Greater Tucson is permanent home to several bat species and a temporary home for others which move to warmer climate as winter approaches. There are more species of these little flying mammals in Arizona than almost any other state. Overall, there are over two dozen species of bats that make their home here! Using echolocation to find their targets, most of them are significant consumers of insects and, as such, are extremely valuable. Some bats focus on nectar and my customers find that these little guys often delight in draining humming bird feeders over night in the summer.
While bats have a bad reputation for being a carrier of rabies, for the most part, the 10’s of thousands of bats overnighting under bridges, in caves and spending time under home and business eaves are major contributors to controlling mosquito,moth, and other insect populations.
Most of the calls to 1st Response Wildlife are in response customer’s queries regarding how to get rid of bats, how to get bats to live around their property, requests to get bats out of their attic, or from folks who see what they think is bat guano on patios, walkways, or below overhangs.
If I have a customer who wants to rid their property of overnight bats nesting under their eaves, I use professional means which does not harm the bats, but encourages them to choose other locations for their daytime sleeping areas. If I am called to remove bats from attics, crawl spaces, or around a home or business, after I carefully capture them, I release them in areas where there are other bat colonies.
Bats are known to carry rabies so a bat on the ground either injured, angry, or just unable to launch itself into flight can be a concern. I use Kevlar gloves to handle these little guys and, after inspection, transfer them to either a rehabilitation site, if they are injured or to Animal Control if I suspect they may be a carrier.
Since there are 28 species of bats which can be found in Arizona and because all bat species are protected, care must be taken to understand, identify, and be aware of both their value as well as what regulations protect and cover their management. One of the best compendiums of information regarding bats in Arizona can be found on the Arizona Game and Fish web site. It describes and details most of what you should know about our bats. http://www.azgfd.gov/w_c/urban_bats.shtml
If you have unwanted bats in your home or business, in your attic, under your eaves, suspect you have bats and would like them to roost elsewhere, give 1st Response Wildlife a call and I will humanely help you discourage them from your property, if that is what you wish, and/or capture and relocate them.
Thanks, Wildman Josh :)
Josh's Cell (24/7 Hours): 520-260-9517
Josh Waling is a humane Licensed Animal Trapper who catches and releases wildlife, removing animals including bobcats (lince), snakes, rattlesnakes (serpiente de cascabel), raccoons (mapache), pack rats, gila monsters (monstruos de gila), rabbits (canejo), owls, bats, squirrels (ardilla), coatimundi (gato solo), skunks (mofeta), exotics, and domestic cats and dogs. He delivers service that is professional and fast and he is available 24/7. Give him a call the next time you hear unusual noises in the attic or crawl spaces in your home or if you see wildlife eating your vegetation, creating nests, and raising their young too close to your pets or children. 520-260-9517 Thanks!
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