VIRGINIA BEACH--Don't be surprised if you see bats swarming in Virginia Beach.
There's a new effort to start a colony for the flying mammals on Kendall Street in Cape Henry Shores.
"If we put up bat houses and give them space to be among us, they will help us a lot by eating tons of insects all night long," says Susan Elwell.
It's estimated that one brown bat can eat up to a thousand mosquitoes an hour.
Elwell is paying for two bat houses that would house up to 400 bats. The houses are being installed by Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation Department on city land in front of First Landing State Park.
The city says it's a community and city partnership. The city would help with the installation but it's up to citizens to maintain the bat houses.
"So this concept of bringing it over to the Cape Henry Trail which is maintained by Parks and Recreation is giving an opportunity to take the community and let it grow more," said Shawn Hopson from Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation.
The city says that both the Cape Henry Shores Neighborhood Association and the Cape Story by the Sea Civic League are both in favor of the idea of the bat colony.
Elwell led the charge to get the bat houses installed. She has also written a children's textbook called "There's A Bat in My Hat" about bats.
The two new bat houses are expected to be installed within the next two weeks.
