Controling Flying Pests Naturally

[Chris]

I have always had problems with Mosquitoes because of a drainage easement in my back yard. I had been looking for ways to control these pests as sitting outside, especially in the evenings was bothersome with all of the little blood suckers. After a bit of research I believe I've found the answer, bats! Yes, bats. I know they tend to be scary but I've always seen them flying around in the evenings and so I started looking into it. With very little skill you can build a bat house that will keep the bats close by and let them eat to their hearts content. I learned that an average bat eats its weight in insects every day!!

I've put my house up and so far haven't seen any new residents but I also haven't seen them flying around yet. I'm really hoping this will do the job.

Chris

[treehugger]

I live on the edge of a huge saltwater marsh so I can sympathize with the mosquito problem. The neighbor keeps his grass very high in the back so it stays wet all the time which doesn't help the issue. We've planted tons of marigolds around the yard which has helped some as marigolds are a natural mosquito repellent. I never thought of bats but now that you mention it, I haven't seen a bat in this area since moving here 5 years ago. I don't think we're part of their natural habitat. I never thought of encouraging bats to take up residence but it's something I may look into.

[mollyL]

A truly great idea! My husband and I love bats. We used to live in a neighborhood of older houses and barns where the bats stayed. There was a street light down a bit from our porch and we could watch the bat's aeronautic maneuvers. They nailed so many of the flying pests that we could sit out all night without a bite. They certainly deserve a little house in our yard!!

[Kitten]

That's a wonderful idea. We usually tried to minimize drainage issues to avoid the massive amount of mosquitos in the first place, but having bats would be a great solution for after the fact. Good luck!

[Chris]

I have several different bat house plans and you need to follow the directions carefully if you want the little winged mammals to take up residence. You'd be surprised how small they and how many bats will fit in them. You need to put the house about 16 feet up and I'm going to use a pole out behind my shed. You can also put a pie plate or something similar beneath it to catch the guano which makes excellent fertilizer.

Chris

[tater03]

We have the exact same problem in our backyard with water not draining very well. I have noticed the mosquito's also. I never thought of bats. I wonder though if they would dive at you if you are out back in the evening?

[mollyL]

An hour or two away from where we live, there is a Raptor rehab place that is open to people to visit and we usually make it there every year or so. Last time we visited, there was a lady who loved bats that had gotten into a conversation with a couple of us and she knew alot out of bats. About the time we made to leave the lady smiled and said, "Would you like to see a baby bat?" We said we would. The lady pulled down her scoop neck shirt and went for her bras trap. Before we could turn around and walk away, we saw a little brown head and it was indeed a baby bat that she had tucked away. She said he needed to be warm and that was the warmest place she had. It was just the cutest little thing! She asked us if we wanted to pet it, but we demurred and took our leave. OK, she was bonkers for sure, but she was taking good care of the baby bat!

[solarwind]

Many nature lovers and environmentalists have been accused of being bonkers. Trust me, I have known quite a few and seen some do and say some real wacky things.

[Chris]

You don't need to worry about a bat coming close to you unless it is after an insect. Where I am they stay pretty high up (20 feet or more) and are lots of fun to watch. Last year I saw one take out a cicada and it was great. He was flying and when the insect took to the air he changed coarse and caught it in his mouth!

Chris

[Green-Moo]

We have a streetlamp immediately outside our home which attracts night flying insects and therefore bats too. We can hear them whizzing through the air, but rarely see them. Never ever have I been divebombed. I think you'd have to have insects on your head to make them do that!