Bats aren’t animals you want to have in your home. Bat infestations are scary ordeals, and present several dangers to your home and health. There are plenty of ways to protect your home against unwanted animals, but sometimes taking preventative measures isn’t enough to hold back Mother Nature. Bats looking for warm and dry places to roost for the winter are drawn to attics, chimneys, or the walls. Bats roosting in your attic will multiply, and very quickly. Male bats roost outside, so any bat in your home would be female therefore presenting an elevated risk of baby bats being born in your home, multiplying the population of the colony exponentially. Below is an extensive guide that will teach you everything you need to know about a bat infestation in your home and attic and how best to proceed.

How to Tell You Have Bats in Your Home

Because bats are very quiet compared to most critters you will encounter in your home and also because they are active in the evening; confirming the presence of bats will take a little investigating:

  • Droppings – bats will use the same entry and exit points to access your home, typically located around your roofline as they almost always reside in your attic. They will often relieve themselves as they squeeze through the opening into your attic leaving visual evidence of their presence. Take a walk around your home and look on the ground and walls for piles of bat guano (dung). Take a look at the picture below to see what bat guano looks like:

Bat Guano

  • Entry Points – As mentioned above, bats will use the same one or two entry points to access your attic and this will most likely be found along your roofline or above. sometimes there are wall vents of vulnerabilities in the siding of homes. Regardless of where the access point is located, you should be able to see it from the exterior of your home. Bats are filthy and will leave a greasy film as well as droppings, staining the area around their entry point. When you’re taking your walk around examining the exterior, keep an eye out above your head for a dirty access point.

Check out this video to see an actual entry point:

  • Sounds and visual confirmation– Bats will vocalize, although not as much as most of their counterparts in your neighbourhood. Because they are active in the evening and at night, that is the best time to keep an ear out for any suspicious sounds. The best way to confirm the presence of bats in your home is to see them leaving. Once we have determined the likely entry access point, sit outside in the evening and keep an eye out in that area. This will be your best chance to actually see them leaving your home.

Get a Free Consultation

Dangers Associated With a Bat Infestation in Your Attic

  • Histoplasmosis – How dangerous is bat guano in your attic? You may have heard that bat guano can be detrimental to your health. Bat droppings, also known as guano, carry the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum. If the bat guano dries up and becomes air born and is inhaled, it will give you a lung infection called histoplasmosis. If histoplasmosis spreads beyond the lungs and into the whole body, it can be fatal. And remember, do not attempt to clean up the bat guano in your attic on your own, contact professionals immediately.
  • Rabies – Next to raccoons, bats are the second largest rabies exposure threats to humans and our pets. The virus is transmitted through the bite of an infected bat, however, you can also be exposed to rabies through contact with bat fur, guano, blood, or urine. Having said all this, no need to stay up at night fretting about rabies. Bat bites in humans are exceedingly rare, but if you suspect you have a bat issue, do not take any chances obviously.
  • Bacterial Growth – An accumulation of droppings enables bacteria to grow. When the powdery guano breaks down, it releases airborne pathogens. As the pile enlarges, it could affect the insulation and attic structure. Droppings over time work their way into the structure, leaving a lasting smell that’s hard to remove.
  • Bat Dying in Your Walls – If you have a dead bat in your walls the stench will become overwhelming, but please do not attempt to get rid of the animal yourself, this can lead to may health issues. On top of the terrible odours, a dead bat if not dealt with quickly will invite insects into that part of your home, which will lead to another entirely different and complex to deal with issue. Contact wildlife removal experts immediately if you suspect a bat has perished in your walls.

Bats Are a Protected Species

Can You Kill a Bat in Your Home?

Bats in Canada are an endangered species and as such are protected under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act. When it comes to bat removal in Ontario, the law is very clear. It is illegal to kill a bat, even if it flies into your home. The Fish and Wildlife act lists several species of bats that are protected. You can find the table below:

 

endangered bat species for Ontario

Why You Can’t Remove Bats From Your Attic in June/July?

Bats generally migrate and return each spring to settle down, but if the climate is warm enough, they may stay year-round. Spring is mating season. This is the best season to evict bats because they aren’t fully settled, and they’re flying around a lot at night, searching for insects and food to survive. Once June hits, it’s illegal to install bat doors as these will lock the mothers out leaving the babies to perish without their mother’s support. You must wait until the babies are older (August) until further preventative measures can be employed.

Steps To Take Next

If you suspect you have a bat colony living in your walls or attic, contact a wildlife removal expert immediately. Bat removal should only be completed by professionals. Because of the dangers listed above from bat guano and other bacteria and diseases, along with the fact they are a protected species. It’s important you call professionals immediately and do not attempt this on your own. The risks and legal repercussions are not worth the savings.

What Does Bat Removal and Prevention Look Like

It would be impossible to individually remove each bat. As mentioned earlier they are a protected species, so it is illegal to exterminate them. The only way to legally and effectively remove the entire colony is through thorough prevention measures and the use of a one-way-door system. We seal up every possible entry point and place a one-way door on the main entry and exit point. These doors are basically cones placed on the exit areas with a much narrower opening at the end. The bats can crawl through the cone and exit, but will not be able to fly back in once they attempt to return. This will ensure they have locked themselves out permanently. Many bats will leave during the first night, however, it typically takes about 6 weeks to ensure the entire colony has been excluded. Once the animals are successfully evicted we return to remove the door and seal up the area.

Do you need wildlife removal services? Request a quote today

Share This