Page 10 - North Haven Magazine Issue 10 Autumn 2019

North Haven’s Own
‘Bat Man’

by Sally Brockett

Do you know that the little brown bat is one of the best natural controls for annoying and troublesome insects? Do you know
that over 6 MILLION bats have succumbed to the devastation of White Nose Syndrome? In the course of one year, these 6
MILLION bats would have eaten between 3000-7000 tons of insects. The little brown bat was once the most prominent species
in Connecticut, but is now on the CT/DEEP list of endangered mammals, along with 4 other species of bats.

cott Ward, (North Haven’s own “Bat Man”) became a wildlife house, or other crevices, to go on patrol for insects. They are the
Srehabilitator in 2014 while working as a volunteer with birds of only mammals naturally capable of true and sustained flight, and
prey at Blue Moon Raptors. In 2015, after passing a NWCO (nui- they are more maneuverable than birds. Their echolocation system
sance wildlife control operator) exam, he started AMR Wildlife In- enables them to locate a tiny insect flying in total darkness. If they
terventions and soon became interested in bats and the importance are this skillful in flight, how could anyone think they would run
of healthy bat populations. The bats have been in drastic decline into a person? When people are outdoors at night, insects are at-
since 2006 due to White-Nose Syndrome in North America. The tracted to us by heat and smell. Bats may sometimes appear to be
disease has killed at least 7 million bats across the U.S. and Canada, swooping towards us, but they are simply zoning in on the insects
making it the most rapid die-off event in recorded times. we attract.

Scott enjoys educating the public about bats and what can be done
to help them recover from the recent decline. Many people have a
negative response to bats, associating them with rabies, and spooky
images of Halloween. Bats (about 1/2 of a percent) become ill with
rabies, however bats face a much greater threat due to wind tur-
bines and white-nose syndrome, than the threat of dying due to
rabies.

Roosting places
Roosting places
Roosting places, such as caves, old mines and other shelters used
by crevice bats, are becoming scarce. But it is important for bats to
have a safe roost where they can sleep during the day, and hiber-
nate through the winter months. Many homeowners are beginning
to see the value in providing a proper bat house on their property.
White-nose syndrome The bats will serve as a natural insect control, reducing or eliminat-
White-nose syndrome
ing the need for the home owner to use pesticides.
White-nose syndrome is the result of a fungus that invades and
infects the skin of hibernating bats, including their wings. It causes The Daytime Gardeners of North Haven have invited Scott Ward
bats to wake up more frequently during the winter, using up their to present information and a workshop about bats. With Scott’s
limited fat reserves very rapidly. The fungus appears as a fuzzy recommendations for design, Walt Brockett will prepare bat house
white growth around the nose and on the wings of the bat. It is kits that attendees can assemble at the workshop and take home
transmitted to other bats by contact with infected bats and the cave to install on their property. If you would like to learn more about
surfaces. Humans can carry the fungus to new locations on their bats and how to safely enjoy their service as an insect controller,
shoes, clothing, and gear, after visiting an infected cave. However, contact the Daytime Gardeners at 203-239-1557 to register for the
the fungus is not transmitted from bats to people. workshop. It is illegal to capture bats, or kill them, so if you have a
problem with bats in your property structures, contact Scott Ward
Bats are not blind, and they are not rodents. They are more closely at 203-525-1289, or email to [email protected].
related to primates than to any birds. They are meticulous about
keeping their fur clean and groomed. Bats are usually seen at dusk
when they leave their roost, which may be a cave, chimney, bat

10 North Haven Magazine - Autumn 2019