bats in you woodstove?

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Beckie Prange

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Sep 5, 2013, 8:14:15 AM9/5/13

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This time of year, we usually have some reports of bats (usually little brown) in woodstoves (or any stove with a vertical stovepipe). They enter the stovepipe from the outside and are unable to get out. If spotted soon enough, they can be removed and sent on their merry way. If left alone, they will die in the stove. After removal of the bats, they can be excluded in the future with a screened stovepipe cap.

Little brown bats are great insect-eaters. They have just one pup a year and can live more than 30 years. Groups of 30-40 bats have been found trapped in local stoves, so losses from wood/gas stove entrapment can make a significant difference in your backyard bat population.

Please, if you have a wood or propane stove, take a look to be sure there are no bats inside. If there are bats and you are hesitant to deal with them, there are at least a couple of us in the Ely area who would be happy to help get them outside.