Post date: May 7, 2017 12:31:55 AM
Southbridge Homeowners and Residents, here is some important information that you should know about bats! Bats share our community space, and occasionally have been known to roost/nest under house shutters in Southbridge. However, you should know that the bats are NOT a danger, and in fact, are good neighbors.
If you wish to keep bats from roosting/nesting under your shutters, the following information will be helpful.
For general reference, the Nature Center in Reston has recommended two websites: the Humane Society website at www.humanesociety.org/animals/bats/, and a bat conservation website at https://batconservation.org/. Both have good information, so please check them out.
A Bottom-line Summary:
Do not kill or harm the bats—many are legally protected in Virginia, and they provide a valuable service to the community. Bats are under stress from various sources: “white-nose syndrome” (an invasive fungus from Europe that has already decimated their numbers during hibernation over the past few years), pesticides, climate change, habitat destruction, and wind turbines. Also: DO NOT disturb nesting bats from May to August. They will be rearing their young during this period and should be allowed to do so undisturbed. Discourage nesting before May and encourage them to move out after August.
That said, it is completely reasonable to not want bats in or on your home. Suggestions for discouraging roosting/nesting include the following:
1. Mothballs: bats don’t like the smell; place the mothballs inside the shutters.
2. Light: bats look for dark places to roost; attach a bright light (e.g., a clip-on work light, small flashlight, etc.) to the shutter so that it shines underneath.
3. Reflective tape, such as that used to deter birds: attach on and near shutters.
4. Pull shutters out slightly from the side of the house; bats prefer really narrow entrances to roosting quarters.
5. Combinations of the above.
Reston Association Input:
Reston Association staff has informed us that the only problem would be if a fix were installed permanently (e.g., attaching a permanent light fixture on the house, or leaving the reflective tape up permanently.) Therefore, please remember that these measures should be used only on a temporary basis—only during the month of April, while the bats migrate back, or in September before the bats leave.
Reston Association staff also has indicated that, even if a resident is cited for using one of these measures (RA noticed it and didn’t know what it was), the resident would need only to call and explain the problem, and to indicate that it is a temporary measure. For example, the resident could say the tape or light would only be up until May 1st.
We hope this information is helpful in discouraging bats from roosting/nesting under your shutters, while allowing them to flourish undisturbed as helpful neighbors
The information is also posted under the Resource Center tab, found on the left side panel of this web page.