NonStop Natural

All We Want for Christmas is a Backyard Bat House (Not Kidding!)

November 24, 2016 by Tammy Robinson Leave a Comment

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  You might have seen these strange looking boxes on Pinterest or Facebook and wondered what kind of strange bird used such a flat house? Then you looked closer and realized they were bat houses. As in HOUSES for BATS!

Perhaps you never thought about a bat house as a Christmas gift, but perhaps you should!

Don’t freak out! Bats are nothing like they are portrayed in the movies. They aren’t dangerous, they won’t get caught in your hair, and they are super good for you and your family. Seriously, they are. Keep reading.

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Why Bats Are SO Important

 Most people are not aware that bats eat upwards of 1,000 insects each night (depending on the species, of course, some eat much more). This means fewer mosquitoes, no-see-ums, and other biting insects.

This means that, not only can we use fewer insecticides or insect repellants, bats can help to prevent the diseases that these biting insects can pass along. Fewer bugs and less disease, wow. That sounds like a bargain, doesn’t it?

Bats are also, depending on the ecosystem, important for the pollination of plants.  In fact, some plants are entirely dependent on bats to either pollinate their flowers or spread their seeds. Some plants that depend on bats would be dates, figs, mangoes, and bananas.   bats-4

Still other bats eat the insects that tend to damage crops. That means by letting bats do our work for us, we can use fewer pesticides on our food. Everyone would agree that this is a good thing!

bats-3 Bats are also considered to be “indicator species”. This means that changes in bat populations can predict changes in aspects of biodiversity.

By the way, let’s not forget about bat poop, which is called guano. This is super beneficial for plants. You can find bat guano for sale in almost every nursery in the world. Bat guano contains tons of potassium, nitrogen, and phosphates, which plants love.

Last but not least, did you know that a compound extracted from bat saliva has been turned into an anticoagulant drug that is used on those who have suffered a stroke?

There are so many good things that bats can offer us!   bats-5

OK, now you are saying “That’s fine, but why don’t they just find a nice cave or a tree trunk to sleep in?”  Good question.

Why Bat Houses Are Important

  Unfortunately, many natural bat habitats have been destroyed or access has been closed off. By putting up a few bat houses around your property, you can offer bats a safe place to sleep during the day and a nice place to raise their young. This also gives bats a better place to live that they will prefer to your attic! In turn, bats will keep your yard free from most insects and provide you with free fertilizer!

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Contrary to popular belief, bats don’t carry rabies since they don’t come into contact with other mammals. They also won’t fly into your hair (unless you put your head directly under the box) and they won’t bother your kids or pets.

You can find tons of information about how to build your own bat house and where to place it, online. Or, if you aren’t the handy type, you can buy them premade.   bats-9

Check out a short video of bats living inside a bat house, check out this short video

We hope you will consider putting up a bat house (or two) in your backyard.

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Filed Under: Do It Yourself, Health, Healthy Living, How To, Insects, Natural, Off Beat, Organic, pesticides, Pests, Plants, Shocking, Truth, Zika Virus Tagged With: are bats safe, bat fertilizer, bat guano, bat houses, bats, bats and insects, bats and mosquitoes, building a bat house, keeping bats out of attic, why keep bats

Top 7 Reasons Mosquitoes are Super Turned On by YOU

July 28, 2016 by Tammy Robinson Leave a Comment

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If you are a mosquito magnet, you know who you are! Are you the person who comes back from a friends BBQ with 20 bites, while your friend has 1? Why is it that mosquitoes appear to really be attracted to some people more than others? Is it your good looks? Your charm? Your beer??

Keep reading, there is actually some science to be found regarding these little suckers and why they choose YOU.

  1. It’s In Your Blood  mosquito 1

While you might have heard some anecdotal stories about how some people just have “sweeter” blood, the truth is that your blood type does seem to make a difference. One study found that those who have type O blood ( the most common type, of course) tend to be a favorite with those nighttime vampires. While type O isn’t necessarily “sweeter” than other blood types, it does contain a particular sugar that  mosquitoes seem to find super tasty. However, we can guarantee you that if you and your type A friends hit up the woodlands this weekend, the mosquitoes will have no problem making you dinner if there are no type O’s around.

  1. It’s Really IS Your Beer  mosquito 2

You thought we were kidding about that one, didn’t you? Well, in one study ( a very small one, yes, we know) found that those who drank just 350ml of beer  found themselves in mosquito hell. Now we realize that the scientists didn’t indicate that the amount of ethanol in your sweat was the factor, they simply noted that those who drank beer, even tiny amounts, had far more mosquitoes on their skin than those who choose to be the designated driver.

  1. It’s the Way You Breathe   mosquitoe 3

One of the ways we attract mosquitoes is by breathing. While there isn’t much you can do about breathing, you should note that one study found that people who exhaled more heavily (such as those who are angry or those who were dancing) tended to get bit a whole lot more than  those who avoided becoming mouth breathers. Those pesky little buggers find you via carbon dioxide. The more you expel, the easier you are to find.

  1. It’s Your Sweat  mosquito 4

Those annoying little bloodsuckers not only seek out carbon dioxide, the smell of your blood, and the smell of your beer, but they are also on the lookout for something called lactic acid. The type of  mosquitoes which carry Zika and yellow fever are much more attracted to those who have more lactic acid on their skin. This would make even type A’s milk drinkers more attractive! An increase in body temperature, such as would occur when you are exercising or dancing, puts this substance on your skin. You might as well ring the dinner bell!

  1. It’s Your Belly, Ladies  mosquito 5

We mean your baby bump. Why is it that a mosquito seems to be able to find a pregnant woman from two miles away?? In this case, it’s several reasons. One study found that in the last trimester, women exhaled 21 percent more air than non-pregnant females. Another reason is that being preggo increases the blood flow to your skin, which makes you warmer than others. Since these vampires are heat seeking missiles, is it any wonder that they can pick a pregnant woman out of a crowd?

  1. It’s Your Wardrobe  mosquito 6

While smell has a lot to do with how mosquitoes choose their victims, they have pretty good eyesight as well. Mosquitoes are fairly visual creatures, especially in the early afternoon. For some reason, they like darker colors, such as black, navy blue, and red. Try the Madonna routine go “like a virgin” – wear white.

  1. It’s Your Skin  mosquito 4

Last, but certainly not least, according to some research studies, the type and amount of bacteria on your skin can act like a beacon to these blood sucking pests. Our skin is literally a hive of microscopic life. Certain types of bacteria can make a pretty distinct and attractive aroma, at least to mosquitoes. This explains why some types of mosquitoes tend to bite ankles and feet, which tend to be pretty ripe when speaking of bacteria and odor. Take a shower just before you head outside and scrub off that party of bacteria before they open the door to your mosquito buddies.

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Filed Under: About, Health, Healthy Living, How To, Insects, Natural, Pests, Shocking, Truth, Zika Virus Tagged With: attracting mosquitoes, avoiding mosquitoes, Mosquitoes, outdoor pests

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