Bat Removal
Bats are a frightening animal to many, between their propensity of carrying rabies and their appearance. Rabies is a very serious illness, however the bat carries many, many more diseases that can be potentially deadly. These creatures are so disease-ridden that it is imperative that they are removed as soon as possible. Continue reading this article to find out more about bats, their removal, and why you should do it.
What Problems Do Bats Cause?
Bats cause problems on two fronts: health risks and property damage, both of which can be serious for homeowners and their families and pets. Zoonotic diseases are essentially the number one concern when it comes to being around bats. At their most basic level, zoonotic diseases are bacterial and viral infections that are transmitted to humans by animals. Over 130 different viruses and bacteria have been found to be carried by the average single bat. These winged creatures can be found carrying coronaviruses, Ebola, Marburg, and many other highly deadly diseases. The probability of running into Ebola-ridden bats is very low in the United States, however, there are always possibilities of encountering many deadly diseases in bats. Not only can these diseases be spread through bites, but they can also be encountered if a human makes contact with a bat’s feces.
Structural damage is also a very real concern with bats, as they are not just a health risk. The bat’s favorite place inside of homes is in the attic, and they love to congregate and nest here. As they live in your attic, they will leave their feces, also called guano, everywhere. This guano has the potential to ruin your insulation and create nasty odors and stains all over your attic. This makes it really easy for the diseases found in the bat droppings to be unwittingly carried by humans who have been in the attic for any number of reasons. As you can see, it is imperative to get control of the winged creatures.
Why Are Bats Attracted to My Property?
Bats are unique creatures that require certain conditions to live long, healthy lives. One of the largest requirements for bats that causes them to live in an area is an abundance of food. If you live in an area with a good-sized insect population, it is highly likely that bats are in abundance in your area. Bats also require shelter, and if there are wooded areas near where you live, they certainly will be nesting in there. Finally, having a home or other buildings on a property greatly increases the likelihood of having bats on your property.
When it comes to why bats are attracted to your home, it comes down to one simple factor. Bats love to have shelter, especially when they are preparing to raise their young. Attics provide the perfect place to stay out of cold, nasty weather, and insulation provides excellent nesting material for their young. They will only leave your attic and walls to hunt for insects generally, and they increase their infestation by a lot every year, making them a very serious problem.
How Can I Prevent Bats?
Bats have the ability to squeeze into the most minuscule holes and cracks that are fairly easy to find around people’s homes and buildings. Be sure to check your home’s interior and exterior. Pay special attention to the foundation, the baseboards, walls, the attic, the roof, and your chimney. If any problem areas stand out to you, be sure to seal them up. Oftentimes, an all-weather sealant is an excellent way to patch up the holes or cracks. Some other methods of repair include bolting on sheet metal or replacing rotted wood with good, treated lumber. If you think the problem might be originating with your roof, there are many products sold that are designed specifically for this, such as mesh fencing you can run over your shingles.
Chimneys are a serious entrance point for bats that many homeowners neglect to consider. Most chimneys found in the United States do not have the proper chimney guard that keeps out animals while allowing smoke and heat to disperse. On the market today are a variety of different chimney guards that allow heat and smoke from your fireplace to permeate it, while still keeping out any stray bats, squirrels, and birds. Obvious, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, as bats can find their way into the most impenetrable homes.
How Do I Remove Bats?
While bats may be infuriating for homeowners, it is important to understand that bats are actually something nature needs. Bats eat unbelievably huge amounts of insects, and most of the time it is the insects that humans are not fans of, such as mosquitoes and moths. That, in addition to the fact that some bat species are endangered, are important to consider when you are thinking of removing bats. It is imperative that bats are removed in the most humane way possible, so they can be relocated to different areas where they can cut down the harmful insect populations. With better chances of getting bitten or scratched during removal, it is certainly not recommended that homeowners try to remove bats on their own. If you insist on a do-it-yourself approach, be sure to consider installing one-way doors in your attic. These one-way doors allow bats to leave your attic but bar their entrance back inside. It is a pain-free and completely humane way to remove bats from your premises. Due to the legal restrictions and potential for personal harm, it is recommended that homeowners hire a wildlife removal service to remove bats, regardless of which method you want to try.
Why Hire Wildlife Removal Michigan?
There are many reasons you should hire Wildlife Removal Michigan to get bats away from your home permanently. Obviously, the biggest reason you should consider hiring our experts is so that you and your family are not harmed during the removal process. Another important reason has to do with legal issues, as you will prefer to hire a company that is allowed permission to get bats out of your home and property, as there are many strict rules for a variety of the endangered bat species found in Michigan. In addition, the humane removal of animals is important to most homeowners, and this is an area in which Wildlife Removal Michigan professionals shine. One other essential reason you should call our experts is that simply removing the bats does next to nothing. Once the bats have been removed from your property, it is vital that experts look over your house to find any potential problem areas and fix them. If you are a resident of Michigan, consider giving Wildlife Removal Michigan a call, as we have been proud to be a leader of this service for years, and we have the skills and experience to help you get rid of your bat problem once and for all.
What is the Best Way to Remove Bats?
Finding bats in your home may seem like a homeowner’s worst nightmare. That’s because it is. Bats are major vectors of disease; they gather in large numbers and leave a trail of devastation in their wake. Whilst the fear of bats readily subsides, these consequences don’t. That’s why all homeowners should know the best way to remove bats and here is a great source to learn more about bat removal at batremoval.org
The most obvious solution is also the most pragmatic: hire a professional. Wildlife Removal Michigan is a successful and effective solution to a bat infestation. Considering the risk of disease and attack, it’s one we seriously recommend you consider.
Alternatively, here is a range of potential removal methods for bats.
Look for entry points
If you’ve located bats in your home, they’re entering the property through a hole somewhere. Finding these holes is the secret to securing your property and ensuring the bats don’t return.
Look for areas on the outside that are stained brown. Over time, bats entering the property will rub their bodies against the side of the house. They’ll leave behind their body oil which gradually builds up. It’s a clear indicator of exit points.
It’s also best to observe bats around dusk. You’ll likely be able to see them emerging from your property. Of course, you can also look for them entering around dawn. It’s generally easier to spot them at dawn than dusk.
Create a repellent
Inside the attic, you’ll want to create a repellant that will force the bats to leave. Bats prefer dark, quiet locations. Therefore, loud noise or a continual light source will often scare them off. Remember, you’re not allowed to kill bats in most jurisdictions. That’s because bats serve a useful purpose in keeping the mosquito population down. Without bats, we’d find ourselves facing another kind of pest.
Nevertheless, repellents only work so long as they are active. And there’s no guarantee they’ll ward off all the bats.
Exclusion devices
That’s where exclusion devices come in. These one-way openings fit into the entry points in an attic, thereby letting the bat leave but preventing their return. It’s the most effective, humane, and legal method of removal. In a few short nights, all the bats will be gone. The alternative is to trap the bats. But considering bats fly, that can be extremely tricky and dangerous.
You’ll find exclusion devices available online or even from your local pet store. Also known as ‘bat cones’, you can install them into attic spaces and chimneys. Make sure to seal up larger exits with mesh. Any gaps will defeat the bat cone’s purpose.
Repeat the inspection
Once all the bats have been removed from your attic, it’s time to begin cleaning up. It’s also sensible to make a second inspection of the attic’s interior. Feel for any drafts or light shafts that indicate an entryway to the outside. Bats can squeeze through holes as small as a quarter-inch. Therefore, no exit should be left unsealed.
Hire a professional
Handling this process can seem pretty daunting at first. But you don’t have to deal with it alone. With full protective equipment on hand, Wildlife Removal Michigan is ready to deal with any bat-related problem. We’ll rid your home of bats and prevent any future recurrence. So, please get in touch. Bat removal and clean-up is a difficult and dangerous procedure. That’s why you need an expert. Using time-proven techniques, we guarantee the best results. You’ll never have to deal with another infestation again.
We look forward to hearing from you.
How to Remove Bats From Chimney?
Bats are very shy creatures who love dark places and prefer to live in secluded areas. They are nocturnal mammals that only come out after dark to hunt. These animals are known to invade homes, especially the upper section of buildings such as chimneys, roofs, and attics. Bats in the home are always a thing of concern, and they can cause serious damage to your property. So, how do you handle bats in your chimney?
How to Get Bats Out of the Chimney
If you have noticed the presence of bats in your chimney, the most ideal course of action is to contact professionals, since they are trained to handle wildlife and will be able to quickly get the situation under control.
However, if you want to try your hands are bat removal (which we do not recommend), here are the step you should take;
Step 1: Do a thorough inspection to sniff out entry points
Bats do not magically appear in your home. They come in from somewhere, and the key to successfully evicting them and keeping them out is to find out all the places they crawl in from. Since bats are very small creatures, they are able to crawl through very small spaces and gaps in the building. It could be a crack in the roof or on the wall, or through a window. Look carefully for the greasy stains of bats and let them guide you to the areas where the bats sneak in.
Step 2: purchase and install a bat exclusion device
Next is to install an exclusion device. The best way to humanely and carefully get rid of bats from your home is by using a bat exclusion device. This device is designed to allow exit only, and once the animal is outside, it becomes impossible for it to get back inside. By installing an exclusion device on the main entry point of bats, you can easily get them to leave safely. Exclusion devices are sold in pet stores, if you can’t find one in your local pet stores, you will find them available online.
Step 3: inspect the installation
It’s not enough to install an exclusion device, you also need to frequently check to see that it has been used, and the bats are safely out of your building. You also have to check to see that the device was properly installed, and no bat was stuck in it.
Step 4: Seal the bat entry point
Once all the bats have successfully left the building, it’s now time to remove the exclusion device and thoroughly seal all the holes. Take your time to carefully seal them using an effective sealant. If you don’t do a superb job of sealing all the tiny holes in your building, the bats will find their way back in. Identifying and sealing all the holes is one of the most important aspects of evicting animals, and is it simply what guarantees the success of the project. No hole should be left unsealed.
Step 5: Cleaning & Disinfection
One of the most obvious problems associated with bat infestation is the amount of destructive guano and urine they leave behind. An adult bat can defecate up to 30 times in a day, and bats always live in colonies of 10 to hundreds of bats. If a colony of 10 bats living in your chimney or attic for a few weeks, there would be a significant amount of guano to clean up. Now, this clean-up has to be very carefully done with full protective gear and a powerful fungicide. Bat guano harbors a fungus that when inhaled causes serious respiratory disease.