We are very busy this time of year with service calls to remove bats. The thought of a bat in your home is frightening. It conjures up thoughts of fast flying and swooping animals getting caught in your hair or biting you. Not so. Bats are voracious feeders- they love bugs! There are benefits to having bats around your home, but not in it.
What are bats?
Bats are actually mammals and they are the only mammals that are capable of truly sustained flight. (Flying squirrels just glide.) Bats are nocturnal and on average live about 15-20 years. With more than 40 types of bats in the US and Canada, and over 1200 species worldwide, only a few of them are real troublemakers.
Bat fun facts:
- Bats are not really blind.
- Not all bats hang upside down.
- Bats are nuts about being clean! They both self-groom and groom each other!
- Baby bats are called pups and are nursed by their mother.
- They are super-fast flyers with speeds upwards of 75 mph.
Why do bats come into our homes?
Outside of our homes, bats provide insect control feeding on pests and mosquitoes. Inside our homes in the attics and crawl spaces, they can nest, and their droppings or guano can carry disease.
Bats do not enter a house on purpose, but often times following drafts of cool air on a warm summer night. Since they are nocturnal, you may not notice them entering your attic or eves via spaces as small as a quarter. When it gets too hot in the attic, they travel within the walls or vents looking for that cool air flow. They do not want to be in your human living area. There is little to feed on and they prefer the environmental replication of a cool cave. They often times exit your home to feed on insects at night and return to your home that night so they can sleep during the day.
Are bats dangerous to my family and pets?
Bats can carry diseases, including rabies which can be deadly. Their droppings, called guano contain a fungus that causes Histoplasmosis. Histoplasmosis is a type of lung infection with symptoms somewhat like the flu. Seek medical treatment immediately if you are unsure if you have contracted Histoplasmosis.
According to the American Kennel Club, if your pet is up to date on vaccinations then they should be okay for any exposure. If you are unsure, visit your veterinarian.
How do I get rid of bats?
First we need to perform an inspection to see how they are getting into your home. They can enter via a one-inch gap in siding, roofing, vents, and soffits. Often times there are brown droppings indicating an entry point.
The technicians at Accurate Pest Control will evaluate the structure and locate areas where bats have gained entry. Exclusion Services from AccuShield provides a comprehensive evaluation of the structure and the results are reviewed with the homeowner or business owner. A complete course of action is determined and executed. We install bat cones, allowing the bats to leave the structure but cannot return- it is a one-way tube! Eventually they all just leave on their own. We do not trap bats unless they are physically flying around your living space. It is recommended to get them evaluated for rabies if found in living spaces.
We also install bat houses which allow the bats to have somewhere to go nearby encouraging them to continue to feed on mosquitoes and insects in a safe environment.
Is it illegal to kill bats?
In some states, it is illegal to kill bats. The northern long-eared bat is protected as a threatened species under both federal and New York State Endangered Species law. Anyone entering a northern long-eared bat hibernation site from October 1 through April 30, the typical period of hibernation for bats, may be subject to prosecution.
At Accurate Pest Control we are knowledgeable and abide by all state and local laws and requirements for safe and humane treatment, removal, and rehabilitation of all pests and nuisance wildlife.
Be safe and call a professional.
Please do not attempt to capture bats or treat them in any way. Call us for 24-hour emergency service at 518.374.0357.
Bat Eradication: Inspection to determine points of entry. Install one-way funnel over exit/entry points. All other potential exit/entry points will be sealed to prevent bat access in other areas of structure. Place monitors in the attic to view any activity. Removal of one-way funnels and seal exposed entry points in late summer. Three-year warranty.
Not only do we eradicate unwanted bats from your structure in a humane way, we will perform emergency live bat removals, drop off captured bats to labs to be tested for rabies, clean up any damage or destruction left behind, and disinfect bat guano. We install bat houses to provide a new safe nesting location for the eradicated bats and take all measures to insure safety and care to both the bats and the homeowner and family.
Resources: https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/what-do-about-bats and?https://www.dec.ny.gov/press/111753.html? and https://www.doi.gov/blog/13-facts-about-bats
