BRADENTON, Fla. — Recent news of malaria cases in Sarasota County has us feeling extra cautious about mosquitos this year.
And while we stock up on mosquito nets and bug spray, some local scouts are calling in help from the experts — bats.
Scouts from Troop 146 and Packs 146 and 125, located in Parrish and Lakewood Ranch, helped Manatee County staff install a new "bat condo" near the little league fields at GT Bray Park in Bradenton.
The idea is to give bats a place to live so they can help us naturally control the mosquito population.
"To fertilize the ground, spread seeds, pollinate plants, and eat insects. Bats would eat anywhere between 1,000 and 4,000 insects per day, per bat," Aaron Rawley, the Manatee County project manager, said.
This "condo" is different from some bat houses you may have seen because it's big enough to host 3,000 bats at once. And, according to the county, each bat can eat its body weight in mosquitos and other harmful bugs every night.
The scouts also helped construct a high platform in the park for ospreys to build nests.
According to the Florida Bat Conservancy, most bats living in Florida prefer to roost in mature trees or caves, but due to loss of habitat, often end up in buildings and attics.
And until Aug. 15, it's illegal to evict bats from your home due to the animal's maternity season.
Bat houses not only help with pest control but also support conservation efforts by giving local bats a much-needed place to live. Bats tend to like warm high places and small crevices so they would use their echo sonar to locate the 'bat condos' at the park, according to Rawley.
The mammals will also benefit the area by pollinating plants and dispersing seeds.
This West Bradenton bat condo is only the beginning. The scouts plan to expand this initiative to more parks throughout Manatee County.
County officials said the partnership with the scouts is a way to show they're still helping out in the community.
"The Scouts are earning community service hours for their rank advancement, they're earning merit badges for Animal study, they are earning woodwork merit badges, and it's a great partnership with the community," he said.
According to Rawley, it can take anywhere from six months to a year before the bats start utilizing the bat box as their habitat. The initiative will also study the impact of bats on the mosquito population in the area.
There are ways to see how mosquito control is going in both Manatee and Sarasota counties. A map is available for Manatee County to show treatment plans for different areas. The same can be found here in Sarasota County.