You’ve unfortunately found some uninvited houseguests: bats in the attic. Now you have to deal with the eviction and clean-up, and you probably have some questions about the mess and the best way to handle it. 

Do you need wildlife removal services? Request a quote today!

Is bat dung in your attic dangerous? Yes, it is. Serious health hazards and safety concerns result when bat dung isn’t properly cleaned and disposed of. Keep reading to find out more.

Histoplasmosis

Is bat dung in your attic dangerous? Histoplasmosis says yes. This disease, commonly associated with bats, may vary in symptoms but can be fatal if untreated. People contract this disease when they inhale the spores of the Histoplasma capsulatum fungus. Anyone can get it simply by having bats in the home. However, getting rid of bat guano yourself increases your chances of contracting this disease. It primarily affects the lungs, but other organs aren’t completely off limits. 

Histoplasma capsulatum grows on the guano as a fungus and is unfortunately transmitted by airborne fungus spores. Any bat droppings found in soil have now contaminated the soil, meaning histoplasmosis can be found there as well. 

Most infections are mild with no symptoms or minor flu-like ones, but they can also be quite serious, including high fever, blood abnormalities, and pneumonia. You want to avoid exposure to dusty environments likely to be contaminated with these droppings.

Parasites, Ticks, Bacteria, Oh My!

Bat dung is also home to other dangerous diseases and parasites carried over from the bats’ bodies. Any contact should be avoided at all costs. Even with a DIY clean-up, it’s important to use the utmost care. 

In addition, fungi, like Histoplasma capsulatum, can grow wherever droppings land. Contaminated spaces are dangerous. Thorough sanitizing processes are necessary. 

Bat poop harbours dangerous bacteria that can invade buildings. It’s also a breeding ground for flies, which multiply quickly to create an even bigger problem to deal with. While some parasites may die quickly after bats leave, others can live for several weeks. It’s clear how bat dung in your attic is dangerous.

Safety First

Removing bat dung yourself requires more than careful handling. Minimize the risk of disease in your home. Any insulation poop may have come into contact with must be removed in case spores have grown there. Contaminated wood has to be scraped. And other spaces that may be contaminated must be either sanitized or removed. The professionals will use a machine that mists disinfectant onto every surface of the attic to kill all bacteria and spores.

Touching bat droppings without proper disposal methods is a surefire way to get infected. At a minimum, use sealed garbage bags, disposable gloves, a mask, and coveralls. After cleaning up, dispose of everything—even the clothes, in sealed plastic bags, giving bacteria no chance of escape.

Now that you know bat dung in your attic is dangerous, you should think about calling a wildlife removal service to thoroughly clean your attic and return your home to a safe state. Not only will the professionals decontaminate and remove the poop, they’ll repair holes in the attic and refit gaps so bats can’t return.

Is bat dung in your attic dangerous? This article has hopefully proven to you that it is.

Do you need wildlife removal services? Request a quote today!

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