While some Canadian bat species migrate in the spring and fall, most spend the winter hibernating. This means that they need a roost with consistently warm temperatures, and your attic may just fit the bill. You need bat removal in Oshawa if the bats have turned your home into a winter shelter.

Here is some more information about how bats get into your home in the first place and how you know you have an infestation.

How Do Bats Get in a House?

Some wild animals are equipped to make their own way into a house if there is not already an entry point for them. For example, rodents such as mice and squirrels have strong front teeth that they can use to gnaw a hole. Raccoons have dexterous paws and sharp claws that they can use to pull off shingles, fascia, and soffits to make an opening in your home’s exterior.

Bats don’t have these abilities, so they can only get into your home’s exterior through openings that already exist. However, they do have the ability to squeeze through very tiny gaps. Furthermore, bats hibernate in large colonies to conserve warmth, so if you find one in your house, you can assume that there are more.

What Signs of Bat Infestation Do You Need To Watch For?

While bats can fly, they can’t take off from the ground as birds do. Therefore, they typically roost in high places, such as your attic. If you don’t use your attic, bats can remain undetected up there for a long time. Nevertheless, bats may leave signs of their presence that you need to watch for.

Droppings

When bats hibernate, their bodily functions slow down significantly but don’t stop altogether. Therefore, bats continue to defecate while hibernating. Bat excrement is called guano, and gardeners have used it for fertilizer because it is rich in nutrients. On the other hand, guano can also be infected with dangerous bacteria, and it is not safe to handle or clean it unless you know what you are doing.

Bat droppings can be confused with the droppings of rodents, such as rats or mice. Nevertheless, there are a few significant differences. While rodent droppings are typically scattered, bat droppings collect in one spot under the roost. Bat droppings also appear to glitter because they contain undigested fragments of insect exoskeletons.

Fluttering Noises

A bat’s body responds to changes in temperature as its cue to go dormant and then become active again. If your attic gets warm enough during the winter, it may revive the bats. They may then start flying around looking for food, in which case you may hear fluttering noises coming from your attic. If the temperature drops again, you may start hearing fluttering in the walls as the bats try to get closer to the source of heat.

Brown Stains on Your Home’s Exterior

If you start seeing brown stains appearing on the exterior of your home and you aren’t sure what caused them, look in the area of the staining for a crack, gap, or hole. Chances are good that bats are leaving behind those stains as they fly in and out of your home. The chances are even better that bats are the culprit if the area of staining is high up above the ground.

Guano may account for some of the staining. However, bats also have oily fur, and when they squeeze through a hole to get back into your home, some of this substance may get left behind on surfaces.

Why Should You Call Skedaddle for Bat Removal in Oshawa?

There are strict laws in place to protect bats and ensure the punishment of individuals who harm them, whether intentionally or unintentionally. At Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control, we prioritize compliance with these laws to ensure the safety and well-being of these remarkable creatures. Our team is well-versed in the applicable regulations and employs methods that align with these requirements. For further details and information about our bat removal services, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We are always here to help.