Top Warning Signs You Might Have Bats in the House

Bats are essential contributors to your area’s ecosystem. They eat thousands of bugs every day, sparing your yard from pests such as mosquitoes. However, you should take action immediately if bats begin to colonize your house. Bats can be dangerous for humans and may cause significant structural damage to your home. If you are not sure whether bats have moved in, professionals can help with attic bat detection to give you a definitive answer.

Perhaps you have heard noises at night that have prompted you to consider whether bats might be making your home their own. Or maybe you smell something new. Regardless of your reason, seeking professional help is a smart next move. Here are the top warning signs that you might have bats in the house and why you should act.

Essential Takeaways Bats are important natural predators, but they are highly destructive to homes. Warning signs that you have a bat problem include squeaking sounds, the sight or smell of bat droppings (guano), and oily smudges around the home. Removing bats is necessary because they carry a wide range of diseases, including rabies and histoplasmosis. Professionals are always the best choice for bat removal because they use specialized personal protective equipment and know how to remove bats legally, as many areas prohibit harm to bats.

Warning Signs You Have Bats in Your House

You may not immediately notice the presence of bats in your home. In fact, many people assume that if they do not see bats entering or exiting, there is nothing to worry about. However, bats produce a few important identifying signs, even if you do not see any bats around your property. Pay attention to the signs of bat infestation, such as the following:

• Sounds: If you hear squeaking or fluttering sounds at dusk, you might have bats. Contrary to popular belief that bat echolocation is inaudible to humans, many people can hear their squeaks.
• Guano: Bat droppings are called guano, and you may notice deposits building up in nooks in your home. Guano also emits a notable odor, with many people reporting that it smells strongly of ammonia. If significant guano has been deposited in your house, you might start to notice damp or off-colored spots in the walls and ceiling where the moist feces and urine are soaking through.
• Smudges: Bats have oily fur, and when they slip in and out of your home, they can leave traces of that oil behind. If you notice smudges, especially around seams in your home or by the roof, bats may be coming and going.

Homeowners are not trained in identifying animal intrusions, but professionals are. If you have any uncertainty about whether you are dealing with a bat problem, contact the pros!

Do You Have to Remove Bats?

Bats are important in nature, so why should you be so focused on getting rid of them? It might be tempting to downplay the problem and hope it goes away on its own. However, bats pose substantial health and safety risks that should not be ignored.

First, bats can carry numerous diseases, including rabies. Their guano can cause a respiratory illness called histoplasmosis that can be fatal as well. Thus, even if the bats themselves are out of sight, the air movement in your home could be spreading the spores that cause histoplasmosis.

Additionally, bat guano is heavy and moist. As it accumulates, it can damage your walls and ceilings and, in severe cases, it may even cause them to cave in. The moisture may also rot the wooden elements of your home. Additionally, homeowners often report that the smell of guano is extremely difficult to remove from a house, and so it is ideal to eliminate its source as quickly as possible.

How to Remove Bats

If you have a bat problem, never try to get rid of the bats yourself. Humane and legally compliant bat removal is the purview of professionals for numerous reasons. They have the personal protective equipment to keep them safe from bites and illness, as well as years of experience understanding bat behavior and capture methods.

In addition, many jurisdictions do not allow harm to bats during removal because they are so important for the ecosystem. Trusting the task to professionals keeps you legally secure, so you do not receive any fines or other penalties.

Get Help with Bats in Your House

If you need guidance on attic inspection to see if you have bats, opt for professional help. Home wildlife issues are no small matter, and you could face injury or even death as a result of trying to remediate a bat-infested home on your own.

Contact Spartan Animal & Pest Control to schedule bat removal and get a personalized strategy. We will help you return to a bat-free house and implement fixes to prevent them from returning.