Bats, unlike rodents such as rats and mice, are fascinating creatures that share a closer genetic connection to humans. Despite their important role in sustaining the environment, they can also be a nuisance. When bats infiltrate homes in search of shelter and nesting spots, they are generally regarded as pests. In such instances, seeking professional bat removal services for your Durham home is recommended as the most reliable and secure solution.

Why Do Bats Get Into Houses and Require Bat Removal?

Before you can figure out how to get rid of bats in your house, you should understand why they try to get inside in the first place. Let’s clear up a misconception right away: Bats are not coming into your house to try and bite you. There are only three bat species on Earth that drink blood, none of which live in or near Durham. 

Bats are actually scared of humans and would prefer to avoid them. Nevertheless, they do like roosting in unused attics of human houses. 

Bats seek out two kinds of long-term roosts. A hibernaculum is a roost where bats spend the winter hibernating. In the spring, when female bats are getting ready to give birth to their babies, they seek out what is called a nursery or maternity roost in which they will raise offspring. Both types of long-term roosts have to offer consistently warm temperatures. Between shingles absorbing sunlight and radiant heat from the living space below, attics are typically warm, even in winter. Bats are also drawn to attics because they provide safety from predators. 

If bats can get into your attic, they may use it as either a hibernaculum or a maternity roost. The time of year when you discover the bats gives you a clue as to how they are using them. When bats are done hibernating or raising babies, they may leave the attic of their own accord. However, if not prevented, they will keep coming back to it year after year, which is why it is important to hire professionals who know how to deter bats from getting into your attic.  

What Are Some Good Things About Bats?

There are many facts about bats that are positive for humans. Nevertheless, it is not healthy for either species when bats and humans live under the same roof. Please keep in mind that discovering bat infestations in your home requires you to call professional Durham bat removal providers. Here is what’s good about bats:

• Bats mostly feed on insects and can devour between 600 and 2,000 insects each hour. They are hugely important insect control mammals. Their diets mostly consist of insects that attack crops or carry diseases (e.g. rootworms and mosquitoes).
• A significant part of the bat population is also frugivores (fruit-eaters), which is helpful to humans as bats spread plant seeds and pollinate fruit-bearing plants as a result of their diet.
• Guano nourishes many plants and animals, which happen to be fellow cave dwellers.

What Are Some Bad Things About Bats?

There are a number of things about bats that also spell trouble for humans, and most of them are health-related. Here is why bats can be dangerous to humans, and why getting rid of bats humanely is important: 

• A family of bats living in your home can cause damage to your roof, insulation, walls, and any other location of your home they may be dwelling. In some cases, their droppings could possibly even contaminate your water, creating a serious health risk.
• Approximately 5 percent of bats carry rabies, a disease that is life-threatening to humans. Bats typically won’t bite humans unless provoked. Anyone who gets bitten needs to be examined by a medical professional immediately. Be especially careful of bats that appear to be sick or injured – these bats are likely to have rabies.
• Histoplasmosis is another disease associated with bats. Infected bats’ guano contains a dangerous fungus; if you inhale the spores of this fungus from large amounts of guano, you could contract histoplasmosis. This disease starts in the lungs, progresses to flu-like symptoms, and is even fatal in a number of cases.

How Do You Know if You Have Bats in Your Home?

Because bats prefer to keep their distance from humans, signs of an infestation can be subtle. Here are 6 signs to pay attention to.

1. High-Pitched Squeaking Noises

Bats make squeaking noises to communicate with one another and to find food using echolocation. Most bats’ vocalizations are too high-pitched for humans to hear, but a few are low enough in frequency for you to be able to perceive. 

2. Flapping or Scratching Noises

You are more likely to hear flapping sounds as bats fly in and out of your attic, or scratching sounds as they crawl around inside, than you are to hear their vocalizations. 

3. Grease Marks

Bats have greasy, oily fur. If they have to squeeze through a gap or opening to enter your attic, some of the oil may come off, leaving greasy stains on the side of the building. 

4. Ammonia Smell

As with many mammals, bats’ urine smells strongly of ammonia. If you are noticing a persistent ammonia smell around your home and there isn’t another reason for it, e.g., no dirty cat litter box anywhere around, it could be coming from the attic where bats are roosting. 

5. Guano

Guano is another term for bat droppings. Bat droppings look a bit like mouse droppings except that, because bats eat insects, guano contains tiny bits of undigested exoskeleton that glitters in the light. To avoid exposure to histoplasmosis, you should only have bat guano cleaned by a professional.

6. Bats Flying Around Your House at Night

If you see bats flying near your house at dusk, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have an infestation. They could just be passing through, following their insect prey. However, if bats are a persistent presence, if you catch them crawling in or out of your home, or if there are other signs of a bat infestation, you should call Skedaddle to schedule an inspection to confirm or rule out the presence of bats. 

Do You Need Professional Bat Removal in Durham? Go With Skedaddle

Bats can be both beneficial and dangerous to humans. The most important thing to remember is not to take risks if you discover bats in your home or property. The absolute safest way to deal with the situation is to call for professional bat removal services. Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control is a company that is capable of solving your bat problem quickly, effectively, and reliably. Having helped thousands of homeowners over the course of two decades, Skedaddle has both the knowledge and experience to remove those pesky bats safely and permanently. Call our Skedaddle team in Durham today and ensure your home remains bat-free.