What should be the principal reaction to the problem of bats on a school campus?

The best approach to managing bats on a school campus is to call the experts. This response acknowledges the complexity of dealing with wildlife and the importance of ensuring both human safety and animal welfare. Bats play a crucial role in the ecosystem, including pest control, and their removal should be handled with care and professional guidance.

Experts, such as wildlife biologists or pest control professionals with experience in handling bats, can assess the situation properly. They have the knowledge to determine if the bats are a threat to students and faculty and how to manage them effectively without harming the bats or violating any legal protections they may have. Such professionals can also implement humane and environmentally sound solutions, like exclusion techniques, rather than harmful or disruptive methods.

Eliminating the bats immediately may be harmful and reckless, as it could involve culling, which can create more problems than it solves. Using sprays to deter them might not be effective and could potentially harm the bats or the environment. Leaving them alone could also lead to safety concerns if the bats pose a health risk or become a nuisance. Therefore, engaging experts reflects a comprehensive and responsible method for addressing the issue while considering all ecological and public health factors.