Bat Control
Bats are fascinating creatures that play an important role in our ecosystem. While they are generally beneficial, their presence inside homes can raise concerns. Understanding their biology, habits, and how to safely manage bat intrusions is key to protecting both your property and these valuable animals.
The Biology and Benefits of Bats
Bats are mammals capable of sustained flight and are primarily nocturnal. Using echolocation, they navigate and hunt in the dark. They consume large quantities of insects, including mosquitoes, moths and other night flying insects. These natural pest controllers can eat their weight in bugs in a single night. They are ecologically important but problems arise when they enter human structures.
How Bats Enter Your Home
Bats can squeeze through very small openings – sometimes as narrow as a quarter-inch. Common entry points include:
- Gaps around attic vents, chimneys, and soffits
- Cracks or openings in roofing, siding, or eaves
- Spaces around windows and doors
- Attic vents and gaps in attic access points
Once inside, bats often roost in attics, wall voids, or behind shutters (temporarily) where they remain hidden during the day.
Common Concerns About Bats in Homes
- Health risks: Bat droppings (guano) can accumulate and pose health risks such as histoplasmosis, a respiratory disease. Bats can also carry rabies, though only small percentages of bat populations have the disease and transmission to humans is rare.
- Odor: Buildup of guano and urine can cause unpleasant odors over time and with larger numbers of bats.
- Structural damage: Bats themselves do not chew or tear but their excrement can stain and cause damage.
What To Do If You Suspect Bats
If you hear scratching or squeaking sounds at dusk, notice droppings near your roofline, or see bats flying in and out of your home, the safest step is to call a professional. Never attempt to trap or poison bats on your own. It’s unsafe for you and harmful to the bats.
Our Bat Control Process
Our bat services focus on safe, humane exclusion:
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Inspection: We identify where bats are entering and roosting.
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One-way exit devices: Special exclusion equipment allows bats to leave safely but not re-enter.
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Sealing entry points: Once the bats are gone, we close off gaps to keep them from returning.
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Cleanup: When needed, we provide guano removal and sanitization to reduce odor and health risks.
Why Bat Exclusion Is Seasonal
The process of safely removing bats and sealing entry points through exclusion is a humane and effective method to prevent reentry to the structure. However, these exclusions cannot be performed during certain times of the year, like early summer during pupping season. This time of year, mother bats are raising their young, which cannot fly yet. Excluding bats while pups are inside can trap and kill young bats. During the late fall through winter, bat exclusions can’t be performed since it would trap the bats in the structure not allowing them to exit during the spring.
Protect Your Home Today!
Bats are beneficial, but they don’t belong in your attic. With professional exclusion, you can safeguard your property while preserving the important role these creatures play in controlling insects. Contact Pineland Pest Control today for a free consultation and let our experts handle your problem. Call us at 336-944-6434 or fill out our online form to schedule an appointment.