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What to know about winged hunters

What to know about winged hunters

Sakege011 mins

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  • Arizona is home to 28 different species of bats.
  • Bats are an important part of the ecosystem. They polline plants and eat mosquitoes.
  • It is illegal to kill or damage bats in Arizona, but can be removed safely and human by licensed professionals.

Scorpions and Owls They are not the only night creatures that Arizonans can find.

Arizona is home to 28 species of bats, from little and agile myotis to the most recent discovery, Mexican Bats of Long Nose.

And “Phoenix Bat Cave“A storm tunnel along the Arizona Canal near 37 ° place, attracts thousands of Mexican free tail bats every summer. The bats link every night, providing a unique opportunity to witness these beneficial creatures in action while They fly in search of mosquitoes to eat.

While some people find them terrifying, bats are generally harmless to humans and fulfill an important ecological role. In Arizona, bats are commonly found around water sources, such as golf and pond fields, and perch in caves, penthouses and low bridges.

Here is everything to know about bats in Arizona.

What kind of bats live in Arizona?

Arizona has 28 species of bats. We talked to Carol Chambers, professor of Wildlife Ecology at the University of Northern Arizona, who said there are three types of bat families in Arizona: evening, Molossidae and Phyllostomidae.

Here are the main features of each group explained by Chambers:

  • VESPERTILIONIDS: These are the most common bats in Arizona. They include myotis species, which are small, brown and agile flyers, as well as more unusual species such as Euderma Maculatum, the stained bat.
  • Molossids: Fast flyers with long and narrow wings. They are called free tail bats because their tails extend beyond the tail membrane, so it looks like a dog’s tail. The largest bat in Arizona, the western mastin bat, is in this family. One of the most common Molossids is the Mexican Free Cola, which forms large colonies and migrates in large quantities inside and outside Arizona and other parts of the United States.
  • Philostomids: Leaf nose bats that have a small projection in or around the nose that is believed to help with echolocation. This is a tropical species and some in southern Arizona make great migrations to Mexico.

Are dangerous bats for humans?

Bats are generally not dangerous to humans; They are shy and prefer to avoid people.

“As we say in wildlife, it depends,” said Chambers. “There are some health concerns.

“For example, is the bat angry or sick? If so, can it be harmful to humans. Is there a bat colony inside your home? That is not a good place to have bats. Are they on your roof? Maybe it’s fine.

What attracts bats to your home?

“I would not say that bats feel ‘attracted’ for humans. Rather, I would say that some of the things that humans have in their homes and their surroundings provide a good habitat for bats, ”said Chambers.

During the summer, female bats meet in groups to give birth and raise their puppies, resting in places like dead, cliffs, bridges or, sometimes even houses.

Species such as Arizona Ocult Myotis and the great brown bats are commonly close to human homes and are attracted to good perchera spaces, such as swimming pools or sources in dry areas, they said chambers. Golf courses with reliable water sources tend to attract bats.

What do bats eat?

Chambers says that most bats feed on mosquitoes and other insects, but the Phyllostomidae family will feed on nectar or other parts of the flowers.

“None in Arizona feeds on blood. There are only three species of Phyllostomidae that feed on blood and occur in Mexico, Central and South America, ”said Chambers.

What time do bats come out in Arizona?

Bats are nocturnal and typically emerge at dusk. They appear in greater numbers in spring and summer.

“In northern Arizona, due to cold temperatures and because most of our bats are insectivores, we do not see much bats during the winter. Some migrate outside the area, some hibernate, ”said Chambers.

“Our most active period is from May to August, but some bats are likely to excite periodically during winter as they do in other cold parts of North America.”

What should you do if you find a bat?

Yes you Find a batThe best approach depends on the situation.

If a bat is outdoors and seems to be flying normally, it is likely that food will be sought and should be left alone.

If a bat is inside his house, close the room in which he is and opens windows or doors after dusk to let him fly.

Never handle a bat with bare hands. Contact the Arizona hunting and fishing department or a wildlife control business licensed to help eliminate bat.

“In general, people fear things that do not know much, so the more we can educate people about bats, the better,” Chambers said.

“The bats have incredible adaptations for the flight, to move quickly in the dark, they are of long life and Arizona is lucky to have so many species. They have fascinating faces, they are not out of biting or ‘get’.

“Like any other animal, they are trying to survive in environments that are increasingly taken by humans, the loss of habitat, so it is more likely to find them.”

How to get rid of bats

In Arizona, All bats are protected by law And you cannot collect or kill. It is also illegal to use pesticides or other chemicals in bats.

Bats can be removed safely and humanly when necessary. If bat elimination is needed, you should only take the Council of the Arizona Games and Fish Department or for a licensed wildlife control business.

“Just work with companies that know how to exclude bats,” said Chambers.

Bat exclusions should not be attempted during the maternity season, which usually extends from May to September, to avoid the separation of mothers from their young.

“You never exclude bats from a chicken coop during the summer. They probably have babies in the chicken coop and you would be killing their young, “said Chambers.

“The bats are long lasting,” Chambers said. “The oldest known bat is 42 years old.

“Because they are more like elephants than rodents, giving birth to a puppy per year and living a lot instead of giving birth to many young people in a short period and dying in one or three years, bats obtain special protections.”

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