​Let’s Talk Poop

You already know that bat guano is black gold! It is high in nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Besides these three major nutrients, the guano contains all the minor and trace elements necessary for a plant’s overall health. It provides beneficial bacteria and fungi while the bioremediation microbes clean toxins from the soil. The microbes found in guano help combat fungus and destroy nematode worms.  That is some pretty amazing poop!

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Guano is not considered toxic and it does not transmit rabies. As a matter of fact, it isn’t any more harmful than a bird or cat droppings. Even so, having an accumulation of feces is never healthy. Bat guano can spread histoplasmosis. This illness primarily affects the lungs; it is spread by breathing in a fungus that grows in accumulated guano. Luckily, the natural elements - sun, rain, and wind will naturally break down most of it. If you have a large colony it may be necessary to collect and remove the guano. This can be done by placing a shallow tray or potted plant under the bat house. Deep containers, such as buckets or barrels, should not be used unless a very small mesh, less than ¼-inch, is used to cover the top as baby bats may fall and become entangled or trapped.