Bats are an important part of a healthy ecosystem. They can consume a substantial amount of bugs each night, and they serve as pollinators for local plants. For those with large bat populations nearby, the presence of mosquitoes and other unwanted insects often decreases as a result. However, bats can go from helpful to harmful quickly if they take up residence in your home. This is when timely bat removal becomes important, especially as bat mating season comes around.
If you suspect that bats are making your home their own, do not delay when taking action. The longer bats stay in your attic or walls, the more damage they do. Some damage can be difficult or even impossible to remediate fully.
Here is how to bat-proof your home before mating season begins.
Key Takeaways
- Bats are a valuable asset in the local ecosystem, but that does not mean they are welcome to invade homes.
- A bat problem should be addressed quickly to prevent damage to the home and potentially fatal illness in humans.
- Bat mating season occurs in late summer, making this the prime time for bat invasion.
- Bat-proofing using one-way doors or calling the professionals should occur as soon as possible after noticing the bats.
- Professionals have tools, experience, and equipment to remove bats in accordance with local regulations.
When Is Bat Mating Season?
Every species of bat is slightly different, but in general, expect that bat mating season occurs in late summer and progresses through the middle of autumn. During this time, the bats seek out mates and then look for warm, stable, protected places in which to spend the winter. While the bats will not have their babies until spring, allowing them to shore up a reliable home in the meantime can make it even more difficult to get them out later, with or without their offspring.
Why Bat-Proofing Is Important
Bat-proofing is superior to bat removal because it stops the problem before it starts. It also protects homeowners from the many risks that bats can pose. For example, bats are frequent carriers of rabies, and because their teeth are so small, many people who are bitten by bats do not even realize it. This could leave you exposed to rabies, an untreatable disease once its progression begins, without your knowledge.
Additionally, bat droppings (called guano) can harbor fungus that is transmitted through the air by your HVAC system. If these fungal spores get into your lungs, they can cause a pneumonia-like condition called histoplasmosis. This condition is particularly serious because not everyone recovers from it.
Finally, bat-proofing stops bats from harming your home. Guano is heavy and moist, which can gradually cause ceilings to cave or supporting structures to rot.
The Most Common Entry Points for Bats
Bats can fit through holes as small as 3/8 of an inch, so even if you do not see obvious entry points, they can still get in. Pay attention to stained, oily-looking smudges around your home, as the batsā fur can rub against the house at their entry locations, leaving smudges behind.
When looking for the small gaps through which bats infiltrate, pay special attention to your roofing, vents, and siding. All of these can begin to pull away from the house over time, leaving space for bats to enter. They also lead to defensible locations within the house that bats might find ideal.
What to Do When Bats Invade
If you think that bats have already made your home their own, acting quickly is of the utmost importance, before babies, heavy guano, and disease can impact your living experience and health. Start by sealing entry points if you can find them.
Consider using bat valves. These one-way doors allow the bats to exit but not re-enter. Many homeowners prefer this more humane way to get rid of bats, and a large number of jurisdictions mandate the humane removal of bats due to their invaluable role in the ecosystem. Thus, poisons and other kill-focused methods may be prohibited by law.
If you want to make sure the job is done right and in accordance with your local laws, be sure to contact a professional!
Get Professional Help With Bat Removal
Bat removal is serious business, and it can get you hurt, cause illness, or harm the environment if done incorrectly. For these reasons, and to make sure the job is done right, trust the task to the professionals.
Contact Spartan Animal & Pest Control to deal with your bat problem the right way. We will create a personalized strategy based on the specific features and vulnerabilities of your home to humanely exclude bats and prevent nesting in attics or crawl spaces.
