[SouthFloridaNative]

Just a bit of info. Please don't prune your cabbage palms. Bats live in them. When I was younger and dumber and lived in a sundivision in Lee County I had my cabbage palms pruned yearly. I never realized that they were being occupied by bats until one time the tree trimmer pointed out a fallen bat to me. It was sad. Now that I live out I have put up a Bat House to attract bats and provide them a shelter..also, they eat thousands of pesky insects a night, including good-for-nothing mosquitos. We put our bat house up about 6 months ago and just this week we noticed bats are now roosting in it. So exciting! Many people fear bats but they are more beneficial than harmful. I see and hear them now everynight and it's music to my ears. They can eat all the bugs they want from my property. My grandfather was a native Floridian and he taught me not to fear bats at a young age. He explained to me how they help us and do not harm us..maybe others can teach their young not to be fearful of them also.

[macguy]

Originally Posted by SouthFloridaNative

Just a bit of info. Please don't prune your cabbage palms. Bats live in them. When I was younger and dumber and lived in a sundivision in Lee County I had my cabbage palms pruned yearly. I never realized that they were being occupied by bats until one time the tree trimmer pointed out a fallen bat to me. It was sad. Now that I live out I have put up a Bat House to attract bats and provide them a shelter..also, they eat thousands of pesky insects a night, including good-for-nothing mosquitos. We put our bat house up about 6 months ago and just this week we noticed bats are now roosting in it. So exciting! Many people fear bats but they are more beneficial than harmful. I see and hear them now everynight and it's music to my ears. They can eat all the bugs they want from my property. My grandfather was a native Floridian and he taught me not to fear bats at a young age. He explained to me how they help us and do not harm us..maybe others can teach their young not to be fearful of them also.

Bats are funny, there are a zillion of them in Florida and most people can live here a life time and never see one.

[nomoresnow]

Intellectually, I know this, but I'm still scared of them. :-( As long as they stay outside, I'm ok.

What does a cabbage palm look like so I don't prune them should I find any on my property?

[SouthFloridaNative]

Originally Posted by nomoresnow

Intellectually, I know this, but I'm still scared of them. :-( As long as they stay outside, I'm ok.

What does a cabbage palm look like so I don't prune them should I find any on my property?

If one ends up inside a home it's most likely b/c the bat is young and lost.

Cabbage Palm: www.sfrc.ufl.edu/4h/Cabbage_palm/cabbpalm.htm

[nomoresnow]

Thanks, SFN. Good info.

[tallrick]

When I lived near Homestead the bats used to hang from the pine trees at night. Haven't seen any here in Key Largo

[Prichard]

Here's something else that lives in Cabbage Palms - RATS. That's right folks, rats nest in those palm trees and easily access your roof if they are anywhere near your house. If you've never had roof rats in Florida, it can be quite an experience.