Bats in Attic Removal

Bats live in a virtually every habitat the United States and use trees, caves, and rock crevices for daytime roosting location. When natural bat habitats overlap with, bats can will roost in mines, under brides, under roofs, in chimneys, but most often inside your attic.

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.

1. Bat Entry Points to Attic
2. Bat in Attic Problems
3. How to Get Rid of Bats in Attic
4. Professional Bat in Attic Removal
5. Signs of Bats in Attic

How do Bats Get into the Attic?

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

Bats pose very little direct danger to people, but it is not a good thing to have bats in the 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, an amateur bat control can put your health at risk.

Bats in Attic Removal

Not only is bat exclusion the most effective way to get rid of bats from roosting in your attic, but it is also the most humane and ethical bat control strategy.

Exclusion tubes are a one-way exit, allowing bats in the chimney to leave but not to return. The process typically takes three to seven days to ensure all bats are out. After a final attic inspection, we remove the valve and seal the final exit point.

Once bats are gone, the professionals at Critter Control will remove any feces and apply sanitization agents to decontaminate the area. In extreme cases, we off full attic restorations and reinstall attic insulation.

Critter Control offers professional bat removal across the country. Where you live will determine when bat removal is possible. In colder climates, you cannot remove or disturb bats during hibernation. During the summer, you can evict bats once the pups can fly on their own.

Evidence of Bats in Attic

1. Piles of guano in the attic, insulation, on your roof, or in your gutters
2. Stains on ceiling or walls from urine
3. Strong smell of amonia in the attic
4. Smudge marks or oily streaks on walls
5. High pitched squeaking noises in your attic

Bat guano is the most obvious sign bats are in the attic.

Bats leave smudge marks near the entry and exit holes.

Occasionally, you will see the bats roosting in your attic.

What bat species are protect?

Some bat species are currently listed as endangered on the federal level. The protected species include the Indiana, hoary hat, gray, Florida bonneted, little Mariana bats, the Mexican long-nosed, Pacific sheath-tailed, Virginia big-eared, and Ozark big-eared.

The federal threatened list includes the Mariana fruit bat and the Northern long-eared bats, while the tri-colored and little brown bats are under review for being endangered.

Do any repellents keep bats out of attics?

There are no bat repellents that work effectively.

One 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.

How can I support bat populations?

A bat house is the best way to create a safe ecosystem for both bats and homeowners.