Do You Have Bats in the House? Here Is What You Need to Do!

Bats have lived in dark and secluded places like caves and cliffs for ages. However, due to the exponential increase in human population over the years, the natural habitats of many animals, including bats, have been destroyed to a great extent. As a result, it is not an uncommon sight these days to find bats in man-made structures like tunnels, mines, and even houses. Residents of Georgia, in particular, are used to it as the state is home to 16 species of bats.

So, if you have bats in the house, what should you do? More importantly, what should you not do? Let us take a look.

Signs of a Bat Infestation   

Before deciding on the course of action, you need to make sure that you indeed have a bat problem in your home. For all you know, you could have mice, rats, or pigeons living in the attic! So, the first thing you need to do is to look for the following signs and confirm that you have a bat colony in your home.

Droppings – If you see lots of droppings in your attic or other parts of the house, it could be a sign of a bat infestation. They are larger than mouse droppings and have a strong odor – similar to that of ammonia.

Stains – Bats have sebaceous glands, which secrete an oily substance that leaves a dark or brown colored stain on whatever surface it comes into contact with. If you find these stains and marks at the entry and exit points, it is definitely a sign that you have bats in the house.

Dead Bats – If you find dead bats in and around your property, it could certainly be a sign of a bat infestation in the area.

Movement of Bats at Sun-down – If you actually see bats flying out of your house in the evening, there can be no doubt that you have a bat colony in your house. Remember – bats are nocturnal. So, you will be able to spot them only after the sun goes down.

What Not to Do In Case of a Bat Infestation

Bats are an endangered species and are protected by Federal as well as State laws. So, outright killing of bats is not only immoral, but could very well be illegal. So, do not try to kill bats with pesticides, rat poison, or any other toxic preparations.

Do not try to catch bats with a trap either. It does not always work and even if it does, it could end up seriously hurting or killing the bat.

Also, you cannot simply seal off the exit points and hope and pray that the bats stay away. Firstly, not every single bat in a colony goes out at the same time. They go out in groups while the others stay back. So, even if you seal off the entry points, you could still have bats living in your property.

The Right Way to Get Rid of Bats

If you have bats in the house, you need to contact the bat control professionals in your area right away. There are a number of reasons why it is the best possible idea to get rid of a bat colony safely.

• Wildlife removal and pest control experts deal with different species of bats on a regular basis and know how to tackle the problem of a bat infestation better than any of us. So, it is better to leave it to the professionals rather than making a clumsy attempt at doing it yourself.

• Bat removal actually requires a great deal of expertise and experience. From plugging the entry and exit points to cleaning the infested area, there are a number of things that only a professional can do.

• Bat removal could be hazardous at times, as bats love to make their roosts at nooks and crannies that are impossible to reach without ladders and other equipment. It is a job that requires a great amount of training, specialized equipment, and a thorough knowledge of safety and health precautions.

The bottom line is that if you have bats in the house, there is no need to panic and try to get rid of them on your own. Contact the professionals and let them take care of it for you!