How Do-It-Yourself Bat Removal Can Lead to a 50 Thousand Dollar Fine

Posted on July 12, 2022 by virginia

If you have a nuisance bat problem in or around your house, be wise and hire a professional for licensed bat removal service. If you attempt to get rid of bats on your own, you may be unknowingly subjecting yourself to some very serious consequences. Fifty thousand of them to be exact. Not only can tampering with the wrong species of bat land you in the civil hotseat, but it might also force you to pay a fine higher than your annual income.

Continue reading to learn how DIY bat removal can lead to a $50,000 fine, plus what you should do instead if you have bats on your property.

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Federal Laws Regarding Endangered and Threatened Bats

In general, it is illegal to capture a bat and let it go in the wild somewhere else. It is also illegal to poison any animal on residential property other than rats and mice. Aside from these two important critter laws, there are additional legal matters regarding threatened and engendered species, which are both Federally-protected. Here in Virginia, we are home to 15 species of bat, but three are listed as threatened or endangered: the Gray bat, Indiana bat, and Virginia Big-Eared bat.

Most bats in Virginia look alike, so being able to identify and distinguish one species from the next is not something the average homeowner can do. If you were to unknowingly touch, harm, trap, capture, or kill one of these three species of endangered or threatened bat species, you could face a lot of legal trouble: namely, fines.

Fines for Tampering With an Endangered or Threatened Bat

The Endangered Species Act sets forth specific regulations and limitations that protect endangered or threatened animals. It strictly prohibits anyone from attempting to “harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, collect, or attempt to engage in any such conduct” with any endangered or threatened species of wildlife, including bats. Violating the laws governed by the Endangered Species Act will result in a misdemeanor or felony charge.

Most violations of the Endangered Species Act are charged as Class A Misdemeanors, which come with a mandatory $2,500 fine, plus up to one year in county jail. Felony violations involving a threatened species of bat will result in a fine of $25,000 and possibly up to 6 months in prison. Felony violations involving an endangered bat species will result in a fine of $50,000 and possibly up to 6 months in federal prison.

Virginia State Laws for Bats

There are important state laws surrounding wild bats you should be aware of. According to the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (DGIF), in Virginia, it is illegal to, “transport, release, or relocate a bat anywhere other than the property it was caught on,” as well as, “poison any animal (including bat) other than rats and mice on your property.” Furthermore, it is a federal offense to, “harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or to attempt to engage in any such conduct” any endangered or threatened species.”

If you believe you might be dealing with an endangered or threatened bat species, contact the Virginia game official or wildlife warden in your area. You may also contact a licensed and insured bat removal and control company for qualified assistance.

Are you trying to manage a nuisance bat problem in or around your property? Contact Virginia Bat Pros at 804-729-9097 for licensed and insured bat removal and control you can afford. We serve residential and commercial clients.

What To Do If You Have Bats in the Chimney

Posted on June 24, 2022 by virginia

Bats in Virginia are really small, like “they can squeeze through a gap as slight as 3/8ths of an inch” small. This is exactly how they get inside of Virginian homes and buildings. Even the smallest, most insignificant opening can be a wide open door for a bat looking to make a new roost. Bats are generally found infesting attics and crawl spaces, but it is very common to discover them living inside chimneys too. If you suspect that you have bats in the chimney in your Virginia home or business, it is important that you act fast.

Continue below to learn exactly what you need to do to get rid of bats in the chimney!

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Why You Have Bats in Your Chimney

Why did a colony of bats choose to roost inside your chimney? Well, the flu was open, the space was available, it provides a dark, cozy shelter that protects them from predators, and it is very easy to get in and out of. Basically, your chimney is prime real estate for bats. Even if your chimney is equipped with a cap or the flu is closed, bats can still find a way in, especially if the cap is damaged or warped, or the flu is cracked just slightly.

Never Light a Fire!

Before delving into the process of getting rid of bats in a chimney, there is something you need to understand. It is critical that you DO NOT START A FIRE IN YOUR FIREPLACE to smoke bats out of the chimney. Not only is this incredibly inhumane, being as though local bat populations are extremely beneficial for our environment and economy, but it is also against the law to harm wildlife, especially bats, which are a protected species. Several common bat species in Virginia are listed as Federally-endangered or threatened, so you could face serious consequences if you were to kill or harm such a bat.

How to Get Rid of Bats in a Chimney

So, what can you do to get rid of bats in the chimney? There are a few options, all of which are perfectly affordable for all income levels. The first and most effective approach to get rid of bats in a chimney is to hire a professional Virginia bat removal company to set up devices and strategies that will divert the bats out of the chimney space and not let them return.

Bat valves and cones are great animal-proofing tools for bats in the chimney, attic, roof system, wall voids, and more. Screen covers for vents are also effective. However, you must have them installed by a certified professional who is licensed and permitted to perform bat abatement work. It is not recommended to install bat control devices like these on your own.

Following bat removal and exclusion, your wildlife control specialist will certainly recommend a chimney cap. Just be sure to choose a model that is compatible with your chimney and good quality. Chimney caps require annual inspection to ensure they have not corroded or warped due to inclement weather, extreme temperatures, and wildlife tampering. By ensuring your chimney cap is in good condition, you can better prevent future bat intrusions.

Are you asking yourself, “how can I get rid of bats in my chimney?” If so, you are in the right place! Contact Virginia Bat Pros at 804-729-9097 for TWRA licensed bat removal and bat-proofing service in Richmond, VA, and its surrounding towns. Our bat abatement specialists serve residential and commercial properties all throughout the state.

Why You Need a Professional to Get Rid of Bats

Posted on June 16, 2022 by virginia

Nuisance bats can cause quite a disturbance. Not only are they capable of producing a massive amount of damage and destruction to homes and buildings, but they can also pose several health and safety risks to both people and pets. There are hundreds of reasons why bat extraction is reserved for trained professionals only, but the top three reasons involve risk, damage, and the law.

Continue reading to learn more about these top three reasons why bat removal is not something you can do yourself, and where to start when you need to get rid of bats.

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Licensing

The primary reason why it is important to hire a professional to provide wildlife extraction and abatement services has to do with the law. Most states make it illegal to possess, injure or kill a bat. Furthermore, bat habitats are also protected under Federal and State laws. A person must retain specialized state permits and licenses to work with wildlife, including trapping, transferring, and relocating.

It is important to choose certified professionals who adhere to all industry-accepted standards and best practices, as well as operate within all local, state, and federal laws that govern wildlife. They are trained to avoid non-target animals, and never use poisons, repellents, fatal devices, nor environmentally-damaging or toxic products.

Safety and Health

Bats are known carriers of several infectious diseases, viruses, and parasites. All of these contagions are transmissible to both humans and pets and can pose several safety risks. Professional bat abatement specialists retain the proper training, equipment, and resources to work with nuisance bats without harming themselves, the bat, nor your property. They can also identify signs of residual hazardous left over by bats, and suggest or implement solutions for decontamination, which brings us to the 3rd reasons why you should always trust a professional for bat removal.

Cleanup and Restoration

Bat infestations are not easy to clean up after. Not only can leave behind a large amount of structural damage, but they also create an unsanitary mess with their droppings. In fact, bat guano is known to produce mold spores that can cause a harmful respiratory illness in humans. Mold spores become airborne and get inhaled by occupants of the home or building, thus leading to respiratory complications, possibly an illness known as Histoplasmosis.

Dogs and cats are also susceptible. Bat damages render a property structurally unsafe and highly unhygienic, which is why they require professional intervention to replace and repair insulation, floorboards, roofing, shingles, siding, electrical wiring, and more. A licensed Virginia bat removal company generally offers cleanup and restoration service, and might even be able to provide homeowners’ insurance claim work.

Go With a Pro to Get Rid of Bats

For these reasons and more, it is vital to get rid of bats as soon as you are aware they are a problem, and even more important to entrust the job to a licensed professional. Choose a bat removal company in Virginia that has the credentials to prove they are dependable and skilled. Look for licenses, experience, and past work.

Do you think you have a nuisance bat problem in or around your house? Contact Virginia Bat Pros at 804-729-9097 for comprehensive bat removal and control services in Richmond and all surrounding Virginia areas, including Fairfax County, Norfolk, and Manassas. We serve residential and commercial clients.

How to Animal Proof Your Home Against Bats

Posted on June 7, 2022 by virginia

Bats are terrible house guests. You do not want them anywhere near your residence, or even your property for that matter. So, if you live near wooded areas or bodies of water, or have actually seen bats flying around at dusk, you would be wise to animal-proof your home against bat intrusions and subsequent damages.

Continue below to learn the bat abatement facts that will get you started on protecting your home from nuisance bats.

Bats are Highly Destructive

Why are bats terrible house guests? In a few words, they are highly destructive creatures. When bats take up shelter inside your wall crevices, vents, attics, crawl spaces, gutters, or wall voids, you can guarantee one thing: they are going to damage the surrounding structures. Not only do bats chew through electrical wiring and tear down insulation, but they also soil and infect everything with excrement and parasitic organisms (i.e. lice, mites, fleas, ticks, etc.).

Aside from the bio-hazards they leave behind, bats are also structurally-damaging. Bat urine and droppings, also called guano, will accumulate in masses, and eventually seep through ceilings, drywall, floorboards, insulation, and more. This also generates a lingering odor in the living quarters of the home. They are also known to damage electrical wiring and built-in mechanical systems. Bats in the attic are common perpetrators of such damage.

Additional Risks of Having Bats in the House

Bats are also common carriers of several zooonic diseases and infections. These illnesses can be transmitted to both people and pets. Although not all bats have rabies, they are known as common carriers of the virus. As a deadly disease, it is important to stay on top of your pet’s Rabies vaccination every year. Aside from disease, bats can also pass on parasitic infections, like bat mites, fleas, and ticks.

Bat Prevention

Now to bat-proofing your home. There are several methods of bat control, which is a system of strategies that prevent bat intrusions and infestations. Such strategies might include using ultrasonic sonar devices, attic vent screens, chimney caps, draft guards, window screens, bat valves, structural sealing, which involves sealing up exterior holes and gaps that bats can use to gain access inside your house. It is strongly encouraged to consult with a licensed and insured bat removal and control company in Virginia for professional bat abatement and exclusion services.

Bat Infestation Season is Upon Us

The best time of year to ensure your house is animal-proofed and protected against nuisance bats is between April and August. This is when bats are birthing their young, which means they are fervently seeking shelter, especially in attics. Act now to prevent bat intrusions and infestations this summer.

Do you suspect that bats are living somewhere in or around your house or business? Contact Virginia Bat Pros at 804-729-9097 for affordable and prompt bat removal services in Virginia, including Richmond and all surrounding areas. We serve residential and commercial clients.

Can I Exterminate Bats in Virginia?

Posted on May 31, 2022 by virginia

It is natural to instinctively want to kill any rodent-like pest in your house, but when it comes to bats, you better think twice. Whether you find a lone bat in the house, multiple bats in the attic, or bats around the property, it is wise that you approach the situation lawfully, and humanely. Continue reading to learn why.

Licensed Bat Removal Richmond VA — It is illegal to harm, trap or kill bats in Virginia!

Virginia is Home to 3 Endangered Bat Species

There are many species of bats native to Virginia and its surrounding areas. Three of them are listed as federally-endangered or threatened, and therefore, federally-protected by law. Federally endangered bats in Virginia include the Indiana bat, Gray bat, and Virginia Big-Eared bat, which is our beloved state bat.

So, this means that it could be against the law to trap, harm, or kill a bat in your house. Decreed by the Endangered Species Act, the law says it is a federal offense to, “harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or to attempt to engage in any such conduct” any species of wildlife that is listed as endangered or threatened.

The same goes for trapping and relocated a bat on the endangered or threatened species list. Here is what Virginia law says in those regards:

“It is illegal to transport, release, or relocate a bat anywhere other than the property it was caught on (4VAC15-30-50) and poison any animal (including a bat) other than rats and mice on your property (4VAC15-40-50).”
Virginia Administrative Code

So, as you can see, if the bat in your house or the bats in your attic are a particular species on the endangered or threatened species list, you could face both civil and criminal penalties. Even if they are not endangered or threatened, you should never attempt to remove bats yourself. Not only might it be illegal to do so, but you might feel really bad afterwards, whether they are threatened or not. You see, bats are ecologically-important.

Not only do they serve a vital purpose in our local ecosystems and environments, but they also contribute significantly to our local economies. Although they can become nuisances quite quickly in residential and metro areas, bats are vital parts of nature and must be protected at all costs, whether endangered or not. But this does not mean you have to live with bats. There is a perfectly legal and humane approach you can take to get rid of bats.

Professional Bat Removal and Bat-Proofing

The best approach to get rid of bats within the constraints of the law is to hire a licensed and insured bat removal and control company. Not only can they humanely extract bats using state-of-the-art equipment and technologies, but they have the proper resources and permits to relocate bats to a safe and far away habitat where they can live out the remaining years of their life.

A bat exclusion specialist can also help you animal-proof your property against future bat tampering and intrusions. Their strategies for bat control might include environment modifications, bat valve installations, sonar jamming devices, attic vent screens, exterior sealing, and more.

Not sure which critter control company to trust in the Richmond areas with your bat removal and animal-proofing needs? Contact Virginia Bat Pros at 804-729-9097 for prompt and professional bat removal and control you can afford. We serve residential and commercial clients.

4 Questions You Want to Ask Yourself About Bats in the House

Posted on May 20, 2022 by virginia

When a homeowner begins to suspect that there are bats in the house, a starting off point can sometimes be hard to find. Feelings of panic and dread can often cloud the path to resolution. If this sounds like you, continue below to learn the 4 questions you should be asking yourself about bats in the house to get you started off on the right track toward a bat-free home.

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Got a Possible Bat Infestation? Ask Yourself These Questions:

Where are the Bats?

Bats like to hide in all sorts of spots within a dwelling, mostly the attic, but also in wall voids, garages, basements, and crawl spaces. You might even come across bats in the chimney or outside in your kid’s tree house! Bats want darkness and privacy, so focus your search on areas that mimic a cave or crevice-like environment. If you find bats, never attempt to intervene. Turn around, walk away, and contact a licensed Virginia bat removal contractor.

How Many Bats are in the House?

Once you locate bats in your house, you want to ask yourself just how many there are. Bats are not solitary critters, so where there’s one there’s usually a lot more. Bat colonies can range anywhere from a few dozen bats to several hundred or more. Bat colonies can get as large as hundreds of thousands or even millions of bats. Of course, you won’t find this many bats in your house! The average bat colony found in residential and commercial dwellings range between a handful to a few dozen. In worst case scenarios, there could be 100 or more bats. This usually happens in cases of long-term bat infestations, especially in abandoned or vacant buildings.

Have Bats Caused Any Property Damages?

Bat infestations are destructive in all scopes. Not only do they cause a wide range of structural damages to floorboards, ceilings, walls, insulation, and electrical wiring, but they also saturate their surroundings with massive accumulations of urine and guano. These droppings can seep through drywall and show as stains on walls and ceilings. They can also cause lingering odors in the home. Look for these signs to verify a bat infestation in your home.

What Should I Do Next?

The only solution to getting rid of bats in your house safely is to hire a licensed Virginia bat removal company. They have the proper licensing, insurance, training, and resources to safely extract bats and clean up after them. More established and reputable companies can also offer minor restorations such as attic insulation replacement.

Do you think you might have bats in the house or around your home? Contact Virginia Bat Pros at 804-729-9097 for prompt and professional bat removal and control you can afford. We serve residential and commercial clients.

The 4 Federally Endangered Bats in Virginia

Posted on April 28, 2022 by virginia

There are several species of bat that are common to the Virginia state, from Little Brown bats and Big Brown bats to Northern Long-Eared bats, Hoary bats, Townsend’s Big-Eared bats, Eastern Red bats, Eastern Small-footed bats, Seminole bats, American Long-Eared bats, and many more. Of the 15 total bat species in Virginia, sadly, 4 are listed as Federally-protected or threatened.

Continue reading to learn more about the endangered bats of Virginia, and reasons why their species are in decline.

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Endangered Bat Species in Virginia

Virginia Big-Eared Bat (Corynorhinus townsendii virginianus)

The Virginia big-eared bat was officially made our state bat 14 years ago. They range consists of eastern Kentucky, eastern West Virginia, southwestern Virginia, and northwestern North Carolina. As for their conservation status, the Virginia big-eared bat was categorized as an endangered species by the US Fish and Wildlife Service in 1979. This makes it strictly-protected under state and federal law. In better news, a recent report provided by a Loab’s ‘Conservation and Management of Eastern Big-Eared Bats’ study estimated that a 77% increase in their populations took place between 1983 and 2009.

Gray Bat (Myotis grisescens)

The Gray bat was categorized as both federally and state-endangered by the US Fish and Wildlife Service in 1976. When initially placed on the endangered species list, there were an estimated 2 million Gray bats. Happily, through continuous and successful conservation efforts, they are now estimated to be around 2.3 million and counting.

Rafinesque’s Big-Eared Bat (Corynorhinus rafinesquii)

Rafinesque’s Big-Eared bats look so similar to our state bat, that they are often confused for one another! Sadly, Rafinesque’s Big-Eared bats are a state endangered bat and currently on the conservation list. The loss and degradation of their natural habitats is a top cause of the declining Rafinesque’s Big-Eared bat population.

Indiana Bat (Myotis solidalis)

The Indiana bat is a federally-protected, endangered species of bat. Sadly, there are less than 300,000 Indiana bats remaining in the United States today. During summer months, they roost in tree cavities and underneath dark bridges; but when winter arrives, Indiana bats start looking for warmer shelter, such as limestone caves, abandoned buildings, mines, and more.

Are you having problems with bats in the attic or chimney? Contact Virginia Bat Pros at 804-729-9097 for prompt and professional bat removal and control services at the right price. We serve all of Virginia, including Roanoke, Midlothian, Fredericksburg, Glen Allen, and more.

Do Bats Use Sounds to See?

Posted on April 8, 2022 by virginia

There are many species around the world that use sound reverberation to better navigate their surroundings, including toothed and baleen whales like dolphins, porpoises, killer whales, sperm whales, gray whales, and rorquals. Even certain species of bird are hypothesized to use a type of sound navigation system. The ability to both emit ultrasonic sound waves and use the sound reverberations to map the environment is a biological, built-in system known as biosonar, which is also referred to as echolocation. Like the species of echolocating animals, microbats also use sounds to see.

Continue reading to learn more about echolocation in bats, including how bio-sonar works and why bats use it.

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Microbats Have Echolocation Abilities

As discussed in many blogs prior, there are two primary species of bats: microbats (Megachiroptera) and megabats (Megachiroptera). Megabats are also known as fruit bats or old world fruit bats because they mainly eat the juices and nectar of fruits and flowers. Megabats do not retain echolocating abilities. However, some recent studies show that some might, like the Egyptian fruit bat. Because megabats do not prey on living organisms, they do not need to rely on flying accuracy and agility, so it makes sense that they would not have echolocating abilities.

Microbats, on the other hand, are insectivores and can eat their body weight in flying insects each night. All microbat species use echolocation, such as Big Brown Bats, Little Brown Bats, Lesser Long Nosed bats, and even our beloved state bat, the Virginia Big-Eared bat. But why? Well, it’s not because they are blind or have poor vision.

Bats are Not Blind

Many people correlate bats and blindness, and assume it is the reason they have echolocation capabilities. But the truth is, bats can see very well. They use their echolocation to improve the precision and speed of their hunting abilities. Echolocation allows bats to better dive and dart more accurately for mosquitoes, gnats, flies, moths, and all the other flying insects they consume each night. Microbats are nocturnal, so they are usually out hunting during dawn and dusk when lighting is very low or gone entirely.

How Echolocation Works

Echolocation is the process of emitting ultrasonic sound waves that are discharged into the surrounding area. These sounds reverberate and bounce back toward the bat, which in turn provides a more descriptive mapping of its surroundings. We can measure how bats use their echolocation because they emit a clicking noise when echolocating. Amazingly, bats compare the outbound pulsations with the returning echoes to generate a detailed mental image of their surroundings.

Are experiencing heightened bat activity around your property, thus causing you concern about structural damage and possible infestation? Contact Virginia Bat Pros at 804-729-9097 for comprehensive bat removal and control services in Richmond and all surrounding Virginia counties. We serve commercial and residential clients.

What You Need to Know About Bats if You Have Some Around Your Property

Posted on March 17, 2022 by virginia

Bats are an incredible species of mammal, and we are lucky to have them as a part of our surrounding Eco-system. Their high metabolic needs and diverse diets significantly impact our ecological communities by playing a vital role in pollination, seed dispersion, crop fertilization, insect control, protozoan hosting, ecotourism industries, and more. But where there are advantages, there are also disadvantages. If you have spotted bats around your property on a nightly basis, it is essential to better understand their behaviors so that you can better protect your home or business from bat damages and associated risks.

Continue reading to learn what you need to know about bats if you have them around your property.

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Nuisance Bats

Bats are common nuisances for home and business owners. They are attracted to dark, warm shelters to raise their young and hibernate through winter, including attics, crawl spaces, garages, sheds, roofs, and walls. They can enter through a crevice as tiny as 3/8^th inch, so it is easy for them to get inside a vulnerable structure. You can tell if you have bats in the house or around your property by looking for the signs. This includes hearing strange noises in the walls or attic at night, spotting animal droppings around windows or doors, smelling foul odors from attic or crawl space areas, and more.

Bat Damages

Bats can cause a long list of structural damages to a home, and the accumulation of their droppings can create an unsanitary, biohazardous environment. Furthermore, they pose a wide range of health risks since their guano can cause respiratory illnesses, and they may carry diseases and parasites like rabies, lice, mites, and more. Fortunately, several professional wildlife control companies offer restoration and decontamination services for damages caused by bats. They will remove the bats from the space using safe and humane methods, clean up the mess they made, sanitize the entire area, and restore any structural damages they caused from their stay.

Bats and Rabies

Many people wrongly assume that all bats have rabies. The truth is that bats are common carriers of the rabies virus, but that does not mean all bats are carriers, nor does it mean that carriers are infected. If a bat is rabid, you will be able to tell by a blood test, which can only be done correctly by a state’s Department of Health. A rabid bat is not likely to be a threat since they generally seek out isolation to die. In fact, bats that are not sick are not likely to attack either. They are more afraid of us than we are of them. It is very rare for one to bite or attack unless provoked. This is why regular vaccinations are so vital for pets.

Bat Removal and Control

To properly eliminate a bat problem, bats must first be removed, and then specific precautions must be taken to ensure they cannot reenter your home or building. There are many things you can do yourself to reduce the level of wildlife activity around your property, such as removing all food and water sources, including bird baths, squirrel feeders, pet food, gardens, and more. You can also install automatic motion lighting or ultrasonic sound machines, as well as, spread predatory urine or other non-toxic repellents around your yard. Just use water, ground hot pepper, and menthol oil to make a homemade b a t repellent.

Are you dealing with a nuisance bat problem in or around your property? Contact Virginia Bat Pros at 804-729-9097 for prompt and professional bat removal and control you can afford. We serve residential and commercial clients.

3 Big-Eared Bat Species Found in Virginia

Posted on March 10, 2022 by virginia

Although it can be argued that all bats have big ears relative to their body size, there are a few bat species that really set the bar high. Here in Virginia, three big-eared bat species in particular are native to the region, and with great luck, spotted out in nature from time to time. What are these bats? Why are they special? Great questions!

Continue reading to learn some interesting and important facts about the Northern Long-Eared Bat, Rafinesque’s Big-Eared Bat, and our state bat, the Virginia Big-Eared bat!

Big Ears No Tears

The bigger the ears the better; right? For Microchiroptera bats across the world, it is! Microbat species have an enlarged tragus in their ears that help them focus sound (some bats have this growth on their nose, like the Leaf-Nose bat). They have excellent hearing, as they are able to hear vocalizations of other bats from far away and at extremely high frequencies, between 14,000 and 100,000 hertz. Humans have a general hearing range of 20,000 hertz, just for reference.

So, all in all, bats are not apologetic for their big, old ears! They need them to communicate with other bats, hunt for prey, and much more! The most famous bats with large ears are the Northern Long-Eared Bat, Rafinesque’s Big-Eared Bat, and Virginia Big-Eared bat. Below you will find the most interesting facts about each species, including their scientific name and classification, diet, habitat, range, and endangerment status.

🦇 Northern Long-Eared Bat

The Northern Long-Eared bat is scientifically called Myotis septentrionalis.

As a microbat species, the Northern Long-Eared bat maintains an insectivorous diet consisting mostly of moths, flies, caddisflies, beetles, and even spiders. Unlike many other microbats, rather than preying on their meals mid-flight, the Northern Long-Eared bat uses a unique hunting method known as gleaning. Basically, they stick close to the tree lines and snatch up their prey directly from twigs, branches, and leaves.

You can usually find colonies of Northern Long-Eared bats in most regions of Virginia. Here in the state, they have taken liking to dams and mines for shelter. They also roost in caves and rocky crevices. They are not solitary, and often roost with other bat species, like Indiana bats and Little Brown bats.

Northern Long-Eared bats look much like Little Brown bats, in fact. But they have long ears that look like a rabbit that measure an average of a half an inch to 0.7 inches in length. They weigh an average of 3 ounces, which is similar to other regional bat species.

Northern Long-Eared bats are not endangered, but they are unfortunately a species that has been affected by White-Nose Syndrome. This fungal disease is one of the biggest and most impactful threats to this species.

🦇 Rafinesque’s Big-Eared Bat

The Rafinesque’s Big-Eared bat is scientifically referred to as Corynorhinus rafinesquii.

The Rafinesque’s Big-Eared bat is a microbat species found mostly in the bottomland hardwoods and swamps in the Coastal Plain regions of Virginia. They are typically found roosting in hollow trees or in caves but will also take up shelter in rock crevices and old buildings. Rafinesque’s Big-Eared bat colonies in the appellation Mountains prefer roosting in caves, but it really just depends on the geographic location of the colony.

When it comes to diet, Rafinesque’s Big-Eared bats our insectivores like most other microbats. Their preferred meal is moths, but they also like to eat beetles and other flying insects.

The Rafinesque’s Big-Eared bat has bigger ears than the Northern Long-Eared bat, coming in at 1.25 inches in length. They also have long, soft, bi-colored fur, making them quite the stunning bat. In fact, they look so similar to our state bat, that they are often confused for one another.

Unfortunately, Rafinesque’s Big-Eared bats are a state endangered bat and currently on the conservation list. The loss and degradation of their natural habitats is a top cause of the declining Rafinesque’s Big-Eared bat population.

🦇 Virginia Big-Eared Bat

The Virginia Big-Eared bat is scientifically named Corynorhinus townsendii virginianus.

As our beloved state bat, the Virginia Big-Eared bat is an important bat species. They are not native to the entirety of the state, but rather in short ranges within West Virginia. They do not commonly travel outside of 20 mile radius from their roosts, although some have been found to travel 40 miles outside of their primary colony location when traveling between winter and summer roosts.

Virginia Big-Eared bats mostly roost in caves or along bodies of water in large rock crevices. It really just depends on the level of access and the season.

The Virginia Big-Eared bat has a very similar insectivorous diet to their pseudo-twin, the Rafinesque’s Big-Eared bat, eating mostly moths. Virginia Big-Eared bats will also eat other insects, like flies, beetles, grasshoppers, and even wasps.

As for their ears, they maintain their status as the pseudo-twin to the Rafinesque’s Big-Eared bat, with their large ears measuring in at 1.25 inches just the same.

Unfortunately, not only is the Virginia Big-Eared bat state-endangered, but they are also federally endangered. One of the top threats to the decline of their populations is

Well, there you have it; the top bat species in Virginia with big, long ears! Do your part to support bat conservation efforts by sealing your home properly against bat intrusions, plus protecting local bat populations by vaccinating your pets and even setting up some bat houses on your property!

Never, under any circumstances, attempt to touch, trap, catch, harm, or kill a bat. If you have a bat in the house, in the yard, or bats in the attic, contact a local and trusted wildlife critter control company for emergency bat removal services. They have the proper licensing, permits, training, and resources to remove bats and control their activity in and around your property.

Looking for a bat removal company in the Virginia areas? Contact Virginia Bat Pros at 804-729-9097 for safe and humane critter control for bats in Richmond and all surrounding counties and locations. We serve both residential and commercial clients.