabies virus, plus how to keep your pet vaccinated against this deadly threat.

For a Bat Control Company in Richmond, Call 804-729-9097 Today!
For a Bat Control Company in Richmond, Call 804-729-9097 Today!

Scary Facts About the Rabies Virus

Rabies is a deadly virus that affects the nervous system of mammals. It is most often transmitted through the bite of an infected animal and can be fatal if left untreated. Dogs are the most common source of rabies transmission to humans, and though vaccinations have made the disease much less common in developed countries, it is still a serious public health concern in many parts of the world.

There are two forms of rabies: Furious rabies is characterized by aggression and lack of fear, while Paralytic rabies progresses to paralysis and death. The incubation period for rabies is typically two to 12 weeks but can be as long as several months. Early symptoms may include fever, headache, and general malaise, followed by more specific symptoms such as seizures, hallucinations, and paralysis. Sadly, there is no cure.

Rabies Vaccines for Dogs and Cats

If you suspect that your dog has been exposed to rabies, it is important to seek veterinary care immediately. There is no cure for rabies, but prompt treatment can be effective in preventing the disease from taking hold. Vaccination is the best defense against rabies, and all dogs should be up to date on their shots. If you live in an area where rabies is common, talk to your veterinarian about whether your dog should also receive a booster vaccine.

Rabies vaccines are available for both dogs and cats. By being aware of the risks and taking steps to protect your pets, you can help keep both your furry friend and your family safe from this deadly virus. The vaccine is typically given as a series of shots, starting at around four months of age. In most cases, vaccinating your pet is the best way to keep them safe from this deadly disease.

The Link Between Bats and Rabies

There is a strong link between bats and rabies. Bats are the main host of the rabies virus, and many people who are bitten by bats contract rabies. However, there are also many myths about bats and rabies. Bats are the main host of the rabies virus. In the United States, most rabies cases in animals are in bats. However, only a small percentage of bats carry the virus. Most bats that carry rabies do not show any signs of the disease.

There are many myths about bats and rabies. One myth is that all bats have rabies. This is not true. Only a small percentage of bats carry the virus. Another myth is that you can get rabies from just being near a bat. This is also not true. You can only get rabies if you are bitten or scratched by a bat that has the virus. If you are bitten or scratched by a bat, wash the wound with soap and water and see a doctor immediately.

Consider Localized Bat Control

The best way to protect yourself and your pets from rabies is to avoid contact with bats. If your property is near a local bat population, it is recommended to implement an effective bat abatement plan. Contact a licensed and insured Richmond VA bat removal and control company for assistance you can trust.

Interested in learning more about safe bat management and abatement? Contact Virginia Bat Pros at 804-729-9097 for bat removal and control in Richmond, Virginia. We serve both residential and commercial clients in all surrounding counties and locations.

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How to Detect a Bat Infestation in Your House

If you notice any signs of bats in the house, be sure to contact a licensed Richmond bat removal and control company as soon as possible. Not sure how to detect bats in the attic or bats in the walls? Continue reading to learn the common signs of a bat infestation.

Get Rid of Bats in House Richmond VA 804-729-9097
Get Rid of Bats in House Richmond VA 804-729-9097

Guide to Locating Bats in the House

There are many problems associated with having bats in the house. Not only do bats carry infectious diseases that can potentially be transmitted to humans and pets, but their droppings also pose several health risks, including a serious upper respiratory disease known as Histoplasmosis.

If you have bats in the house, you will need them extracted from your home, safely and humanely. Once extracted, they will be relocated to a faraway habitat where they can live out their significant lives in peace. As for your home, the job does not stop with bat removal. After bats are extracted, you will need further remediation to eliminate the mess, destruction, and health risks left behind.

If you suspect that you might have a bat infestation on your hands, there are some things you need to know right away. First, bats are not solitary mammals. They live in large colonies; so, where there’s one or two bats, there are likely many more. And since bats are nocturnal, they sleep quietly for most of the day. This means that they can go undetected by homeowners for a long time. The longer bats roost in your house, the more damage they cause, which ends up costing you money, time, and frustration that could have been avoided with proper nuisance wildlife prevention.

Fortunately, most Virginia bat removal companies also provide full-service decontamination and restoration work for bat damages. This includes disinfecting, sanitizing, and fumigating the area to eliminate waste and pests like bat mites and lice. It also includes replacing or renovating damaged areas like attic insulation, drywall, floorboards, siding, roof shingles, and more. Lastly, you will need your trusted Richmond bat removal and control company to implement the proper measures of wildlife proofing and prevention to stop future bat infestations.

Here are the Common Signs of Bats in the House:

Bats flying around your property at dusk and dawn.

Chirping, scratching, or screeching sounds in the walls or ceilings.

Inexplicable stains on walls and ceilings.

Foul odors lingering in the living quarters of the home.

Flutter noises in the attic or walls.

Bat droppings around doors and windowsills.

Greasy spots or stains on siding, doors, walls, or roofs.

Ready to schedule a professional a bat infestation inspection? Contact Virginia Bat Pros at 804-729-9097 for licensed and insured Virginia bat removal and control you can afford. We use safe and humane methods to deliver effective professional bat control for residential and commercial properties throughout Virginia.

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Information About Nuisance Bats in Virginia

Bats are an incredible species of mammal, and we are lucky to have them as a part of our surrounding Eco-system. Their high metabolic needs and diverse diets significantly impact our ecological communities by playing a vital role in pollination, seed dispersion, crop fertilization, insect control, protozoan hosting, ecotourism industries, and more. But like most things in life, where there are advantages, there are also disadvantages. If you are dealing with or concerned about nuisance bats around your property, it is essential to better understand them and their predictable behaviors.

Continue reading to learn important information about nuisance bats and bat control in Virginia.

Bat Control Company Richmond VA 804-729-9097
Bat Control Company Richmond VA 804-729-9097

Common Signs of Nuisance Bats

Bats are common nuisances for home and business owners. They are attracted to dark, warm shelters to raise their young and hibernate through winter, including attics, crawl spaces, garages, sheds, roofs, and walls. They can enter through a crevice as tiny as 3/8th inch, so it is easy for them to get inside a vulnerable structure. You can tell if you have bats in the house or around your property by looking for the signs. This includes hearing strange noises in the walls or attic at night, spotting animal droppings around windows or doors, smelling foul odors from attic or crawl space areas, and more.

Bat Damage Abatement and Repair

Bats can cause a long list of structural damages to a home, and the accumulation of their droppings can create an unsanitary, biohazardous environment. Furthermore, they pose a wide range of health risks since their guano can cause respiratory illnesses, and they may carry diseases and parasites like rabies, lice, mites, and more.

Fortunately, several professional wildlife control companies offer restoration and decontamination services for damages caused by bats. They will remove the bats from the space using safe and non-lethal methods, clean up the mess they made, sanitize the entire area, and restore any structural damages they caused from their stay.

True Facts About Bats and Rabies

Many people wrongly assume that all bats have rabies. The truth is that bats are common carriers of the rabies virus, but that does not mean all bats are carriers, nor does it mean that carriers are infected. If a bat is rabid, you will be able to tell by a blood test, which can only be done correctly by a state’s Department of Health. A rabid bat is not likely to be a threat since they generally seek out isolation to die. In fact, bats that are not sick are not likely to attack either. They are more afraid of us than we are of them. It is very rare for one to bite or attack unless provoked. This is why regular vaccinations are so vital for pets.

Bat Removal and Control

To properly eliminate a bat problem, bats must first be removed, and then specific precautions must be taken to ensure they cannot reenter your home or building. There are many things you can do yourself to reduce the level of wildlife activity around your property, such as removing all food and water sources, including bird baths, squirrel feeders, pet food, gardens, and more. You can also install automatic motion lighting or ultrasonic sound machines, as well as, spread predatory urine or other non-toxic repellents around your yard. Just use water, ground hot pepper, and menthol oil to make a homemade repellent.

Do you think you might have bats in the house or around your home? Contact Virginia Bat Pros at 804-729-9097 for prompt and professional bat removal and control you can afford. We serve residential and commercial clients.

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What To Do If You Have Bats in the Chimney

Bats in Virginia are really small, like “they can squeeze through a gap as slight as 3/8ths of an inch” small. This is exactly how they get inside of Virginian homes and buildings. Even the smallest, most insignificant opening can be a wide open door for a bat looking to make a new roost. Bats are generally found infesting attics and crawl spaces, but it is very common to discover them living inside chimneys too. If you suspect that you have bats in the chimney in your Virginia home or business, it is important that you act fast.

Continue below to learn exactly what you need to do to get rid of bats in the chimney!

Remove Bats in the Chimney Richmond Virginia 804-729-9097
Remove Bats in the Chimney Richmond Virginia 804-729-9097

Why You Have Bats in Your Chimney

Why did a colony of bats choose to roost inside your chimney? Well, the flu was open, the space was available, it provides a dark, cozy shelter that protects them from predators, and it is very easy to get in and out of. Basically, your chimney is prime real estate for bats. Even if your chimney is equipped with a cap or the flu is closed, bats can still find a way in, especially if the cap is damaged or warped, or the flu is cracked just slightly.

Never Light a Fire!

Before delving into the process of getting rid of bats in a chimney, there is something you need to understand. It is critical that you DO NOT START A FIRE IN YOUR FIREPLACE to smoke bats out of the chimney. Not only is this incredibly inhumane, being as though local bat populations are extremely beneficial for our environment and economy, but it is also against the law to harm wildlife, especially bats, which are a protected species. Several common bat species in Virginia are listed as Federally-endangered or threatened, so you could face serious consequences if you were to kill or harm such a bat.

How to Get Rid of Bats in a Chimney

So, what can you do to get rid of bats in the chimney? There are a few options, all of which are perfectly affordable for all income levels. The first and most effective approach to get rid of bats in a chimney is to hire a professional Virginia bat removal company to set up devices and strategies that will divert the bats out of the chimney space and not let them return.

Bat valves and cones are great animal-proofing tools for bats in the chimney, attic, roof system, wall voids, and more. Screen covers for vents are also effective. However, you must have them installed by a certified professional who is licensed and permitted to perform bat abatement work. It is not recommended to install bat control devices like these on your own.

Following bat removal and exclusion, your wildlife control specialist will certainly recommend a chimney cap. Just be sure to choose a model that is compatible with your chimney and good quality. Chimney caps require annual inspection to ensure they have not corroded or warped due to inclement weather, extreme temperatures, and wildlife tampering. By ensuring your chimney cap is in good condition, you can better prevent future bat intrusions.

Are you asking yourself, “how can I get rid of bats in my chimney?” If so, you are in the right place!  Contact Virginia Bat Pros at 804-729-9097 for TWRA licensed bat removal and bat-proofing service in Richmond, VA, and its surrounding towns. Our bat abatement specialists serve residential and commercial properties all throughout the state.

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How to Animal Proof Your Home Against Bats

Bats are terrible house guests. You do not want them anywhere near your residence, or even your property for that matter. So, if you live near wooded areas or bodies of water, or have actually seen bats flying around at dusk, you would be wise to animal-proof your home against bat intrusions and subsequent damages.

Continue below to learn the bat abatement facts that will get you started on protecting your home from nuisance bats.

Bat Control Virginia 804-729-9097
Bat Control Virginia 804-729-9097

Bats are Highly Destructive

Why are bats terrible house guests? In a few words, they are highly destructive creatures. When bats take up shelter inside your wall crevices, vents, attics, crawl spaces, gutters, or wall voids, you can guarantee one thing: they are going to damage the surrounding structures. Not only do bats chew through electrical wiring and tear down insulation, but they also soil and infect everything with excrement and parasitic organisms (i.e. lice, mites, fleas, ticks, etc.).

Aside from the bio-hazards they leave behind, bats are also structurally-damaging. Bat urine and droppings, also called guano, will accumulate in masses, and eventually seep through ceilings, drywall, floorboards, insulation, and more. This also generates a lingering odor in the living quarters of the home. They are also known to damage electrical wiring and built-in mechanical systems. Bats in the attic are common perpetrators of such damage.

Additional Risks of Having Bats in the House

Bats are also common carriers of several zooonic diseases and infections. These illnesses can be transmitted to both people and pets. Although not all bats have rabies, they are known as common carriers of the virus. As a deadly disease, it is important to stay on top of your pet’s Rabies vaccination every year. Aside from disease, bats can also pass on parasitic infections, like bat mites, fleas, and ticks.

Bat Prevention

Now to bat-proofing your home. There are several methods of bat control, which is a system of strategies that prevent bat intrusions and infestations. Such strategies might include using ultrasonic sonar devices, attic vent screens, chimney caps, draft guards, window screens, bat valves, structural sealing, which involves sealing up exterior holes and gaps that bats can use to gain access inside your house. It is strongly encouraged to consult with a licensed and insured bat removal and control company in Virginia for professional bat abatement and exclusion services.

Bat Infestation Season is Upon Us

The best time of year to ensure your house is animal-proofed and protected against nuisance bats is between April and August. This is when bats are birthing their young, which means they are fervently seeking shelter, especially in attics. Act now to prevent bat intrusions and infestations this summer.

Do you suspect that bats are living somewhere in or around your house or business? Contact Virginia Bat Pros at 804-729-9097 for affordable and prompt bat removal services in Virginia, including Richmond and all surrounding areas. We serve residential and commercial clients.

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Can I Exterminate Bats in Virginia?

It is natural to instinctively want to kill any rodent-like pest in your house, but when it comes to bats, you better think twice. Whether you find a lone bat in the house, multiple bats in the attic, or bats around the property, it is wise that you approach the situation lawfully, and humanely. Continue reading to learn why.

Licensed Bat Removal Richmond VA
It is illegal to harm, trap or kill bats in Virginia!

Virginia is Home to 3 Endangered Bat Species

There are many species of bats native to Virginia and its surrounding areas. Three of them are listed as federally-endangered or threatened, and therefore, federally-protected by law. Federally endangered bats in Virginia include the Indiana bat, Gray bat, and Virginia Big-Eared bat, which is our beloved state bat.

So, this means that it could be against the law to trap, harm, or kill a bat in your house. Decreed by the Endangered Species Act, the law says it is a federal offense to, “harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or to attempt to engage in any such conduct” any species of wildlife that is listed as endangered or threatened.

The same goes for trapping and relocated a bat on the endangered or threatened species list. Here is what Virginia law says in those regards:

“It is illegal to transport, release, or relocate a bat anywhere other than the property it was caught on (4VAC15-30-50) and poison any animal (including a bat) other than rats and mice on your property (4VAC15-40-50).”

Virginia Administrative Code

So, as you can see, if the bat in your house or the bats in your attic are a particular species on the endangered or threatened species list, you could face both civil and criminal penalties. Even if they are not endangered or threatened, you should never attempt to remove bats yourself. Not only might it be illegal to do so, but you might feel really bad afterwards, whether they are threatened or not. You see, bats are ecologically-important.

Not only do they serve a vital purpose in our local ecosystems and environments, but they also contribute significantly to our local economies. Although they can become nuisances quite quickly in residential and metro areas, bats are vital parts of nature and must be protected at all costs, whether endangered or not. But this does not mean you have to live with bats. There is a perfectly legal and humane approach you can take to get rid of bats.

Professional Bat Removal and Bat-Proofing

The best approach to get rid of bats within the constraints of the law is to hire a licensed and insured bat removal and control company. Not only can they humanely extract bats using state-of-the-art equipment and technologies, but they have the proper resources and permits to relocate bats to a safe and far away habitat where they can live out the remaining years of their life.

A bat exclusion specialist can also help you animal-proof your property against future bat tampering and intrusions. Their strategies for bat control might include environment modifications, bat valve installations, sonar jamming devices, attic vent screens, exterior sealing, and more.

Not sure which critter control company to trust in the Richmond areas with your bat removal and animal-proofing needs? Contact Virginia Bat Pros at 804-729-9097 for prompt and professional bat removal and control you can afford. We serve residential and commercial clients.

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How Bat Guano is Used as a Fertilizer

On our blog, we routinely spotlight the economic and ecological benefits of bats. Bats are important to our society, and their dung is just another reason why we benefit from their local populations. Bat droppings, also known as guano, have been used as a fertilizer for many centuries and continues to be used today for crops and gardens all across the world.

Continue reading to learn more about back guano fertilizer, including why it’s beneficial and how it is used.

Bat Removal Service Richmond VA 804-729-9097
Bat Removal Service Richmond VA 804-729-9097

Benefits of Bat Guano Fertilizer

The use of back guano dates back thousands of years. One historical use for back guano is fertilization. Bat guano happens to make an excellent fertilizer for many reasons, namely because it adds a high concentration of nutrients to plants, including nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). These essential nutrients support faster, greener, plant growth, plus helps with root and flower development. The ingredients inside bat droppings are beneficial overall to plant health.

Using bat droppings as a means to fertilize soil is beneficial because it promotes soil enrichment. Not only does bat guano fertilizer condition the soil, thus improving drainage and texture, but it also works as a fungicide and retains the natural ability to manage roundworm outbreaks. In addition to fertilizing, back guano can also be used to speed up the composting process. It is an effective compost activator because it helps increase the rate of decomposition.

Bat Guano Application Options

There are two main methods of using bat guano as a fertilizer. The first method is topical incorporation. This involves mixing the bat guano into the soil as a top dressing. The second method is to turn the fertilizer into liquid form, which is known as bat guano tea, and incorporate it into your routine watering process. To make bat guano tea, steep dried or fresh bat guano in hot water overnight. Strain in the morning, and then apply to your plants generously.

How to Get Rid of Nuisance Bats

Although we love bats, they are not great house guests. If bats are coming to close to your property, consider implementing some abatement strategies. Most states have laws against harming and trapping bats since bats are vital parts of the Eco-system. Furthermore, bats can be dangerous because they are known carriers of several infectious diseases. For these reasons and more, it is not safe to attempt bat removal on your own. You should hire a licensed Richmond VA bat removal and control company to provide these services for you.

You can also try to prevent bats from being attracted to your property. For instance, you can install ultrasonic wave devices, predatory sound machines, or motion-detected lighting outside. You can also use certain household spices and oils to create a homemade bat repellent. Spices like chili powder, cayenne pepper, black pepper, peppermint, menthol, ammonia, cloves, and eucalyptus are not welcome to bats. Add these to water and spray the perimeter of your home to thwart their curiosity.

Are you impressed with the uses of bat guano, but also dealing with a nuisance bat problem on your property? Contact Virginia Bat Pros at 804-729-9097 for safe and humane bat removal and control in Richmond, Virginia and its surrounding counties. We serve both residential and commercial clients the most competitive rates around.

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What is a Bat Valve and How Does it Prevent Bat Infestations?

Bats are simply remarkable. They are the only mammal capable of true flight, and responsible for the survival of several plants and crops used to make medicines, vaccines, and even chocolate! Bats are Ecologically important for many more reasons too, but that does not mean we want them living inside our homes. Due to land over-development and loss of natural habitats, bats are common nuisance critters among residential and commercial properties.

They like to take shelter in attics, wall voids, and crawl spaces, but they are often found in many other segregated areas of a home or premises. Bat infestations lead to loads of destruction, plus pose several health and safety threats. But because bats are protected by law and so important to our society, you cannot exterminate them. Instead, you must find a safe, humane, and non-lethal method of getting rid of bats.

One such strategy used by bat control companies is to install bat valves. Continue below to learn what a bat valve is, how it works, and where you can get access to one in Old Dominion.

Bat Control Devices Richmond VA 804-729-9097
Bat Control Devices Richmond VA 804-729-9097

Bat Control Using Bat Valves

Have you ever seen a swinging door? How about a revolving door? These commodities are very similar to the design and function of a bat valve. A bat valve is essentially a door for bats. But it is a one-way door, meaning it allows bats to leave the space they are infesting, but it will not allow them to return. Have you ever heard of a fish basket? It works in a similar way, allowing a fish to swim inside, but inhibiting the fish to find its way back out.

Bat valve installation is a form a safe and humane bat extraction and exclusion. Not only will a bat valve help to get rid of bats in the attic or area of your home, but it will also prevent them from re-entering in the future. Bat valve doors can even work for other common nuisance species of wildlife, like birds, squirrels, and chipmunks.

Choosing a Bat Valve to Get Rid of Bats

Bat valves come in many versions. In fact, they do not often look like doors at all. Bat valves are usually tube-like, narrow canals that direct and divert bats out of a space.  They are generally installed on the roof and/or siding, over a soffit, a corner, ridge vents, openings in bricks, and frieze boards.

You might be quick to assume that bat valves will look obvious or unattractive on the outside of your home or edifice, but they are not. Bats are very tiny in Virginia, most weighing no more than three pennies worth. They are often an inch or two in length, so bat valves are very small and virtually indiscernible from a distance.

Be sure to hire a local Richmond VA bat removal and control company for proper bat valve procurement and installation. They will also offer bat remediation services to clean up the mess left behind from the infestation, and even make minor repairs like attic insulation replacement.

Are you having problems with nuisance bats around your house? Contact Virginia Bat Pros at 804-729-9097 for fast and affordable bat removal services in Richmond, VA and its surrounding areas. We serve residential and commercial clients.

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What You Need to Know About Bats if You Have Some Around Your Property

Bats are an incredible species of mammal, and we are lucky to have them as a part of our surrounding Eco-system. Their high metabolic needs and diverse diets significantly impact our ecological communities by playing a vital role in pollination, seed dispersion, crop fertilization, insect control, protozoan hosting, ecotourism industries, and more. But where there are advantages, there are also disadvantages. If you have spotted bats around your property on a nightly basis, it is essential to better understand their behaviors so that you can better protect your home or business from bat damages and associated risks.

Continue reading to learn what you need to know about bats if you have them around your property.

Get Rid of Bats Richmond VA 804-729-9097
Get Rid of Bats Richmond VA 804-729-9097

Nuisance Bats

Bats are common nuisances for home and business owners. They are attracted to dark, warm shelters to raise their young and hibernate through winter, including attics, crawl spaces, garages, sheds, roofs, and walls. They can enter through a crevice as tiny as 3/8th inch, so it is easy for them to get inside a vulnerable structure. You can tell if you have bats in the house or around your property by looking for the signs. This includes hearing strange noises in the walls or attic at night, spotting animal droppings around windows or doors, smelling foul odors from attic or crawl space areas, and more.

Bat Damages

Bats can cause a long list of structural damages to a home, and the accumulation of their droppings can create an unsanitary, biohazardous environment. Furthermore, they pose a wide range of health risks since their guano can cause respiratory illnesses, and they may carry diseases and parasites like rabies, lice, mites, and more. Fortunately, several professional wildlife control companies offer restoration and decontamination services for damages caused by bats. They will remove the bats from the space using safe and humane methods, clean up the mess they made, sanitize the entire area, and restore any structural damages they caused from their stay.

Bats and Rabies

Many people wrongly assume that all bats have rabies. The truth is that bats are common carriers of the rabies virus, but that does not mean all bats are carriers, nor does it mean that carriers are infected. If a bat is rabid, you will be able to tell by a blood test, which can only be done correctly by a state’s Department of Health. A rabid bat is not likely to be a threat since they generally seek out isolation to die. In fact, bats that are not sick are not likely to attack either. They are more afraid of us than we are of them. It is very rare for one to bite or attack unless provoked. This is why regular vaccinations are so vital for pets.

Bat Removal and Control

To properly eliminate a bat problem, bats must first be removed, and then specific precautions must be taken to ensure they cannot reenter your home or building. There are many things you can do yourself to reduce the level of wildlife activity around your property, such as removing all food and water sources, including bird baths, squirrel feeders, pet food, gardens, and more. You can also install automatic motion lighting or ultrasonic sound machines, as well as, spread predatory urine or other non-toxic repellents around your yard. Just use water, ground hot pepper, and menthol oil to make a homemade bat repellent.

Are you dealing with a nuisance bat problem in or around your property? Contact Virginia Bat Pros at 804-729-9097 for prompt and professional bat removal and control you can afford. We serve residential and commercial clients.

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3 Big-Eared Bat Species Found in Virginia

Although it can be argued that all bats have big ears relative to their body size, there are a few bat species that really set the bar high. Here in Virginia, three big-eared bat species in particular are native to the region, and with great luck, spotted out in nature from time to time. What are these bats? Why are they special? Great questions!

Continue reading to learn some interesting and important facts about the Northern Long-Eared Bat, Rafinesque’s Big-Eared Bat, and our state bat, the Virginia Big-Eared bat!

Big Ears No Tears

The bigger the ears the better; right? For Microchiroptera bats across the world, it is! Microbat species have an enlarged tragus in their ears that help them focus sound (some bats have this growth on their nose, like the Leaf-Nose bat). They have excellent hearing, as they are able to hear vocalizations of other bats from far away and at extremely high frequencies, between 14,000 and 100,000 hertz. Humans have a general hearing range of 20,000 hertz, just for reference.

So, all in all, bats are not apologetic for their big, old ears! They need them to communicate with other bats, hunt for prey, and much more! The most famous bats with large ears are the Northern Long-Eared Bat, Rafinesque’s Big-Eared Bat, and Virginia Big-Eared bat. Below you will find the most interesting facts about each species, including their scientific name and classification, diet, habitat, range, and endangerment status.

🦇 Northern Long-Eared Bat

The Northern Long-Eared bat is scientifically called Myotis septentrionalis.

As a microbat species, the Northern Long-Eared bat maintains an insectivorous diet consisting mostly of moths, flies, caddisflies, beetles, and even spiders. Unlike many other microbats, rather than preying on their meals mid-flight, the Northern Long-Eared bat uses a unique hunting method known as gleaning. Basically, they stick close to the tree lines and snatch up their prey directly from twigs, branches, and leaves.

You can usually find colonies of Northern Long-Eared bats in most regions of Virginia. Here in the state, they have taken liking to dams and mines for shelter. They also roost in caves and rocky crevices. They are not solitary, and often roost with other bat species, like Indiana bats and Little Brown bats.

Northern Long-Eared bats look much like Little Brown bats, in fact. But they have long ears that look like a rabbit that measure an average of a half an inch to 0.7 inches in length. They weigh an average of 3 ounces, which is similar to other regional bat species.

Northern Long-Eared bats are not endangered, but they are unfortunately a species that has been affected by White-Nose Syndrome. This fungal disease is one of the biggest and most impactful threats to this species.

🦇 Rafinesque’s Big-Eared Bat

The Rafinesque’s Big-Eared bat is scientifically referred to as Corynorhinus rafinesquii.

The Rafinesque’s Big-Eared bat is a microbat species found mostly in the bottomland hardwoods and swamps in the Coastal Plain regions of Virginia. They are typically found roosting in hollow trees or in caves but will also take up shelter in rock crevices and old buildings. Rafinesque’s Big-Eared bat colonies in the appellation Mountains prefer roosting in caves, but it really just depends on the geographic location of the colony.

When it comes to diet, Rafinesque’s Big-Eared bats our insectivores like most other microbats. Their preferred meal is moths, but they also like to eat beetles and other flying insects.

The Rafinesque’s Big-Eared bat has bigger ears than the Northern Long-Eared bat, coming in at 1.25 inches in length. They also have long, soft, bi-colored fur, making them quite the stunning bat. In fact, they look so similar to our state bat, that they are often confused for one another.

Unfortunately, Rafinesque’s Big-Eared bats are a state endangered bat and currently on the conservation list. The loss and degradation of their natural habitats is a top cause of the declining Rafinesque’s Big-Eared bat population.

🦇 Virginia Big-Eared Bat

The Virginia Big-Eared bat is scientifically named Corynorhinus townsendii virginianus.

As our beloved state bat, the Virginia Big-Eared bat is an important bat species. They are not native to the entirety of the state, but rather in short ranges within West Virginia. They do not commonly travel outside of 20 mile radius from their roosts, although some have been found to travel 40 miles outside of their primary colony location when traveling between winter and summer roosts.

Virginia Big-Eared bats mostly roost in caves or along bodies of water in large rock crevices. It really just depends on the level of access and the season.

The Virginia Big-Eared bat has a very similar insectivorous diet to their pseudo-twin, the Rafinesque’s Big-Eared bat, eating mostly moths. Virginia Big-Eared bats will also eat other insects, like flies, beetles, grasshoppers, and even wasps.

As for their ears, they maintain their status as the pseudo-twin to the Rafinesque’s Big-Eared bat, with their large ears measuring in at 1.25 inches just the same.

Unfortunately, not only is the Virginia Big-Eared bat state-endangered, but they are also federally endangered. One of the top threats to the decline of their populations is

Well, there you have it; the top bat species in Virginia with big, long ears! Do your part to support bat conservation efforts by sealing your home properly against bat intrusions, plus protecting local bat populations by vaccinating your pets and even setting up some bat houses on your property!

Never, under any circumstances, attempt to touch, trap, catch, harm, or kill a bat. If you have a bat in the house, in the yard, or bats in the attic, contact a local and trusted wildlife critter control company for emergency bat removal services. They have the proper licensing, permits, training, and resources to remove bats and control their activity in and around your property.

Looking for a bat removal company in the Virginia areas? Contact Virginia Bat Pros at 804-729-9097 for safe and humane critter control for bats in Richmond and all surrounding counties and locations. We serve both residential and commercial clients.

Related Posts:

The Journey of Lesser Long-Nosed Bats Conservation
Federally Endangered Species of Bat in Virginia
State Laws Surrounding Wild Bats