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Trees that provide a habitat to bats and an abundance of bugs—their main food source—will attract bats to your yard. Because the North American landscape has changed so much in recent years, bats have a harder time finding trees with cavities to shelter in. If your yard has a dead or dying tree with a lot of sun exposure, bats will likely be drawn to it because trees with those features are less common.

The brown recluse has numerous predators in the wild (or close to your home). They are a valuable part of the ecosystem, too. Their predators often include birds, praying mantis, crickets, chickens, spider wasps, and more. However, the brown recluse spider is a master at hiding, making it much more difficult for predators to hunt them.

No, you shouldn’t have to worry about bats in your yard as long as they don’t make their way inside your house. Typically, bats hang around backyards in order to consume bugs, especially if they’re located in the U.S. Bats that are native to North America can consume more than 500 bugs per hour, so they may actually benefit your yard if mosquitoes are prevalent.

It can be difficult to know what type of animal is in your attic until you see it. But several clues can help you narrow down the suspects:

• Sounds: Smaller animals like rats and mice make scurrying and tapping/gnawing sounds. Larger animals like raccoons and opossums make louder clambering noises. Also, note when animals are noisy: Squirrels are active during the day, while rats are busiest at night.

• Droppings: Rats and mice leave small, rice-shaped droppings (the rat’s version is significantly larger). Bigger droppings belong to larger critters like raccoons. As long as you’re not squeamish, an image search can help you identify what you’re seeing in your attic.

When in doubt, take photos of damage or other evidence and show them to an experienced pest control pro.