There are 13 species of bats that live in Florida, with an additional 7 species that are sometimes found migrating here. They vary greatly by species, with some living in packs and others solitary. Most bats live on insects, but about 30% of bats consume insects. While not as adept at flying as birds, bats have much greater maneuverability due to their long limbs and thin membrane connecting them. Bats are extremely quick and difficult to catch. They are vulnerable to rain as it interferes with their echolocation sense, and so they rarely ever fly in the rain.
Q: I think I may have bats in my attic and the smell is terrible. Does that mean there’s a dead bat?
A: The smell may be the guano, which is extremely pungent. This is advantageous in that the smell may alert you to their presence faster. The longer bats are in an attic, the more filthy it gets, and the more risk they pose to duct work, wiring, and insulation.
Q: Do bats stay in one place or will they wander away and find a new home?
A: Many species of bats live in colonies, which can grow to include hundreds or thousands of bats. The size of the colony is limited by the size of the space, so an attic can usually house a dozen bats if left untreated. Rather than move on, most bats are likely to breed and maintain their same habitat until removed. In the meantime, they leave guano and urine in the insulation and possibly also in soffit space, which can attract other bats.
Q: Do bats carry disease?
A: Bats carry rabies, a potentially deadly virus that can infect humans. In addition to other diseases bats carry, their guano is an ideal home for fungus to grow, releasing spores into the air stream that can produce histoplasmosis in humans.
Q: I think I had bats, but now there’s just a bad smell. Will the dead bat smell go away soon?
A: It can take weeks or up to months for the smell to go away, depending on what time of year it is. In the meantime, disease is proliferating in the attic. The dead bat needs to be removed and the area given a thorough cleaning and antimicrobial treatment.
Q: How many babies can a bat have?
A: Most species of bats breed during a certain time of the year, usually in the spring, but varying depending on how available food and roosting sites are. Bats will have one pup at a time, because the mother still needs to be able to fly while pregnant. Bats will usually breed several times during one breeding season, as the gestation period is short.