Questions about bats

Frequently Asked Questions about bats:

 

How to get rid of bats?

Bats are removed from your home or attic through a “Live Bat Exclusion” Process.  This is a exclusion filtering system that allows bats to naturally leave to go feed but once out they are unable to return to the attic space of your home. Bat proofing your home or business is done with screening vents , caulking gaps along structure, installing chimney caps and many other repairs to prevent a reoccurring bat issue.

How do I know where the bats are getting in?

Bats will leave a grease stain from the oils on their fur at the access points that they are consistently coming in and out from. They will also leave urine staining and often times bat droppings (guano)  around these same areas.

How do I know what to repair to keep bats out? 

Bats tend to use openings 1/2″ or larger so it is very important to seal everything on the home. Ridge vents, gable vents, eves, chimneys, drip edge, fascia boards, under soffits,  etc. are all places to repair.  Look to see if there is a 45 or 90 degree landing pad for the bats to land on, because unlike birds, bats will actually land first and then crawl into the opening.

Can you Poison bats?  

You cannot poison bats. There are no baits or chemicals that will get rid of bats. In Michigan and most states bats are protected animals. Bats are great for our environment and help control the mosquito population and the spread of west nile disease.

Why are bats in my basement?  

The bats are most likely not living in your basement but end up there from the attic or a wall cavity within the house.  Bats tend to enter roosting areas at high points, generally 8 feet and higher.  Once the bats are in your attic they will network through open cavities in the walls, attic chases to the basement, and even through your chimney.  Even though it’s most likely that the bats are not coming directly into the basement from the exterior of the home it is still a good idea to make sure that all areas around the foundation are checked for openings because there have been some instances where the bats end up finding a hole along the foundation to the basement once excluded from the attic.

Should I install a bat house?  

Bats will not leave their roost inside your attic to go into a bat house. However Once the bats are excluded from your home it is a good idea to give them an alternative living area.  Bats are not good to have in your home or attic because they cause a lot of damage and can be a health risk. Although this is true bats are very beneficial to our environment because they control the insect population. Therefore it is recommended to give the bats an alternative living structure to keep them around your home just not in it.  Install a bat house on an open tree or pole at least 12-16 feet high facing the SE corner. Paint it black so it will absorb the most heat.

How do I know all the bats are gone?

Typically we get calls because our customers are hearing scratching or have had a bat in the house. Once the bats are excluded all of these scenarios should end because all of the bats will be excluded. Often we can tell the bats have left through our one-way doors from the signs they leave when they leave.  We give our customers full re-inspections when we remove our trap doors to ensure all the bats are gone. If the bats return our work is warranted for five years.

Should I clean up their droppings in the attic?  

We alway recommend having the bat guano removed from the attic no matter what the severity is. Bat guano can cause health problems if the bacteria or fungi spores become air born which could lead to a disease called histoplasmosis. Most of the time you will need to have your attic completely restored, but we recommend having the soiled areas removed, sanitized, and deodorized. Spot cleaning small areas is also an option on some occasions but most attic spaces have more than one contaminated area from multiple roosting points.

What do I do if there is a bat in my house?  

If there is a bat flying around in your house open a couple of doors or windows to allow for fresh air flow to enter your home and generally within 10-15 minutes the bats will exit your living quarter. If the bat lands somewhere on a wall or a curtain you should where gloves, place a box or a can over the bat, and then put a thick piece of paper between the wall and the bat and guide it into the box. Never try to handle a bat bare handed always wear thick leather gloves to keep from a possible bite puncture.

Do all bats have rabies?  

It’s a misconception that all bats have rabies. The chance of a bat actually having rabies is less than 0.5%. Bats like many wild animals can carry rabies but it is far less likely as one may think. Raccoons and skunks have a greater chance of carrying  rabies than bats.

When are bats most active?

Bats are the most active during the months of August and September. This is because the juvenile pups are are now able to fly and the insect population is at its highest.

What time of year is best for bat removal?

Bats are more active during the warmer spring and summer months because of the greater source of bugs for them to feast on.  There are really only a few months out of the year you shouldn’t attempt to exclude bats. Typically May, June, and July are the months when juvenile bats are maturing and do not leave the roost. Maternal mothers will leave the roost and come back to nurse the juvenile bats.  You should not install one-way trap doors at this time however it is a good idea to start the process of the exclusion by sealing all other potential entry points so that when it is time to install the one-way doors 90 percent of the work is already completed.  After July the juveniles are ready to fly and leave the roost, at this time you can proceed with the exclusion.  Although bats are in hibernation during the winter months it isn’t a bad idea to perform the exclusion at this time. Once the bats come out of hibernation they will fly out of their roost to seek food and the exclusion will already be set up so they can’t return. At this time you already have the bats excluded before they have their young so you wont trap any young pups in the attic.

Do bats hibernate or migrate?  

Just like many wildlife animals located in Michigan, bats will find an area in your attic with temperatures above 50 degrees and hibernate all during the winter months. Every so often you will actually hear the bat moving around trying to find warmer areas underneath the insulation. Bats will generally hibernate between the months of November and April or until the frost line is gone and the insects are hatched giving the bats a food source.

How Much does it cost to get rid of bats?  

Bat removal is not as easy as setting a trap and relocating the colony. It is important to be meticulous when doing bat removal because the bats can fit through tiny little openings. Because of that there is a lot of labor, materials, and patience involved. Price will vary home to home depending on the number of repairs required and the toughness of the job.  The number of bats you will not determine the price, because all bat exclusions are done the same way no matter if your colony is small or large. We can give you an estimate range over the phone and a precise estimate will have to be given once we inspect your home.

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Drivin Me Batty LLC

Toll Free (855) 900-BATS

Bat Removal & Nuisance Animal Wildlife Management

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