What Happens to Bats in the Winter in South Carolina?

Bats can sometimes be seen gliding around parts of SC at night when it’s warm out, but where do they go in winter? While you’re unlikely to see these flying mammals around when it’s cold outside, that doesn’t mean they’re not in the area. Our Hilton Head area bat control experts have some helpful information for you about bats and how they spend the winter months.

Keeping Warm in the Cold

Bats are warm-blooded mammals that need somewhere cozy to stay when the temperature drops. During winter in SC, bats go into hibernation as bears and some other mammals do. While they’re in hibernation, they live off of fat stores in their body, which means they don’t have to go around looking for food to eat. They also need less energy overall, since they slow their heartbeat down while hibernating.

Bats typically stay in this state until spring arrives with warmer temperatures. However, some bats temporarily come out of hibernation during unusually warm winter weather. When it’s cold out again, they return to their shelter to hibernate.

Where do bats go when they hibernate? They look for areas that provide them with plenty of shelter from the elements, which helps them stay warm. Although there’s not a lot of information on where larger brown bats in SC spend the winter months, the kinds of places they’re more likely to stay include in trees or inside buildings.

Other bats tend to go to caves or tunnels in order to hibernate. When they do this, they usually go in larger numbers, which helps provide them with protection from predators.

Before and After Winter

Bats typically mate in the fall. Females then store sperm throughout the winter months and begin gestating in spring. Their young are usually born in June or July. As winter approaches, bats start looking for sheltered areas to stay in. Once the colder weather is gone for the season, they come out of hibernation and start going out in search of food.

Keep in mind that you can end up with bats in your attic or other parts of your home in fall as they look for shelter. However, they can also get into your home during their more active times of the year, so you might end up needing Hilton Head area bat control whether it’s warm or cold out.

Are Bats Friends or Foes?

Bats can be good to have on your property when it comes to insect control. They consume large numbers of mosquitoes that carry diseases, along with insect pests that are a threat to crops and gardens. Unfortunately, these mammals also carry rabies and other infectious diseases, which can make them a health hazard to have around.

If they get into your home and take up residence, such as in your attic, they can cause problems by making noise, leaving guano or defecation around, spreading germs and damaging your walls and other structures.

If you have bats in your home, avoid trying to remove them yourself. Whether or not they have rabies or other diseases, they can easily become frightened and bite. Instead, let the professionals at Island Pest Control handle any bats you have in your home. Our Hilton Head area bat control technicians have the training and skills required to safely catch and remove bats from residential areas.

Letting the professionals take care of this for you helps protect you and your family from attacks by frightened or startled bats. We’ll do a free inspection of your home and determine the best way to trap these animals before they can cause any additional problems for you.

If bats have become a nuisance on your property, contact Island Pest Control. Our technicians provide reliable Hilton Head area bat control to help keep you and your family safe from the diseases these animals carry.