When a door or window accidentally gets left open, bats are likely to come indoors. They soon leave again, but some bats move in on a long-term basis.
These bats may be living in the attic or another rarely accessed area. Using small holes or cracks, the bats come and go as they please. Regardless of where they are living, it is never a good idea to let nature take its course. Bats can cause illness, and leave a huge mess that must be cleaned.
DOES MY PROPERTY HAVE A BAT INFESTATION?
The only way to be certain if bats are infesting a home or office is to have a professional inspection performed. A bat exclusion technician is trained to look for the signs that indicate that bats have invaded. Moreover, they can identify the openings in the exterior of the structure that the bats are using to get inside.
The bat exclusion professional is dedicated to protecting the occupants of the property from bat infestations over the long term. Accordingly, he may ensure safe removal of the bats, clean up the formerly infested parts of the building and make repairs that will prevent the pests from returning.
The technician will listen for scratching sounds as well as high-pitched squeaks and chirps to discern whether or not bats are present. Additionally, he will need to have access to the attic and other probable areas to examine for signs of an infestation. Over time, bat infestations can become dangerous as bat guano (droppings) accumulate. Long-standing bat infestations are only ended when the nesting area is properly cleaned and disinfected.
Bat guano has a distinctive smell that is reminiscent of ammonia. This odor helps to differentiate bat waste products from the feces of rats and mice. Technicians will use this odor to determine whether bats or another pest are infesting the space.
Bat exclusion technicians also look for dark stains around potential entry points in the exterior of the building. These stains are left behind by an oily residue that is commonly found in bat fur. Such markings are obvious on a house that is painted a light color, but a well-trained eye may be needed to spot them on darker homes or houses that have brick siding.
INSPECTING FOR BAT INFESTATIONS
The inspection is the process utilized by the bat removal specialist to determine whether or not an infestation is ongoing. It is essential that the technician be able to access all parts of the home to determine if the pests are present. Bat problems sometimes are obvious as they are characterized by bat guano on the exterior of the building or obvious grease stains around a hole or crack. However, this is not always the case. Accordingly, it is always wise to have a professional inspection performed to definitively identify the type and extent of the infestation.
BAT IDENTIFICATION
Bat removal professionals are trained to identify bats upon sight. This is critical, because many bat species are protected by federal law. Technicians are trained to carefully and safely remove bats so that they are not accidentally injured or killed. In fact, it is possible to prevent some infestations by sealing all obvious entry points while the bats are foraging for food at night. This ensures that the bats cannot re-enter the structure upon their return.
Some of the most common bats that infest houses include little brown bats, big brown bats and Mexican free-tailed bats. Proper identification is crucial to ensure that the animals are properly treated and removed to a safe location some distance away. Alternatively, access points will be sealed so that bats cannot return to roost and are forced to find suitable shelter elsewhere.
IS DIY BAT REMOVAL POSSIBLE?
Homes and businesses experiencing a mice or rat infestation might consider setting out a few traps. Although such measures only promise dubious success when it comes to controlling a rodent population, they can occasionally kill individual animals.
Bats are another matter altogether. One reason for this is because most bat species are federally protected. Accordingly, it is unlawful to harm or kill these bats, requiring that humane methods be utilized when bat control is performed.
Secondly, bat exclusion can become a tricky process, not only since it is essential to ensure that bats are not harmed during at effort to remove them, but also due to the many ineffective control measures that are available today. For instance, sell ultrasonic devices that claim to emit a sound that drives are widely available. Such devices usually prove ineffective is most instances.
Instead, the best course of action is to leave bat exclusion to professionals who can rely on their training and specialized equipment to deal with infestations. Homes and businesses generally possess neither the knowledge nor the tools to complete the job safely and successfully. Attempting DIY bat removal often results in wasted time and can even make a bat infestation more difficult to accomplish.
RECOVERING FROM BAT INFESTATIONS
After a full inspection, the bat exclusion professional will recommend removal procedures and repairs that are designed to exclude bats from re-entering the building. However, bat exclusion is typically not the only procedure that needs to be performed. In most cases, bat removal also involves professional cleaning and disinfection of the attic and other infested areas.
If the bat infestation was brought under control shortly after it was first discovered, this may not be a huge job. Conversely, larger, long-standing infestations will likely require extensive restoration.
This is because bat guano and urine are dangerous to people. Bat guano eventually develops bacteria spores that lead to respiratory ailments like Histoplasmosis. People who suffer from otherwise unexplained chills, fever, cough, headache, body aches and chest pain may be suffering from this illness and require immediate medical attention.
Bat removal professionals having the training and equipment to clean disinfect affected areas so that all traces of guano and urine are safely removed. The cleanup process may also require the removal and replacement of contaminated insulation.
Once the bats have been evicted, the home or business home has been bat proofed, and all affected areas have been cleaned and disinfected, occupants can resume life without the presence of the uninvited guests.
Bat control can be complicated and potentially dangerous involving many procedures that are governed by state law. A licensed pest management professional should always be consulted to ensure safe and proper bat removal, decontamination, and prevention.
