There are thirteen documented bat species in Indiana. Six species use underground sites to hibernate in like caves, mines, or tunnels. During the summer, they will use caves, trees, or other structures. There are four species of bats that either roost during the summer reproductive season or migrate in spring and fall.
The most common bats to find inside a house are the big brown bat and the little brown bat. Most often, homeowners in Indianapolis will find a bat maternity colony roosting in the attic or walls during the summer. Once a colony of bats is established, resulting bat problems for homeowners range from general noise and smell nuisances to the heightened risk of contracting illnesses.
Bat Entry Points into Attics
Depending on the time of year and the species of bat, they enter attics either to hibernate or give birth. Attics offer the warmth, humidity, and shelter necessary for rearing young pups.
Bats gain access to attics through gaps in roof shingles, mortar, windows, doors, and home ventilation systems. Gable vents are a common bat entry point into the attic.
Conflicts that arise from bat infestations in the attic range from unsightly messes to health risks, and some of the more negligible issues associated with bat presence include their insistent squeaking sounds and the strong musky odor that is excreted from their scent glands.
Bat Problems in Your Attic
One of the biggest bat problems is the collection of bat droppings, also called guano. Bat guano can introduce health risks to you and your family and damage your attic.
Guano provides a hospitable environment for the fungal spores that cause Histoplasmosis, a respiratory ailment, to grow. When droppings accrue, the spores become airborne and can be breathed in by residents. During bat removal, the Critter Control experts wear respirators to protect themselves.
Bat guano collects under the roost location. The longer a infestation the larger the pile of bat droppings. They can contaminate your insulation and weaken your ceiling.
In rare cases, a bat can find itself in the living space of your home. It is exceedingly rare for bats to bite you, but it can be difficult to find a bat bite spot. Additionally, bats are known carriers of rabies. If someone has been in the same room with a bat, it is prudent to seek medical attention or contact the local health department.
How to Get Rid of Bats in Your Attic
Not only do bats provide environmental and economic benefits, but also bat populations are threatened. Human behavior like wind turbines and pesticides hurt bat populations. White-nose syndrome is a fungal disease that spreads through bat colonies and has almost eliminated the Northern long-eared, little brown, and tri-colored bats.
Before you attempt a DIY bat removal, there are state and federal protections for bats. It is illegal to kill or trap bats in the attic. If flightless pups are present you cannot install bat exclusions. Finally, without proper protection, amateur bat control can put your health at risk.
Problems with Bats in Walls
In addition to creating noise, a bat in house walls may become stuck. This is especially common for young bats, which have not yet mastered flying. If left alone, trapped bats often starve and die in wall voids, attracting rodents, cockroaches, and other pests with the smell of decay.
Baby Bats in Wall Voids
When homeowners seal off access points to exclude a colony of bats in the walls, newborn bat pups may remain in the roost. These juveniles are flightless and depend on their mothers for roughly the first three months of their lives. For this reason, residents should avoid bat-proofing homes from May to July.
Getting Rid of Bats in Walls
Attempting to seal entrances without removing all bats first can also push the pests into other areas of the home. Bats without an exit route are more likely to find their way into living spaces, looking for a way out. Residents who discover bats in house walls or elsewhere should contact the wildlife experts at Critter Control.
Why Do Bats Roost in Chimneys?
Chimneys provide easy access entry points for bats. These animals enter chimneys to hibernate and reproduce. Homeowners with a maternity colony of bats inside their chimneys may have a long-lasting problem on their hands. The animals have strong homing instincts and usually return to the same roosts. A bat can live for over six years, and females give birth to a litter of pups every season.
Issues with Bats in Chimneys
Wherever they roost, Bat droppings (or guano) and urine accumulate. The build-up of guano on bricks and shingles leads to a musty odor and contaminated runoff during rainstorms. Bats in chimneys also create dark, oily stains similar to those left by rodents.
Any time bats live near humans, there is a definite risk of contracting rabies from a bite. Even a dead bat can spread the disease. In addition, airborne spores produced in the pests’ droppings may transmit histoplasmosis to humans.
How to Get Bats Out of a Chimney
If you do have bats in the chimney, keep the flue shut! Not only is exclusion the most effective way to deter bats from roosting in your chimney, but it is also the most humane and ethical bat control strategy.
- Exclusion tubes – This device is a one-way exit, allowing bats in the chimney to leave but not to return.
- Mesh screens – Placing wire mesh over the top of the chimney keeps bats out, though it is important to avoid trapping any animals inside.
- Chimney caps – Similar to a mesh screen, a cap stops pest wildlife from entering.
Important caveat- you cannot install bat exclusion if baby bats are present. During summer months, colonies of bats roost in chimneys.
Professional Bat Removal Services
Our specialist will use or create a bat valve specifically for your home. Once the bat valve is installed, all other entry points will be sealed, allowing bats to exit only 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.
Remember that many states have regulations preventing bat control during maternity season. Call a Critter Control professional for details in your state. They know the rules regarding each bat species, ensuring you remain compliant with the laws.
Bat Exclusion
Some bats return to the same roost year after year. Preventative exclusion is best to keep bats from entering your home. Because bats are not gnawers like rodents, they only utilize existing entry points to enter your home. We practice bat exclusions not bat extermination!
While you may not want them inside your home, bats are important to the ecosystem. Bats help reduce the insect population and pollinate many flowers and crops we utilize daily. An estimated $1 billion annually can be saved in crop damage due to bats. They disperse seeds, which help replant trees and plants.
