 While most of us do not think bats are "cute", they are an important part of the ecosystem. They eat mosquitoes and other insects, spreading seeds, and more.
But when bats move INTO your home, their benefit score drops to negative numbers. Bats live a very long time and they stay in the same place. The colony grows larger every year, as the females have babies each summer. What are the the risks? Bats can cause problems in your home ranging from minor to life threatening. Risks can include damage to your property and health. Property Damage Bats can chew into walls, damaging insulation or wiring. The wiring damage also creates a fire hazard. Odor A larger problem with having bats in your house is the strong, unpleasant odor that results from the droppings (guano). As the piles of guano accumulate, the odor can begin to permeate your entire home. Disease Bat guano is more than smelly, it is a carrier of histoplasma capsulatam. The spores of this fungus are microscopic and airborne and they can easily get into the living areas of your home. If inhaled, the spores of the fungus can cause an infection of the lungs called histoplasmosis. Sometimes the infection will clear up on its own, but it can also develop into chronic lung infection, which requires treatment. Left untreated, the disease can cause the infection to spread to other organs of the body and cause death. Rabies Although rare, bats can transmit rabies. Few bats actually carry rabies, but it is not possible to tell if it is a carrier. If you are bitten by a bat inside your home, or anywhere else, you should begin rabies treatments right away. How Do I Know if I Have Bats? You may hear squeaking or rustling in your walls or attic, find a single live or dead bat in your living area, or begin to smell a decaying bat in your walls. These problems are minor, but should not be ignored because a larger problems could develop. If there is a lot of guano or urine stains on a wall or on an area of your roof, that is likely where the bats are entering/exiting your home. Watch your house at dusk and wait for the bats to exit for their nightly hunt. They will almost always leave as a large group, so if you are looking in the right spot, you won’t miss them. What Do I Do if I Have Bats "In My Belfry"? Due to their important role in the environment, bats must be removed safely and humanely by a professional. After they are removed, you must seal the entry/exit point(s) in your home to make sure they do not return. Daversa Pest Control is a professional animal removal service. We humanely remove bothersome animals, including raccoon, skunks, foxes, ground hogs, opossums, bats, and other unwanted "critters" from in and around your home or office. We are available 7 days a week, 365 days a year, to help you feel safe. (c) 2014
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