Bats. Good or Bad?

Okay, the question isn't necessarily whether bats are good or bad. They can be both. It depends on the context of the question. In our case, we'll be discussing whether it's okay to have bats in your house or not.

At the risk of you not reading this entire article, I'll say this. Generally, bats are not good for your house. However, bats provide many benefits to the environment.

Benefits of Bats

1. Bats are great pollinators. It is said that bats can pollinate over 500 plant species.

2. Bats are great seed spreaders. Much like birds, bats play an important roll in diversifying the ecological landscape.

3. Bats are great for pest control. Bats tend to eat crop destroying organisms such as moths, beetles, and even mosquitoes. It is said that bats can save the agricultural industry up to $3 billion annually and $1 billion annually in the corn industry alone.

For more information on why bats are an important part of our society, visit US Fish and Wildlife.

So what makes bats bad for your home? There are a number of reasons, but here are the main few.

Bat Guano

Bat guano (in other words bat poop) is probably the biggest reason bats can be dangerous for your home. When undisturbed and out of reach, bat guano isn't inherently bad for humans. Only when the guano dries and becomes a powdery substance that can be inhaled does it become a danger for us. Fun fact: the same goes for asbestos. Both do not cause harm to humans unless inhaled.

Bat guano is known to carry microscopic fungus spores called Histoplasma Capsulatum, which causes the respiratory disease Histoplasmosis. According to the American Lung Association, "Histoplasmosis causes mild flu-like symptoms between 3 and 17 days after exposure. These symptoms can include fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, cough, and chest discomfort. In these milder forms, these symptoms go away on their own within a few weeks or within a month." For more information on the severity of histoplasmosis, check out the American Lung Association.

Bats Can Carry Rabies

Most of us are familiar with rabies, but for those who aren't. Rabies can be carried by many animals and transmitted to humans. Bats are no exception. Rabies is extremely dangerous and can even be fatal for human beings. It is said that only about 5% of bats that are tested actually carry the rabies virus. However, bats will tend to bite if handled incorrectly by a non-professional. If bitten by a bat, seek medical assistance immediately and vacate the premises.

Conclusion

So in conclusion, bats are bad for our homes. If a bat is found within your home, contact professionals who are able to humanely remove the animal without harm to it or themselves. Inquire about cleanup measures that should be taken to mediate the risk of exposure to any dried bat guano. Most importantly, when buying a home, make sure your home inspector is educated on the health and safety risks of bat exposure. If they aren't, hire a different inspector.

For more information on health and safety factors associated with bats, visit the Illinois Department of Public Health.