TULSA- Experts say this Summer could be one of the worst when it comes to mosquitoes.
But many homeowners say they want to "ditch the chemicals" when it comes to warding off the pests.
Experts say if you really want to avoid pesticides in your yard this year, what you've got to do are mostly preventable measures, like getting rid of any untreated standing water your yard.
Some say the solution to fighting the mosquitoes can be found by simply looking up. He might just be the answer to all our mosquito prayers.
He's a big brown bat, that's really his name and he dines on mosquitoes as fast as he can find them.
"A bat is 100% effective. They're around all the time. You need about four hundred to protect your house," said Bat rehabber Bruce Taylor.
It sounds like a lot, but experts say if you live in Midtown, there's a pretty good chance they're already there. They like being near water where they can search for food and a home.
"You got swimming pools, great. Your lake? Fine," Taylor said.
Taylor is a bonafide "Bat Man." Not only does he rehab injured bats , but he makes bat houses that hold hundreds, and right now they're flying off the shelves.
"I've been wanting to build four of them for myself and every time I build one for myself, I have to sell it because somebody wants it!" he said.
It can be weeks or even year before bats take up residence inside one.
So experts recommend treating your home in your meantime--while laying sand down in your yard to level out any puddles and trim back as many low-hanging branches as possible.
Taylor says with the right accommodations, the bats will make your yard a home, and become much-needed residents for Tulsa.
"It'd be great, yeah it'd be great," he said. "Look at Batman, he liked them."
Bats also feed on moths, cockroaches, and even brown recluse.
If you'd like more information on Taylors bat houses, you can head to his website at http://fewerr.org
For more information on bat house maintenance, The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife has more here at http://wildlifedepartment.com/wildlifemgmt/species/okbats.htm.
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