OK, What's the Scoop on Bats Flying around Downtown? (Austin: house, to buy)

[Honesty1]

I have read that a very large Mexican Free-Tail Bat Colony flies freely around Downtown everynight, is that true?? Any frequent diseases caused by this, like diseases transported by mosquitos when they bite? Not to be crude but is there batty poop everywhere like flocks of pigeons? Do they get in your house like rats, mice, crickets, etc.. Do you have to call an exterminator to get 'em? Do they stay downtown?? Where's the largest populations? So I don't move there, and yes I'm aware there's some sort of rodent, creaature, insect,etc.. everywhere however, some things are a little more bearable than others.

P.S. Any Cochroaches regardless of being a neat freak, How big?? Thanks.

[Jennibc]

The bats only fly from March/April through October. And they are a godsend because each one can eat 1200 flying insects an hour. That's a lot of mosquitoes! And mosquitoes carry diseases. So do not fear the bats, cherish them.

If one should fly into your house, although that rarely ever happens see
Austin Bat Hospital- Got Bats?

[AGA]

The bats leaving the bat bridge at dusk each evening is a sight to behold from what I have heard! I have not been yet, but it is very Austiny!

[Trainwreck20]

They also tend to poop right there at the bridge, so you don't really have a real problem with that, either. Seriously, you could live here for years and never know there were bats.

[TexasHorseLady]

Bats have gotten a bad rap over the years. However, if you have bat issues,rest assured that unless you go downtown to watch them come out (a popular local pastime) or happen to be driving through Round Rock over the highway bridge where there's also a colony (beautiful sights, both - they look like smoke), you'll likely never see one. They don't like you any more than you like them - they think you're big and ugly and creepy-looking!

As for cockroaches, yes, Austin has cockroaches, of a couple of sizes. I've seen a couple of the big ones this year, after not seeing any of that size at all, despite living in several different parts of Austin, for over 30 years. Must be the year for them. If you, like a friend I once had to screamed as if she was being murdered if she saw ONE little cockroach, have real problems with the idea of seeing any, there's always the friendly local exterminator.

[parkk]

Originally Posted by Honesty1

I have read that a very large Mexican Free-Tail Bat Colony flies freely around Downtown everynight, is that true?? Any frequent diseases caused by this, like diseases transported by mosquitos when they bite? Not to be crude but is there batty poop everywhere like flocks of pigeons? Do they get in your house like rats, mice, crickets, etc.. Do you have to call an exterminator to get 'em? Do they stay downtown?? Where's the largest populations? So I don't move there, and yes I'm aware there's some sort of rodent, creaature, insect,etc.. everywhere however, some things are a little more bearable than others.

P.S. Any Cochroaches regardless of being a neat freak, How big?? Thanks.

We have to wear hats at night so the bats don't get tangled up in our hair. You have to go to the ER so you can be "knocked out", then they give you rabies shots and cut all your hair off. It's the only way to get them out.

[love roses]

The bats are a big attraction around here. There's even a batfest. The bats are all around Texas, you can't escape them, but they aren't big scary ones, like vampire bats or anything. They don't usually fly into homes and are amazing exterminators in and of themselves. Mosquitos are a big problem down here and bats eat them.

[cmiller1014]

Bats are your best friend. We have them at our home in MO and we actually went as far as to buy a bat house for them hoping to attract more. Bats are great if you hate bugs (especially mosquitos)

[mimimomx3]

Originally Posted by parkk

We have to wear hats at night so the bats don't get tangled up in our hair. You have to go to the ER so you can be "knocked out", then they give you rabies shots and cut all your hair off. It's the only way to get them out.

They also have been known to pluck babies right out of their strollers.

[tdrew]

Originally Posted by mimimomx3

They also have been known to pluck babies right out of their strollers.

You guys are too funny!