Anyone who has ever had a bat in their house knows that it can be a stressful situation. Dealing with one bat can be hard enough, but tackling the colony in the attic is another proposition all together.
Bats love making their home inside structures because they provide ideal protection from the elements and predators. Montreal and the West Island in particular are home to large populations of bats that form colonies in houses.
Bats will often make their way down from the attic and into the living space. Though rare, the situation can become dangerous if a bat infected by rabies were to bite someone.
Bat colonies also produce droppings that can accumulate inside the home and put those living there in danger of developing a dangerous respiratory infection called histoplasmosis.
Getting rid of bats can be tricky and a trained eye can make all the difference. Here’s how to get rid of bats in the attic.
- Inspection
The first step to solving a bat problem is a thorough top to bottom inspection of the home. To remove and exclude bats you must identify how they’re coming and going. Bats usually enter structures through gaps and cracks between building materials.Click here to learn more about common bat entry points.Bats are most likely to enter a structure from above so a ladder will be needed to inspect properly. Entry points are best identified by droppings and staining left behind by bats as they enter and exit.Inspections should also include a good look inside the attic. Bats themselves are hard to find inside attics because they love to tuck into tight spaces but an inspection will give you a sense of how large the colony is and if they’ve caused any damage. - Install One-Way Doors
The best way to remove bats is to lock them out of the attic when they leave to feed at night. This is done by installing one-way doors over top of their entry and exit points.But remember, bats don’t leave to feed during hibernation – so the window to remove them is small. They also give birth during early summer so one-way doors shouldn’t be installed if there’s a chance of locking babies inside away from their mothers. It’s best to waiting until August. - Seal All Gaps
Bats are capable of making themselves incredibly small to squeeze into tiny cracks. To prevent bats from exiting and coming right back in it’s important to seal off any potential entry points larger than a dime. - Clean Up
Any accumulations of droppings found inside the attic or around the home should be removed with care. Bat droppings can be very dangerous if they are disturbed and become airborne.
Bats are one of the most difficult species that urban wildlife removal companies deal with. Experience counts when dealing with bats because of their unique biology and the fact they can gain entry into just about anywhere.
Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control has the experience and know-how to solve even the most complex bat infestations. Click here to learn more about what we can do for you or give as a call at 514-395-4555!
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