Simply For The Birds

You might not know it, but if you live near any kind of forested area, there’s a good chance that bats frequent your own backyard.  While there tends to be a negative stigma about these flying rodents, bats are some of the most helpful creatures in the animal kingdom.  Bats help control the populations of pesky bugs and insects, and their droppings also provide excellent fertilizer for plant life.  Having bat houses in your backyard is quite beneficial to the plants in your garden.  Bats sleep all throughout the day in the bat houses, and at night, will go out and hunt bugs and insects.  If you’ve seen a creature flitting about at night, there’s a good chance that it is a bat, as birds tend to return to their nests. 

Bats are also a treat to watch, and kids and adults will enjoy seeing them flit about at night diving after bugs and insects and making their distinct squeaks.

Mosquitoes are pure pests that provide no benefit to an outdoor location.  They travel in swarms, can carry a host of harmful diseases and illnesses, and cause irritating bumps and rashes on the skin.  To combat a mosquito infestation in your yard, first try to eliminate any stagnant pools of water around, as this is where mosquitoes breed.  You might find infestations in kiddy pools, birdbaths, or puddles; ensure these are cleared out and covered up.  To remove an existing mosquito population, consider purchasing a bat house.  If you can convince bats to nest in your yard, they will whittle away at a mosquito population over time.

In addition to eating mosquitoes, bats are fun to watch and listen to at night, and will keep several species of harmful pests out of your garden.