The most common bat in the Oakland, California area is the Little Brown Bat. They feed on flying insects and roost in small groups. Bats are known to use roosting niches that are indoors or sheltered like roof eaves, shutters, attics, porches, as well as loading docks in commercial settings.
They are different from most other pests that inhabit houses because of their potential for spreading rabies, the most important public health hazard associated with bats.
Why You Need to Get Rid of Bats
Despite the fact that bats consume many insects in a single feeding, there are many health risks involved with a bats in attic or bats in basement. Many bats transmit diseases, such as rabies, and the defecation of bats in homes have been known to cause health problems. This is why it is important that trained experts handle and remove the bats in your basement or attic.
Once inside your house, bats can cause an array of problems, so it is important to contact the Critter Control office to implement effective bat removal and exclusion. Bat droppings and urine in the house can leave foul odors. The associated noises from bats living in your attic or walls can be very bothersome. Furthermore, some bats carry harmful diseases, like rabies, and histoplasmosis may be present in their droppings, especially if the droppings accumulate in moist areas. A professional should always handle these bat situations in your house.
Signs of Bats in the Home
If youʼve noticed droppings, or stains on the side of your house or noises from bats in attics, itʼs possible that bats have made their way inside. Droppings and staining are common identifiers of bat entry. You may also have bats in your house if you hear scratching sounds in the attic, or within the walls. If you experience any of this in your house, the next step is to perform a bat watch. You will likely notice bats flying in and out of your house around sunset. If you see any bat activity in or around your house, call Critter Control for professional bat control assistance.
Bat Removal in Oakland
The most effective and humane way to remove bats is by utilizing a bat valve in conjunction with a full home exclusion. A bat valve allows for bats to exit your home but not re-enter. Since each bat removal is unique, our specialist will use or create a bat valve specifically for your home. Our inspector will determine the proper amount of bat valves to be used, but most removals only require one bat valve.
Once the bat valve is installed, all other entry points will be sealed, allowing for bats to only exit through the valve. The removal process typically takes 3-7 days. Our specialist will perform a final attic inspection before removing the valve. After removing the valve, the final entry point will be sealed, leaving your home bat-free.
Bat Exclusion and Habitat Modification
Some bats return to the same roost year after year. If you want to prevent bats from entering your home, preventative exclusion is the best precaution you can take. Because bats are not chewers like rodents, they only utilize existing entry points to make their way into your home.
Another way to help prevent bats is to keep outside lights turned off at night. The lights will attract insects, and insects are a huge food source for bats.
Bats also drink a lot of water, so minimizing water sources around your property, if possible, is a way to prevent bats and other wildlife from being a nuisance.
However, with your home excluded, bats are great to have around. Bats will help reduce the insect population around your house, and they also pollinate many flowers and crops that we utilize every day.