Canton's Best Bat Removal

What Is a Maternity Colony?

Most often, maternity colonies refer to a group of pregnant female bats that are close to giving birth. These colonies last long enough for the mother bats to raise their pups. Most of the bats in the colony will be mothers and then pups. In some roosts, there are some male bats that hang around to protect them. These colonies form to conserve body heat and generate a safe place for pups to grow.

Summertime Slow-Down

Other bats, male and non-gestating female ones, will go through short periods of torpor during the summer. They do this naturally as a way for their body to save up energy. Torpor means they reduce their metabolism and lower their body temperature. Many bats do this because of bad weather or lack of food. If a bat’s body temperature reaches over 104 degrees Fahrenheit, they could die from the heat. Controlling their internal temperature is crucial to their survival.

This short-term slow down can allow for mother bats to get enough food to support their new pups. Pregnant bats are unable to go through this summertime torpor because it will slow the development of their babies and decrease milk production. Instead, they find other pregnant females and create these colonies. They share their body heat, and this will increase the survival of their species.

The Colonies’ Locations

Maternity colonies are temporary. Despite that, it is common for the same roosts to be used multiple years in a row. Locations that bat colonies prefer as safe roosts are dry and dark areas that are not accessible to potential predators. Places like caves, trees, abandoned mine shafts, or buildings, even attics and chimneys are locations they can be found in. Once a maternity colony is roosted and starts birthing pups, they should not be disturbed for many reasons.

Bat Pregnancy

A bat’s pregnancy lasts only six to nine weeks, depending on many factors. Variations on the species, weather, climate, and food source can affect how long it takes for the pups to be brought to term. The number of bats that form these colonies will vary from species to species as well. Some are formed with only a single-digit count. There are other colonies that can reach the millions.

Species Specifics

Most species of bats will have a small number of males that protect the pregnant females and pups. Those bats usually are a lot more aggressive while they guard their charges. They only leave in shifts to hunt and sometimes bring food back for their females. These bats will attack if provoked. It is advised to leave maternity colonies to their own devices. If the bats are left alone, they will leave you alone. In general, if the bats can escape, they will do so and avoid conflict. Maternity colonies are generally stuck where they are because the pups are unable to fly for nearly two months.

Bat Pups

Most bats only birth one pup at a time. They are then nurtured by the mother, nursing for around four to five weeks, at which point they begin to fly. After that, the mothers teach their pups to hunt for food. Once the pups can fend for themselves and are regularly leaving the roost, the maternity colony disperses for its winter roost.

Disturbing Colonies

During this time, the female bats are highly sensitive to disturbances. Any major change and the mothers may abandon their young which will leave them to starve. It is important to check for bat colonies before taking on any projects in the area. State and county law protects bat maternity colonies because of their importance to the local ecosystem. As such, exclusion of any maternity colony is prohibited. Most homeowners will be instructed to simply leave them alone until nature has taken its course.

Exclusion

Once the summer maternity season is over, you can inquire about exclusion. Many areas will encourage you to use a professional to clean up after a maternity roost and install exclusion equipment. The only time you might be able to do the work yourself is prior to the maternity season. As most professionals will be thorough in cleaning and have all the proper equipment that can be costly to get on your own, it could be easier on your wallet to simply hire one.