Bats have a reputation for being scary creatures shrouded in mystery. Vampire stories and other spooky tales paint bats as frightening creatures. The bats that might come into your home aren’t going to be the creepy crawlies of movies or TV, but if you think you have bats living in your attic, then you’ll want to have them removed as soon as you can.
Bats in the attic can be dangerous to the health of your family and pets and can also cause damage to your home. Before winter sets in, it’simportant to be vigilant about wildlife moving into your home. Animals who look for shelter from the cold winter months will enjoy a nice, dry attic, and bats are no exception. If you think your attic is home to these nocturnal flyers, here are five warnings signs you should not ignore.
1. High Pitched Squeaks and Fluttering
Hearing noises from the ceiling could mean a number of things, but it’s easy to detect the squeaking and fluttering of bats. Since bats are nocturnal creatures, you will probably only hear them squeaking and fluttering during the night or close to dusk and dawn. If you’re noticing strange squeaky sounds coming from above, then that’s a clear warning sign that there are bats in your home.
2. Scent of Ammonia
The smell of ammonia, especially if it’s coming from the ceiling, is a sign of bats living in the attic. Bat droppings produce a toxic and very pungent odour that smells like ammonia. This smell is one of the strongest warning signs of a wildlife problem in your home that needs to be resolved. When you can start smelling the creatures, it means they’re leaving enough traces for you to notice, so it’s likely you have more than one.
3. Spotting Bats at Sunrise or Sunset
Bats are nocturnal creatures. You likely won’t see a bat during the daytime, but if you see them around sunrise or sunset, especially around your roof, then there’s a good chance you have bats in the attic.
4. Black Oil Stains/Resin
Have you noticed small openings around your roof that could be entryways for bats coming into your attic? Are there traces of black or brown oily stains around these holes? Bats carry an oily resin on their fur that acts as a big giveaway of their presence. Bats flying in and out of the same place will rub up against the wall and leave oily traces of their path. These stains are a strong indicator that you have a good number of bats in the attic. This is not a warning sign you want to ignore.
5. Bat Droppings (Guano)
Bats in the house can be a serious problem, especially when it comes to bat droppings. Guano refers to the droppings of seabirds and bats, and while it’s a highly effective fertilizer, guano isn’t something you want to be exposed to. Exposure to guano can leave you susceptible to the disease histoplasmosis. Histoplasmosis can affect the lungs, and if it spreads throughout the body, it can be deadly.
Ignoring bat droppings is not a risk you should take if you think you have bats in the attic—bat droppings can be very dangerous and are highly toxic. Take care to pay attention to the signs and deal with the problem before it grows out of proportion. Guano can buildup around the roof, near the eavestrough, and windowsills, especially if there’s an infestation.
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