Bats are vital to our ecosystem by helping to pollinate plants and disperse seeds. However, such activity clearly works up quite an appetite for the small, winged mammals as they also eat enough bugs to play an important role in controlling insect populations. However, their tastes do not stop there. Bats are even known to consume produce from the fruit trees and gardens that many Central Florida residents have in their yards.
What Do Bats Eat?
A majority of bats are insectivores, meaning they primarily eat insects. The animals use echolocation to find their prey. Common insects preyed on by bats include mosquitoes, moths, beetles, crickets, grasshoppers, cicadas, and flies. Amazingly, bats can eat their own body weight in insects each night. In fact, a single brown bat can eat up to 1,000 mosquitoes in an hour.
Different Bats, Different Diets
The full diets of bats vary depending on the species. In addition to insects, some bats also eat fruit, nectar, pollen, and fish.
- Fruit bats are the largest family of bats in the world. They typically eat a variety of fruits, including figs, bananas, dates, avocados, and mangoes.
- Nectar-eating bats use their long tongues to lap up nectar from the flowers of cacti, agaves, and other plants.
- Pollen-eating bats collect pollen from flowers and plants and use it to feed their young.
- Fish-eating bats use their long, sharp teeth to catch small fish, such as minnows and guppies, out of the water.
Where Do Bats Eat?
Bats enjoy congregating near lamp posts and street lights at night as the light attracts their favorite food. They also roost in trees and in residential attics and chimneys that are dimly lit and close to food sources. While bats are great at eliminating nuisance mosquitoes and other pests, they can still be destructive to your home or business if they choose to roost on your property. Fortunately, the experts at Animal Wildlife Trappers can safely remove invasive bats, eliminate your risk of contracting diseases like rabies, and clean up toxic odors and stains from their contamination.
Efficient Bat Removal Experts in Your Area
If you are dealing with hungry, invasive bats, trust in the professionals at Animal Wildlife Trappers for all your bat removal needs. Our licensed and trained bat removal experts will inspect your property, safely remove all bats, and prevent them from returning to your home. To schedule an appointment and receive a free bat removal estimate, call us today at 352-267-0546.