The cold weather is coming, leaves are turning, and your neighborhood is getting ready for Halloween. During this spooky time of year, with vampire movies abound, American Bio-Tech Wildlife Services in New Milford, CT, explains that while bats are often thought of as scary, they are also fascinating and useful creatures — a fact that has shaped animal control policies regarding how they're handled. Here, they share some of their most fascinating knowledge about these winged beasts.

5 Facts You Didn’t Know About Bats

1. They Are Social

Bat colonies don't just stick together out of convenience. They are social animals and have long-lasting relationships with others of their kind. These creatures may look alike to you, but to each other, they're recognizable individuals—and friends.

2. Their Communication Is Complex

Bats make a wide variety of noises as they communicate with one another. In fact, their vocalizations are complex enough that there is some speculation about whether they have the beginnings of a language.

3. The Oldest Known Bat Specimen Is 52 Million Years Old

Onychonycteris finneyi, the oldest known bat, comes from the western US. In many ways, it's essentially identical to modern species—meaning the bat body plan has changed very little in all those millions of years.

4. Bats Are Vital for Keeping Pest Populations Down

Every individual bat eats thousands of tiny insects in a single night — which is good news for agriculture. If it weren't for bats, American farms would have to spend a good deal more per year on pesticides.

5. There Are Rules About Moving Bats

While these are beneficial animals overall, they don't make good house guests. You should call animal control when you notice them somewhere inconvenient, like your attic. Bats can't be trapped or directly moved, so a professional will install one-way doors in the space they're using. This way, they will be encouraged to find a new place to roost.

American Bio-Tech Wildlife Services has great respect for these complex and fascinating creatures; if you have a bat problem, their licensed team will handle it humanely. Their approach also prevents these issues from reoccurring. For skilled and environmentally friendly animal control services in New Milford and the surrounding areas, contact them at (860) 355-1231 or online.