[Debfrommaine]

Have noticed bats flying near our villa for the past couple of weeks. I know they are harmless but they scare the heck out of me! Anyhow, just before sunrise this morning we noticed they are living in my neighbors folded umbrella on his outside patio; they flew in the creases just as it started getting light outside.

[DianeM]

Eww that would scare the hell out of me.

[rubicon]

So far the property management people have succeeded in keeping bats out of the tunnels. It is not good on the immune system to have a bat flying all around your cart has you pass through the tunnels. I had my trees trimmed and the tree guy was greeted by a bat

[mulligan]

What does a flying bat have to do with your immune system ???

[missypie]

Bats are part of our eco system. Still wouldn't want them near me. Tell your neighbor ASAP!!!!!

[Arctic Fox]

Put up a bat house to encourage the presence of these shy animals.

Bats consume 3,000 or more mosquitoes and other insects nightly, and bats are less likely to be rabid than dogs are.

Bats are responsible for up to 95 percent of the seed dispersal essential to the regeneration of forests.

[kbace6]

I love bats,they eat mosquitoes.

[Happydaz]

Bats are such fun to watch! I have a couple up here in New Hampshire and they come out at dusk and zig and zag all over the sky catching insects. If you get a lot of bats I could see that as too much, but a couple of bats are no problem. I hope we have a few in Pinellas when we move down there in two weeks. Just a few though, I don't want what they have under that bridge in Austin, Texas. I have been there when thousands of bats take off as the evening progresses.

[Midvale]

Yes bats are helpful and a joy to watch flitting around. A shame the most common ones in the northeast are being decimated by white nose syndrome. The little brown bat species may become extinct.
I used to see many around dusk by my home but I haven't seen any up here the past 2 years.

[BarryRX]

Originally Posted by Arctic Fox

Put up a bat house to encourage the presence of these shy animals.

Bats consume 3,000 or more mosquitoes and other insects nightly, and bats are less likely to be rabid than dogs are.

Bats are responsible for up to 95 percent of the seed dispersal essential to the regeneration of forests.

Thanks for a great post!

[Didiwinbob]

I agree Arctic Fox

[Didiwinbob]

What the is common in this area?. It's kind of a challenge to hang a bat house around here. Doesn't the house need to be mounted about 30ft off the ground?

[capecodbob]

Originally Posted by Arctic Fox

Put up a bat house to encourage the presence of these shy animals.

Bats consume 3,000 or more mosquitoes and other insects nightly, and bats are less likely to be rabid than dogs are.

Bats are responsible for up to 95 percent of the seed dispersal essential to the regeneration of forests.

EXACTLY!!!

I have them around my house and they clean out bugs every night. They are great insect hunters!

Guess you could say "I've gone Bats"

[kittygilchrist]

I like batses too. They are like pelicans, butt-ugly when still and beautifully graceful in flight.

[JP]

I like bats too but wouldn't want them in my umbrella!