Have you spotted any bats in your house lately? Apparently, they're popping up in homes all over the state.

The Des Moines Register reports that calls to wildlife removal companies regarding bats have increased significantly over the last few weeks.

Interestingly, that's fairly normal for Mid-August through Mid-September, however, since bats that were born early in the summer are now at the age where they're ready to leave the nest (so to speak) and the creatures are having a hard time finding their way out of homes. So yes, in theory, you may have been housing a family of bats all summer without even realizing it.

But before you freak out over that thought, consider how important bats are to Iowa's ecosystem since they consume destructive and crop-destroying insects. If you happen to find a bat (or bat family) in your house, don't panic. The best way to get a bat outside is by opening doors and windows so that they can use eco-location properly. If you still can't get the animal out, call a professional to help.

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