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QE7 t1_izxh1fd wrote

Yes, there a large differences in roost and habitat selection between species, and available habitat for maternity roosts is thought to limit the distribution of most species. Many will use trees or rocks as roosting locations in the summer. In winter some species (e.g., myotis species, tricolored bats) hibernate in caves or mines, while others migrate to Mexico or even further south (e.g., hoary bats, silver haired bats). As for human structures, big brown bats are the most commonly associated species, in fact they rarely will use natural roosts. They are commonly found in cites and urban areas, and they tend to crowd out other species by direct (i.e., echolocation jamming) or indirect competition. Little brown bats and a few other myotis species (e.g., myotis volans and myotis evotis at higher elevations) also commonly use buildings in western North America, and some speculate they may have expanded their range into prairies and very cold regions by following European settlers. Finally, tricolored bats commonly roost in culverts, while Grey bats and Mexican free tailed bats commonly use roost under bridges. Bats are amazingly diverse and complex animals.

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Level9TraumaCenter t1_izxnxku wrote

Replying to QE7 (#913,272)

Best as I know, the Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis) is rarely- if ever- found in man-made structures. Contrast with Mexican free-tails that look like they're just pouring out from the joints between bridges when they set flight in the evening.

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say592 t1_izxqgwn wrote

Replying to jesusallin666 (#913,300)

My understanding is bats don't actively hunt mosquitoes, as it takes more energy than they recoup. They will eat them out of opportunity, of course, but they go after slightly larger bugs.

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shapu t1_izy647n wrote

Replying to say592 (#913,707)

This is true for all but the smallest of bats and it's part of the reason why eradicating mosquitoes in urban areas would generally speaking cause no environmental harm.

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UEMcGill t1_izygpmm wrote

Replying to jesusallin666 (#913,300)

Austin Texas has a really neat history with man amd bats. Basically they encouraged bats early on by building habits (before it was cool) and now they have some amazing populations.

Its wild to watch them fly out from the Congress street bridge at dusk.

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Catfrogdog2 t1_izyl34p wrote

Replying to Gerryislandgirl (#913,448)

Also many moths have anti-bat ultrasound detection. You can demonstrate this by jingling a bunch of keys (a ready source of ultrasound) near a flying moth, and it will take evasive manoeuvres like dropping to the ground.

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lfrdwork t1_izyv316 wrote

Replying to lord_ne (#914,201)

I believe so, and that ships using sonar do have an effect on marine animals in the area. How much of an effect can vary, but the volume of the sonar pulse can cause direct harm.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jul/16/us-navy-banned-from-using-sonar-that-harms-dolphins-and-walruses

That was the first link I grabbed that discussed the fact. I'm sure there are more detailed studies that can give understanding and methods for research.

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Howtomispellnames t1_izz953z wrote

Replying to CassandraVindicated (#915,941)

I learned this one just last week or so. Awful fact. The sonar from a navy sub can essentially liquefy you if you're close enough. Whales will swim hundreds of miles out of their way to avoid navy sonar. Sperm whale sonar is also loud enough to kill.

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whoary_bat t1_izzq8ki wrote

Replying to QE7 (#913,272)

Many migratory species don’t even migrate very far south. They winter under bark and in leaf piles. Just another reason to leave your leaves.

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CassandraVindicated t1_izzr1fw wrote

Replying to HardlightCereal (#916,711)

Ok, that's a fair point, but what these new sonars can do, it's like setting off a small nuke underwater. That's a little bit extreme; we wouldn't just nuke some land based target willy nilly. We shouldn't be doing it in the ocean.

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DaSaw t1_izzt6in wrote

Replying to CassandraVindicated (#916,774)

Fortunately, I have heard that the Navy have been investigating a passive alternative. You know how someone who is intimately familiar with the sounds of a forest can detect the approach of dangerous animals (including humans) by noticing changes in the sound of animals and insects and stuff? Apparently, they're working on a system that can use marine sounds for the same purpose.

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ScienceOverNonsense t1_izzz235 wrote

I put up a bachelor bat house, painted it gray and pointed it southeast as directed. It’s on a tall pole in the middle of a large expanse of lawn. No bats have taken up lodging there yet I see bats in the area at dusk. I live in a rural area of northwestern New Jersey. What am I doing wrong?

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Stewart_Games t1_j00ccpm wrote

Replying to bullowl (#916,823)

Besides caves they also like to use hollow logs and the old nests of pileated woodpeckers. It's actually a problem these days in some areas that a lot of species that rely on dead wood can't find big old dead trees to live inside of because humans remove dead trees from their property. You can help out by putting up bat houses.

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jordanmindyou t1_j02w2zm wrote

Replying to whoary_bat (#916,736)

Everyone is always hyped about the idea of leaving leaves until I live on the property. Then all of a sudden it’s “hey u/jordanmindyou, I know you work over 60 hours a week but the lawn would look nicer if you spent your precious little free time raking it, don’t you think? I know all winter and spring and summer I said I don’t want the leaves raked this year, but now that I see that means you don’t have to rake them, I’m regretting that decision”

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UsedUpSunshine t1_j03rwqo wrote

Replying to DaSaw (#916,842)

I’d throw money at people for that to get done. Other night I was sitting outside enjoying nature when suddenly it got too quiet. The dogs stopped barking, the bugs went quiet. I jumped in my car real quick. Even I felt that there was something lurking. Didn’t see what it was, but I didn’t leave the car again for a while.

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CassandraVindicated t1_j0dtd85 wrote

Replying to HardlightCereal (#916,791)

The military (at least in the US) is not anywhere near being close to a top polluter. They led the way in remote solar and organically produced fuel. They've effectively become one of the oldest green friendly organizations.

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