Why Is There a Bat in My House in the Winter?
This is a question we’ve been answering lately as wayward bats have been found in bathrooms, bedrooms, and basements here in the Akron / Canton / Kent area.
This post takes a look at winter bat activity, specifically that of the big brown bat.
Most of us were raised with the (mostly correct) idea that bats hibernate in the winter here in Ohio.
And while it is proper to classify local bats as hibernators for simplicity’s sake, our research and experience has informed us that “hibernation” is a generic term that should be understood with more nuance.
People who call us after finding a bat in the bathroom fan will tell you they weren’t “sleeping” the whole winter.
So what’s going on when people find a very awake bat in their home? Why wasn’t the bat currently hibernating?
Big Brown Bats Have Short Periods of Activity
Once the temperature drops and daylight is shortened, bats seek places with stable temperatures to hibernate.
Some species migrate or go to caves to hibernate en masse.
But a very common bat species here in the Akron / Canton / Kent area, the big brown bat, is well known to hibernate in buildings. They’ll hibernate as individuals or in small colonies.
Ryan took this picture of a roosting bat within the last two weeks. It is alive and well in an attic.
Once in their spots for hibernation, the bats’ metabolism is lowered drastically to conserve energy reserves (body fat) to make it through a winter without insects. This condition of inactivity and low metabolism is known as torpor. During this period of inactivity, their presence is rarely revealed to homeowners.
But while they are metabolically depressed most of the time, biologists have collected lots of data showing that they raise their activity level from time to time all through the winter. It is during these short periods (usually just a few hours) of increased activity that they are revealed to unsuspecting homeowners.
Why do they come out of torpor for short periods of time?
- Temperature fluctuation. Stability is best for bats. If it gets warmer they may rouse to look for food because some insect species may be present. If it gets too cold where they are at, they may move to look for more warmth. We often get more calls the warmer it gets.
- Excretion or water intake
- Disease: A fungal infection, white-nose syndrome, has been wreaking havoc on hibernating bat populations in recent years as presence of the syndrome is related to bats rousing too often, using up their energy reserves.
- Disturbance of some kind (like homeowners getting into the attic)
A truly definitive answer for why a specific big brown bat is on the move in your home is elusive. However, we and homeowners who’ve had winter bats in their living spaces know it happens and needs addressed.
Here is a video on the topic:
What to Do About Winter Bats in Your Home?
If you find a bat in your home this winter or a guano pile like the one to the left, we suspect you’ve found this blog post because you’d like it removed.
If you are in our area, call us and we’ll come and pick the bat up and remove it from your living space.
After removal, you’ll want to consider how the bat got where it was found. If it came through a chimney, vent, or other access point, these weak spots can be screened to keep others out of your living spaces.
That being said, we strongly encourage you to let any other bats found in a non-living space (like the attic) be left alone.
Prolonged metabolic arousal and eviction during this time of year takes too much energy from the bat. Without food, they aren’t able to replace it and though they might fly away and find another spot to shelter in, they will most likely not make it through the winter.
Bat conservation is important.
Bat Removal & Bat Proofing for Akron / Canton / Kent OH Area
For all of your bat removal & bat proofing needs in Summit, Stark, and Portage Counties, please give us a call.
For more information on bat removal and bat proofing, please visit our:
For more on Bats and Bat Removal here in the Canton / Kent / Akron area check out some of our other site resources on bats.
