The Good and Bad About Bats

FAIRFAX, Va. (November 2, 2013) –  Bats get a lot of attention during the fall and winter, but they’re not often credited with being helpful to the environment. Most species of bats eat insects and flower nectar, so they are responsible for the pollination of many plants and for natural pest control of bugs and mosquitoes.

However, bats are also known carriers of rabies in the United States and bats roosting in a home can cause unsanitary conditions in attics or barns, so while these critters do have important jobs, they should be kept in the wild where they belong.