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IPM for Bats

IPM for Bats. Janet Hurley Texas Cooperative Extension. What we will cover. Bat Collection Exclusion Elimination Management of bats around institutional settings. What is IPM.

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IPM for Bats

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  1. IPM for Bats Janet Hurley Texas Cooperative Extension

  2. What we will cover • Bat Collection • Exclusion • Elimination • Management of bats around institutional settings

  3. What is IPM • Integrated Pest Management is a process for achieving long term, environmentally sound pest suppression through the use of a wide variety of technological and management practices.

  4. IPM is a process

  5. The IPM pyramid Pesticides Biological controls Physical / Mechanical controls Cultural / Sanitation Practices

  6. Bat Collection • Should be done by trained person • Remove students/staff/others • Use small box place over bat • Use stiff cardboard/mailing envelop under box • Scoop bat into box, then either release or transport for testing

  7. So what do you do when it’s on the ground?

  8. Developing a control plan • Detecting bats • Only permanent way to prevent bats from roosting is to physically exclude them. • Inspection • Should be done in the early AM and Evening • Look for loose flashing, vents, cracks around buildings • Bats only need 1/8 inch opening – size of a dime • Evidence – look for droppings or report of sounds

  9. Bat Entry Points • Attic Vents • Fascia Boards • Soffit Corners • Gutters • Open Gym or Dock doors at night Time to watch dusk and dawn

  10. Encouraging Bats to Leave • Use one-way tubes to allow bats to leave naturally • Seal up entry points bats only use tubes • Make sure no available outlets inside buildings • Cracked ceiling tiles or openings • Avoid bat removal during maternity season • Mid-may to late August

  11. Eviction: Creating One Way Valves • PVC Pipe w/ 2 inch diameter • Cleaned empty caulk tubes with the ends cut off.

  12. Image of Bats Leaving

  13. Eviction for long areas

  14. Excluding Bats from a Chimney: Make chimney cap with hardware cloth and insert PVC pipe or empty caulk tubes.

  15. Bat Eviction is hard work

  16. Bat Proofing Materials • Bat-proofing materials • Caulk – cracks and holes • Expanding foam • Weather-stripping • Hardware cloth • Netting • PPE for removal- guano • Gloves leather or thick cloth like bee removal • Tyvek suit, respirator, face mask, goggles to avoid exposure to rabid bats • Remember respirators require a fit test

  17. Schematic from UCANR Encourage bats to leave Leave in place for at least 1 week

  18. Bat Exclusion • Seal the smallest entry point to exclude future visits • Net over large areas to deter entry 1/6 inch

  19. No area should be ignored

  20. Alternative Control Methods • Repelling – not always works • Light – illuminating the roosting could help drive them out • Air movement – high speed fans can also deter them • Outside roosts • Building bat houses • Tree maintenance

  21. Building an Alternative Habitat

  22. Bat Houses can be very easy and inexpensive to build. There are many poor-quality brands available commercially. To get a list of good brands go to www.batcon.org for bat houses that meet the criteria.

  23. Improve Your Odds • Use houses designed for 100+ bats • Paint appropriate color for your area • Mount on buildings or poles • Mount in area that will receive 6 hours of direct sunlight daily • Mount at least 12 feet off ground • Place 25+ feet from nearest obstacle • Install in groups or back to back • Locate within 1/4 mile of freshwater • Utilize guano for scent (T. Hanks)

  24. Trimming trees • Trim from August to May

  25. An Ounce of Prevention • Tack down flashing • Seal or caulk around wall gutters • Cover/ seal old chimneys or incinerators

  26. What would you do?

  27. Living with Bats • Identify areas of known bat activity • Work with other agencies in your area • Health Dept., Animal Control, Extension, Pest control professionals, • Develop detailed plans for how you will react when a bat visits your area • Chain of Command • What to do when • Training personnel • When to remove/evict bats • Exclusion, exclusion, exclusion

  28. Special Thanks • Beverlee Nix and Paul Grunenwald • Zoonosis Control Program • Texas Department of State Health Services • Barbara French • Conservation Biologist and Science Officer • Bat Conservation International • Laura Finn • Fly By Night – non-profit in Florida • Meg Goodman and Dianna Foss • Bat Biologist/Urban Wildlife Biologist • Texas Parks and Wildlife

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