If bats have settled in your house, you might have a bigger issue on your hands than noise. Invading bats typically trigger structural damage and leave behind droppings that slowly corrode wood and other structural materials. Exposure to bat guano can also result in serious health issues if ignored. That’s why it’s critical to get rid of bats roosting in your home as soon as possible.
Calling an expert pest removal service, like Covenant Wildlife Removal, is the best idea if you’re facing a bat infestation. Continue reading to learn more about these fascinating creatures and how to properly remove them from your property.
Do You Have Bats in Your Home?
Bats are incredible creatures. Despite the bad reputation they get in pop culture and literature, they are surprisingly beneficial for the planet. However, you still want to avoid these animals flying around in your home.
Have you been hearing odd sounds coming from the attic at night? Bats are often confused with other common pests, like squirrels, raccoons, rats, and mice. These critters also make lots of noise when hiding away in your home.
To identify a bat infestation, use the following information:
- Sounds- While you might hear other pests running around during the day, bats are mainly active in the late evening and early morning. If you hear popping, scratching, and clicking noises, you may have bats in your home.
- Observations- Roosting bats will leave behind small dark pellets and brown or yellow surface stains. These are caused by their droppings which are very dangerous to handle. Also, if you see several bats flying around your home in the morning and evening, you may have bats nesting inside.
- Odors- Bats produce a pungent ammonia smell from their waste. So, if you smell this strong scent, it’s worth inspecting to see if there are bats in your home.
Bats in the wild are cave dwellers, hiding from the sun during the day. If caves aren’t available, bats also live in hollow logs, storm drain pipes, and under bridges. In general, any open void is ideal for a bat to roost in. However, as their habitat disappears, bats have no other option but to nest in your house or attic.
Get Rid of Bats– Are Bats Dangerous?
There are many misconceptions about bats. Some of what you have heard about bats may be true, but most are exaggerations or old tales. Let’s clear up the misconceptions by getting familiar with the facts.
Beneficial and Protected Animals
Alabama is home to many bats. Out of the 16 species, two are endangered, meaning their populations are declining, and they receive protection from the government. Knowing more about the bats we share our state with helps to protect them and bring their numbers back.
There are many reasons why bats are good to have around. Here are just a few of the benefits of these fascinating creatures:
- Bats are natural pest control. They eat mosquitos and other notoriously pesky insects.
- They are pollinators of some of the world’s most crucial crops and wild plants.
- Bats aid in the growth of rainforests. When they eat fruit, they spread the seeds through their droppings.
Health Concerns and Property Damage
While bats are necessary for the balance of nature, they may also bring illness, threatening your and your family’s health. For this reason, if you find a bat infestation in your house, you must remove them as quickly as possible. Working with a wildlife removal specialist can ensure you’re not harmed and the protected bats aren’t hurt in the process.
1 | Bats Can Spread Disease—Get Rid of Bats
A common misconception about bats is that they can make a person ill by biting them. In that case, as long as you don’t come in contact with the bats roosting in your attic, you should be safe, right? Unfortunately, this isn’t the case. Diseases that come from bats are primarily spread through their waste. You can even inhale the fungal spores and become infected.
The presence of bats in your home may lead to the following illnesses and more:
- Rabies
- Histoplasmosis
- Salmonellosis
2 | Get Rid of Bats—Some Bats Carry Parasites
Bats are also known for carrying nasty parasites that may be spread to you and your pets. These parasitic pests are often contaminated with their own diseases. In other words, not only are bats spreading insects around your home, but contact with these bugs can make you sick.
Keep an eye out for the following parasites if you suspect bats roosting in your home:
- Bat flies and bat bugs
- Fleas
- Ticks
- Mites
3 | Your Home Can be Damaged by Roosting Bats
Like many pests, bats are capable of damaging your home. But it’s not from scratching or chewing, as you may assume. Bat guano is highly corrosive, causing significant deterioration of structures over time. If you don’t get rid of bats quickly, the collection of their droppings can compromise vital parts of the house. Not to mention, they leave behind permanent stains and stubborn odors.
There’s a Bat in The House, Now What?
The first thing you need to know about the bats roosting in your attic is that it is illegal to kill or harm bats in Alabama. So, if you thought you could solve the problem on your own, consider other options. For example, hiring a professional team to remove bats humanely is your best option.
Of course, there are some DIY methods to get rid of bats in your home. But these measures can be dangerous and often fail. Instead, keep you and your family safe by calling in the experts as soon as you identify the infestation.
Call the Professionals to Get Rid of Bats
A wildlife removal team will be experienced and knowledgeable about the most effective ways to remove the bats from the inside. In most cases, they use a safe and humane method called bat exclusion. During this process, the professional will use netting or tubes to block the entryways, keeping any new bats out. However, their specific devices also allow the bats trapped inside to exit the home without getting hurt.
Bat Prevention Tips
Avoid the hazards of bats by practicing bat prevention. That way, you proactively keep them away without harming the precious bats or dealing with the nasty aftermath of having them roost inside your home.
Many people are choosing to put up bat houses as an alternative to getting rid of bats. Giving them a place to roost near but still outside of your home can keep your insects down and your attic intact. So, you enjoy these incredible creatures’ benefits without facing the threats they come with.
Here are some other ways to prevent bats from entering indoors:
- Make repairs to any damage in your home’s structure, like cracks and holes.
- Use bat doors and chimney caps to cover functional openings, like the chimney or outdoor vents.
- Place decoys of the bat’s predators, like owl statues. This will make your home appear unwelcoming to a colony of bats.
Eliminate the Bats in Your Home with Covenant Wildlife Removal
While some DIY methods can be effective, it’s always best to call a professional team to get rid of bats or any wildlife in your home. You don’t want to put yourself or your family at risk.
At Covenant Wildlife Removal, we have been handling bat removal for years. Let us help you get rid of bats safely and strategically to ensure they don’t come back.
Call Covenant Wildlife Removal to see how we can help you attain a pest-free home today!
