Spring and summer are the most common times of year for people in Raleigh-Durham to experience a bat infestation. Bats are relatively harmless to people. It is exceedingly rare to get bitten by a bat. In fact, bats around your property can help with pest control. Flying insects like mosquitoes make up the majority of their diet.
But bats in the attic are dangerous. People tend to notice a foul odor first. The accumulation of guano and urine damages insulation, spreads diseases, and creates a foul odor. It’s also common to see bats flying out of your house, especially if the maternity colony is rather large. Bats leave rub marks or dark smudges where they crawl out of your attic. Finally, if you have bats in the attic, you can hear chirping or squeaking sounds.
Follow a bat inspection with the Critter Control team in Durham.
Bat Guano in Attic Insulation
How to Find Where Bats are Getting In
Bats cannot create their own opening like other nuisance wildlife, but they need a gap no bigger than 3/8ths of an inch—about the size of a dime. The only efficient bat control is to seal all entry points. If you leave one gap open, the bats can return.
The most common bat entry points on a house:
- Attic vents
- Soffits
- Fascia boards
- Ridge Vents
- Gable Vents
- Roof returns or eaves
- Siding
- Chimneys
To illustrate the variety of entry gaps a bat uses, follow along this visual tour.
Fascia Boards Behind the Gutter
Bats found a construction gap on the fascia board of this house. Construction gaps are common in the South. They help with attic ventilation and can prevent leaks.
Loose Shingles
Some of these can be difficult to see. The bats were able to squeeze under loose shingles where to roof ends and meets the gutters.
Roof Vents
If there is a bat infestation in the attic, every roof vent needs to be checked. From the ground, these may seem secure, but it is impossible to spot a dime-sized hole from 20 feet away. During the Critter Control bat inspection, we climb onto the roof and scour the attic to find all entry points.
Soffits
These soffit vents have no apparent damage, but a bat can get through these gaps!
Other Bat Entry Points
Bats Behind the Shutters
Bats look for darkness for shelter during the day. Some species will roost on trees, under leaves or bark. The small gap between the exterior of the wall and the window shutters provides all the space a bat needs.
Professional Bat Removal
Humane bat removal is best left to the professionals at Critter Contorl. Most homeowners do not have the experience or the skills to identify all the potential bat entry points on your house. Attempting DIY bat removal can leave you vulnerable to a continued bat infestation. Furthermore, Most states have specific dates when bat removal can be done. If juvenile bats are present (commonly the case during the summer), it is inhumane to install bat exclusions. The mothers cannot return to the juveniles, leaving the young starving. At Critter Control, we have the training and experience to find all bat entry points which is essential for effective bat removal.
All photos courtesy of Critter Control Triangle