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Bat decorations adorn houses and trees during Halloween, but ridding real bats from your attic requires some bat-proofing. KSMU's Christy Hendricks reports.
Halloween brings with it many decorations and one consistent mascot, the bat, is displayed every year.
Halloween may be a good time to display your bat decorations, but it's also a time to bat-proof your home.
The Ozarks and its many caves are home to bats during the winter.
Bob Pierce is a wildlife specialist with the University Missouri Extension.
He says bats often roost in attics of houses during spring and summer and go to caves during the fall.
He says bat-proofing involves sealing all holes in the home's exterior.
Pierce says even though most bats hibernate in caves through the winter, some stay in attics or basements.
To get rid of persistent bats he recommends sealing all holes but one and covering it with mesh.
Bob Pierce says bats generally don't damage a house, but droppings can be a problem.
He says the best way to find out if your house has bats is to stage a "bat watch".
Pierce says summer is the best time to watch for bats.
He says bats provide many benefits to Missouri's wildlife community including eating insects like mosquitoes and pollinating plants.
Bob Pierce says many people may have misconceptions about these flying mammals.
To keep a bat colony in the area, you can set up bat boxes where bats can raise their young.
For more information about bat-proofing your home visit http://muextension.missouri.edu.
