Bats are a very common animal in Oregon, yet still very misunderstood.  Many people believe that bats are blind, rabid, disease-ridden creatures, but in fact they are extremely beneficial to the preservation of the natural ecosystem in which they live.  All bats in Oregon are beneficial and only eat insects, up to half their own weight per night!  Nationwide, the number of deaths from rabid bats averages less than 1 per year.  Bats use a process called echolocation to find their prey at night, which leads many people to believe they have poor eyesight, but quite the opposite is actually true. 

Oregon is home to nearly twenty different species of bats, but the one we deal with most of the time is the Little Brown Bat.  As the name suggests, this bat is little and brown, and weighs between 3/16 of an ounce to 5/16 of an ounce.  The total length of the Little Brown Bat ranges from 2 3/8 inches to 4 inches, and has a wingspan of 8 3/4 inches to 11 inches.  These bats can roost alone, but are most often found in small groups, or in colonies of more than 1000.

Mating occurs in late fall or over the winter months while hibernating.  The egg however, is not fertilized until the female ovulates in the spring, and the mother will form a colony with other pregnant females by June.  Females give birth to 1 young after a gestation period of 50 to 60 days.  The young bats develop quickly, and are on their own after one month.

Bats are natural dwellers in trees and caves, but occasionally find their way into attics, chimneys, and spaces in walls.  When they do, we help them to find their way out of your home, and make sure they won't be able to find a way back in. 

Common Problems
Bats in the attic
Bats in the chimney
Bats in the wall

Signs of Bats
Thumping and scratching in the attic
Brown stains on ceiling
Small black droppings on side of house

Diseases
Histoplasmosis
Rabies
Mites, ticks, bat bugs