Step up to the plate to help bats

Most Ohio residents are used to thinking about seasonal changes in the rules such as burn bans or parking in such a way that the snow plow can get through. Perhaps less familiar is Ohio's fall bat exclusion restriction period — from Oct. 15 through March 31. No, it has nothing to do with baseball's off-season. This is a requirement that residents obtain permits before removing or relocating bats from homes or buildings. When white-nose syndrome (a cave fungus) showed up several years ago, Ohio started protecting bats, especially during their overwintering period. Despite that effort, the state's bat population has declined more than 90%. "They're just a really important part of the ecosystem, they play an important role for us, for insects," Eileen Wyza, a wildlife biologist with the Ohio Division of Wildlife, told WTVG. Four bat species are endangered in the Buckeye State. Some of them roost in buildings. Don't worry, there are still exceptions to the rule. If bats enter a living space inside a home, the interior routes may be sealed or blocked without permission. Otherwise, the Department of Natural Resources defines exclusion this way: "Bat exclusion is installing a device or materials for the purpose of removing bats from a structure. Exclusion devices or materials allow the one-way passage of bats out of a home or structure. Installing materials that close secondary access points while still allowing bats to enter and exit the structure through a main access point is not considered bat exclusion." That's because, if there's a way back in, a bat who has ventured out in freezing temperatures can find its way back to its safe, cozy hibernation spot. It is illegal to use glue traps, chemicals, toxicants or foggers to kill bats; or to seal entry/exit points while bats are inside a structure. In fact, "bats may not be intentionally killed or harmed unless human rabies exposure is suspected." If you've got questions, contact the Division of Wildlife before you act. Hibernating bats need all the help they can get, as their numbers continue to be threatened in Ohio. Follow the rules so we can do our part to ensure we're helping those who are left.