The Town of Hempstead is expanding the installation of bat houses in the area as a way to battle against mosquitoes.

The town has been using bat houses - which look similar to birdhouses - in local parks since 2007.

"We're looking for natural ways to get rid of mosquitoes and a great way to do that is by using natural predators," says North Hempstead Supervisor Judi Bosworth. "Bats can eat up to 1,000 mosquitoes an hour, and what a wonderful alternative that is to spraying pesticides."

Scout troops are working with the town to build more bat houses and renovate the ones already there.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the Zika virus' primary carrier is a tropical mosquito not found on Long Island. Some scientists, however, say the Asian tiger mosquito, which appears on Long Island in small numbers, may also carry the virus.