Working the Night Shift

By Ann Asher

Bats have never had the best public relations team.

They come out at dusk, fly in quick, uneven patterns and have spent too many years tied to scary movies, old barns and Halloween decorations. For a lot of people, the first reaction to seeing a bat is ducking, squealing or hurrying back inside.

Out in the real world, especially across Texas, bats do quiet work most of us never see.

While we are closing gates, turning off barn lights, watering the last few plants or heading toward the house for the evening, bats are just getting started. Many of the bats found in Texas feed on insects, including moths, beetles and other night-flying insects. That makes them part of the natural system working across farms, ranches, ponds, creeks, barns and backyards after dark.

For farmers and ranchers, that matters. Insects do more than annoy you in the backyard. They can affect crops, gardens, livestock comfort and the general balance of the outdoors. Bats won’t wipe out every mosquito or pest insect on a place, but they are beneficial wildlife. They feed at night, after many birds and other daytime predators have quit for the day, which gives them their own role in the landscape.

Contrary to a common misconception, bats are not blind. Many bats use echolocation to find insects and move through the night, but they can also see. Another old fear is that bats want to fly into people’s hair. They do not. A bat flying low or close is usually chasing insects or trying to steer away, not looking for trouble.

Bats are still wild animals, though. Respect them, and don’t handle them.

Rabies is the main safety concern people think of with bats, and it is a serious one. Not every bat has rabies, but treat any bat found on the ground, acting strangely, unable to fly or inside a home with caution.

Never pick up a bat with bare hands. If a person or pet may have been bitten or scratched, or if there is any chance of contact while someone was sleeping, contact local health officials or animal control for guidance.

Common sense goes a long way. Keep pets vaccinated. Teach children not to touch wildlife. If a bat gets into a house, don’t panic, but don’t ignore it either. Close off the area if possible, keep people and pets away and contact the appropriate local professionals if there is any concern about exposure.

Around farms and ranches, bats may roost in trees, bridges, barns, old buildings or other sheltered places. Sometimes that is not a problem. Other times, especially if bats are getting into living spaces or busy work areas, you may need to exclude them.

Timing matters. In some cases, sealing an opening at the wrong time can trap young bats inside or create a bigger problem. Wildlife professionals or Extension resources can help property owners find the safest and most responsible way to handle a bat colony in a building.

Some people put up bat houses, which can be a good option when placed correctly. A bat house doesn’t guarantee that bats will move in, however. Location, height, sun exposure, temperature and nearby habitat all matter. Natural roosting areas are important, too, which is why dead trees, wooded edges, water sources and undisturbed spaces can help support bat populations.

Landowners don’t have to turn their place into a bat sanctuary. It can be enough to understand that bats have a job to do. They share the same outdoor world as songbirds, pollinators, frogs, owls, deer and the insects we notice whether we want to or not.

Bats are also a good reminder that something useful isn’t always pretty, popular or easy to appreciate at first glance.

Some of the hardest-working creatures on a farm or ranch are the ones we barely see. Bats don’t ask for attention or show themselves in daylight. They take the night shift.

The next time you see one dipping and turning through the evening sky, try not to think of it as spooky. Think of it as a neighbor clocking in after dark, doing its work while the rest of us head inside.