There are people who, instead of traditional pets (cat, dog, parrot, etc.), get quite specific animals. For example, bats. At first glance, it seems that they live only in the wild and it will not be possible to make them tame. But those who dare to coexist with these nocturnal inhabitants will easily dispel all doubts. Let's talk about the environment in which bats should be kept and how to properly care for them.
Is it possible to keep a bat at home?
The bat belongs to the order Chiroptera, and in fact it is not as scary as they say.
It got its name due to the similarity of the head to an ordinary mouse: a flattened muzzle, large nostrils and elongated ears. The bat's body is covered with short fur, which can be brown, black or white. Zoologists do not approve of keeping these animals indoors, as they need space and privacy. But if you are the owner of a large house with a garden plot, then you can make an aviary, equipped according to all the rules.
Appearance
The smallest representative is the pig-nosed bat, whose weight does not exceed 2.0 g, body length - 3.3 cm, wingspan reaches 16 cm. This is one of the smallest animals on the planet.
A giant false vampire with a wingspan of 70 to 75 cm, a weight of 150-200 g and a body length of no more than 14 cm is considered a large representative of this family.
The hind limbs of chiropterans, unlike other mammals, are turned back at the knee joints and equipped with strong claws. The body is covered with short or long shaggy fur. The color is dominated by black, gray and brown shades.
The lifespan of representatives from the order Chiroptera is about five, in some cases up to 30 years. In captivity they live less time because they do not have the opportunity to fully move.
These are the only mammals on the planet that can fly. Their hind and front legs are connected to each other by a thin membrane. Due to it, they develop speeds from 11 to 50 km/h.
Visually impaired bats have unique hearing that helps them fly.
Living conditions at home
The living conditions of bats outside the wild should be as close to it as possible.
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About the home
Chiropterans live mainly in caves, mountains or attics. One wall of the enclosure should be made of stone or relief, reminiscent of a gorge. The enclosure should be at least 2.5x3 m. There should be a lot of greenery inside. It would be ideal if the enclosure is closely adjacent to a standard tree.
About temperature
When designing an enclosure, be sure to take care of the temperature inside it. Bats are very thermophilic, so the temperature should be +30 degrees. Prolonged stay in the cold entails disruption of digestion and sleep, which can lead to death. The enclosure must be equipped with a system of manholes where the small animal can warm up. With the arrival of seasonal cold weather, bats hibernate. During this period they are placed in a warm place.
Where can I get it?
Many people see an animal with incredibly cute eyes in the picture and wonder where they can get the same animal. The easiest way is to go out into the forest and catch it. In some settlements, mice themselves fly into the house, and its owner carefully receives the guest and allows him to live there. Another option is to buy it from an exotic pet store.
Care
Any pet must be kept clean. Regularly remove excrement from the floor, water and hill up plants. And caring for these little creatures involves feeding and taming.
What to feed
Mice drink a lot. Therefore, place bowls of water at room temperature from a well or spring throughout the enclosure. Do not allow water to stagnate, change regularly. The diet consists of worms, beetles, insect pupae or milk formula.
How to tame
If the bat was purchased from a nursery when it was still very young, then it will be easier to establish contact with it. But don't expect even the slightest attention from wild-caught adults. It will not be possible to tame them; they will not languish in anticipation of the owner, like, for example, a cat or a dog. You can only achieve hand feeding, but you will have to be patient.
Means for getting rid of flying pests
There are many methods that can help you get rid of bats in your attic. Each option has pros and cons.
When choosing products, they rely on their ease of use, the number of mice living in the attic or barn, and the price.
Sealing cracks with boards or foam
The most effective way to prevent bats from appearing in the attic again is to wall up the passage into the pests' home. Sealing the nest involves the use of boards, or blowing out cracks and exits using polyurethane foam. It is important to ensure that there is no family. After all, if the mice remaining inside the nest die, the process of rotting of the individuals will begin, and a fetid aroma will appear.
Smoking with a smoker
In order to get rid of bats under the roof of a house or country house, they use the smoking method. A smoker is well suited for this. It is recommended not to overdo it with the smoker. Mice are smoked for 2-3 days as they get used to the home. This type of control is questionable, since the smoke dissipates and the mice may return again.
Important! For people, this folk method is not harmless.
Hose with water
Another folk remedy is water. Animals don't like water, so giving them a cold shower with a hose will help get rid of the flying family. This procedure is carried out several times, because the mice may return.
Advice! Before using this method, you need to make sure that water does not flood the ceiling of the house.
Special sprays
Special stores sell aerosols and sprays that are used to remove mammals.
Important! Observations by researchers have shown that the use of some drugs is low in effectiveness.
Important! Sprays containing toxic elements should not be used in the fight against animals. They can harm people and pets.
Repellent sprays are carried out as follows. In the evening, when the bats leave their home, the product is sprayed. Upon returning, they will not like the smell, and the animals will fly away in search of a new suitable place.
In the fight against mammals, use the 876 4-Pack Bat Repellent spray. The drug contains peppermint. Sprays are recommended for spraying in animal nesting areas. After such treatment, the bats fly away from their home forever.
Ultrasonic repellers
The best devices for removing rodents from roofs and balconies are repellers equipped with ultrasound. A device that emits ultrasound waves repels critters from the attic and prevents them from returning.
Repellers are easy to use. All you need to do is follow a few steps:
- The device is plugged in; the operating mode is selected; after 2 weeks the pests will disappear completely.
Important! The device operates on the principle of emitting sound waves. Their frequency: 35-60 kHz. The human ear canal does not detect such sounds, therefore the device is safe if the power does not exceed 130 dB. But this frequency has a negative effect on animals.
The advantages of ultrasonic repellers include:
- silent operation; safety for people; economical; no auxiliary settings required.
Important information! The effectiveness of an ultrasonic device depends on the correct location and quantity, taking into account the power and radius of influence.
Mothball bags
You can get rid of a bat using mothballs. For this:
- mothballs in an amount of 250 ml are laid out on a small piece of gauze; a bag is formed from the gauze; the bag must be tied to the habitat of the animals when they are absent. The aroma emitted by mothballs will prevent them from returning to the nest.
Attention! It is possible to repeat the manipulation more than once. You will need to check on the rodents from time to time, changing bags that have lost their aroma. But the result will be relief from pests.
Mothballs are harmful to the health of people and pets. You should be careful when using them.
Fans
An environmentally friendly and harmless option to drive out flying individuals is a fan. He is sent straight to the mouse family. The disadvantage of this product is the high consumption of electricity and noise from equipment that must operate for a long time.
Bright lighting
Bats do not perceive bright light. If you shine light in advance into areas that are potential overnight stays for animals, you can actually eliminate them. Chiropterans will not fly to illuminated places. The disadvantage of this method is high energy consumption and low percentage efficiency.
Loud music
It is believed that loud music will scare away the bat. You can use this option for scaring, but the effectiveness of this folk method has not been proven.
Calling special teams
If the above methods do not solve the problem with flying individuals, then the only quick option for removing mice is to call a special sanitary service. SES workers have modern drugs and equipment.
Pros and cons of home keeping
The advantage of keeping it is the creation of your own home zoo. Bats are very funny and interesting to watch and study. They will bring joy to those who love exotic things and who do not care about close contact with their pet.
The downside will be their inability to live in a confined space. Due to lack of freedom, they may die. In addition, there are difficulties in creating suitable conditions, and the food is very unique, which cannot be bought in every pet store.
But if you really want to, being in proximity to a bat is quite possible. Remember that its habitat is wild nature, so care must be special.
Behavior
A person who decides to become the owner of such an animal will undoubtedly be surprised by its behavior. The mouse will sleep almost all day, choosing a secluded place for this; it is unlikely that the livestock breeder will be able to see it. In the evening, the animal, on the contrary, will behave excessively active and will constantly move around the enclosure. Naturally, installing an aviary in the bedroom is rather unwise.
This is not at all an animal that can be picked up, stroked and caressed - you can only watch it.
The mouse sleeps interestingly - upside down, these are the most comfortable conditions for it, so it is worth providing all the conditions for its proper rest.
In the summer, she will begin to catch mosquitoes - this is the most interesting entertainment for her.
If you wish, you can feed the animal with homemade food: meat, milk or grain, but do not overdo it.
