Having any type of wildlife infestation can be frustrating and inconvenient. It can be a nuisance. But when it comes to birds and bats, the problem is far more serious than a simple nuisance. These animals can leave behind significant damage and pose health risks to you and your family.
After a humane wildlife removal company has evicted the birds and bats, there’s still work to be done. You will need attic restoration services. Attic restoration can eliminate potential damage left behind.
Fire Hazards
Birds and bats will often build their nests in vents, chimney shoots, and other ventilation areas. They’ll use flammable materials to do so, including twigs, grass, and leaves. These materials can be set alight when you heat your home. As a result, you must identify and remove these nests immediately.
Guano and Urine
After the bats and birds are removed, you’ll find yourself dealing with fecal pellets and urine everywhere—in wall recesses, on the floor, and between walls and ceiling.
Not only is guano and urine unsanitary, but it will also produce a pungent, acrid smell as it decomposes. You’ll be able to smell it throughout your entire home. A significant accumulation can even collapse ceilings. The stains can produce unsightly conditions. And over time, the guano may also produce dangerous mould.
Property Damage
Bats and birds can damage your property in a few ways during their residency. Bats in particular may chew on your insulation, walls, and your home’s electrical wiring. This can weaken the structure of your home.
Also, bird droppingscontain corrosive uric acid. This acid canstain and damage building materials. These materials will be more prone to breakage due to the corrosive effect of the acid over time.
Stains
As they move around your home, birds and bats will leave behind oily, sticky stains on your walls, between bricks, and under loose woodwork. These stains are a mixture of fur oil, bodily secretions, and dust. You’ll need to clean and decontaminate your home to get rid of all these stains left behind.
Public Health Concerns
The biggest risk associated with birds and bats in the home comes from the myriad diseases they carry through their droppings.
Histoplasmosis is a particularly serious concern. It’s a fungus with spores that can go airborne when disturbed. When breathed in, these spores can cause a lung infection that’s difficult to detect and can be very serious for those with weakened immune systems. Histoplasmosis spores most often go airborne when cleaning processes or renovations disturb the guano.
Bats are rabies vector species: while most animals infected with rabies die shortly after transmission, bats can be infected with the virus and still live long lives without showing symptoms. They can transmit the rabies virus through bites. Rabies is nearly always fatal. Homeowners should never attempt to handle bats found in the home.
Ectoparasites and Arthropods
Ectoparasites are parasites that live on the outside of their hosts. Birds are carriers of more than 50 ectoparasites, including bed bugs, yellow mealworms, and chicken mites. After you’ve removed the bats or birds, these ectoparasites can remain in your home. These parasites can bite humans and pets. They can also make their way into other areas of your home.
Besides bringing ectoparasites into your home, birds and bats may also attract arthropods, such as cockroaches. They can then become a nuisance in your home. You need wildlife removal professionals for fumigation and decontamination of the home to permanently eliminate these problems.
Do you need wildlife removal services? Request a quote today!