Submitted by Alan Billingsley/ Clover Park Rotary.
Clover Park Rotary and students from Pierce College partnered this week to construct Bat houses to be placed in our South Sound Wildlife area. As part of the continuing effort to enhance the endless educational opportunities we have here in Lakewood at our very own wildlife area, community groups have partnered together to help this area become a landmark example of preservation and education.
Bats are highly beneficial to people, and the advantages of having them around far outweigh any problems you might have with them. As predators of night-flying insects (including mosquitoes!), bats play a role in preserving the natural balance of your property or neighborhood.
Some bat species prefer man-made structures to their natural roosts, whereas others are forced to roost in buildings when natural roosts, such as caves and hollow trees, are destroyed. Two bat species that frequently use bat houses are the little brown bat and the big brown bat. A well-designed, well-constructed, and properly located bat house may attract these and other bats if they live in or pass through your general area.
Bats will return to our area the first part of summer, when the bugs come out so watch for them in the early evening doing their thing to keep insects in check.
Bats are also highly dangerous. They carry the toxic Rabies virus. Raccoons and bats are notorious for being carriers of rabies, so be aware. Do not handle either, and if you get bit, please seek medical aid immediately.
The good news is that bats prefer to avoid humans. If a bat is seen flying near someone it’s most likely because insects are present due to the heat radiating from the human body. Where rabies are concerned, not every bat is a carrier. Less than one bat in 20,000 is known to have rabies. With few bats as carriers and all bats preferring to keep their distance from humans, there is no reason to worry about contracting rabies. However, it’s also not recommended that you pick up a bat with your bare hands if you happen to come across one.
Between 1960 and 2018 (58 years) only 62 Rabies infections have been attributed to bats in the entire US.