Do you ever hear something squeaking and scratching around your attic? Have you seen strange droppings near where your roofline meets the walls? You may have a bat problem! Bats can get into homes in several ways, so it’s important to understand how and why these critters enter. Discover the four most common routes that bats take to gain entry into your home and why professional bat removal in Ottawa is the best option for both you and the winged mammals. 

3 Things You Should Know Before Calling for Bat Removal in Ottawa

If you have bats in your house, you probably have questions about how they got there and what you should do about them. If you do not already have bats in your house, you probably have questions about how to prevent them from getting in.

How Do Bats Get in a House?

Despite what many people think, bats are not winged rodents. Nevertheless, they have a rodent-like ability to squeeze through very small openings. One way that bats can get in is through cracks or gaps in the exterior of your home. Because bats are flying creatures, they are most likely to get in through an opening near the top of the house, such as a crack in the roof or the gap between a brick wall and a roof soffit.

Bats can also get into your house through openings such as vents and chimneys. Both can be attractive to bats when they give off warm air. Bats that roost in houses are typically females looking for a safe, cozy place in which to give birth and raise their babies. While some bats will use the chimney to find a more hospitable place inside the house, others will roost right there. A chimney bears some resemblance to a cave, which is where bats typically roost in the wild.

Though rarer, it is also possible for bats to get into your house through an open door or window. This is more likely if you leave doors or windows open at night. If you don’t have screens on your windows, or if the screens are in poor repair, the bats are even more likely to get in.

What Are Some Signs of Bats in the House?

Bats are nocturnal and purposely seek roosts in small, inaccessible places, so even if they are inside your home, you may not see them right away. However, they do leave other signs of their presence. For example, listen for sounds of clawing or scratching coming from your attic at night. These may be the sounds of bats moving around.

If you’ve ever come across bat urine or feces in your home, it’s likely that you have a bat infestation on your hands. Bat droppings, also known as guano, are typically found in lofts, attics and other secluded areas of the house. Guano can be extremely damaging to your home as it poses a serious health risk to you and your family and can cause a foul odour. 

Bats have oily fur, and as they squeeze in and out of their entry points, a brownish residue can collect on surrounding surfaces. Also, look for collections of bat feces on the ground or exterior walls. Carefully examine the feces to determine if they belong to bats or another form of wildlife. Bat feces have a glittery appearance because they contain pieces of undigested insect exoskeletons.

If you see bats flying around your yard at night, pay attention to where they go. It could be that they’re just passing through, but they could also have a roost on your property, possibly inside your house.

How Can You Keep Bats Out of Your House?

Nobody wants bats taking up residence in their homes. If you’re trying to keep bats out of your home in Ottawa, here are a few things you can do to deter them, without harming them.

• Locate any vents in your home’s exterior and seal these off with a sturdy mesh or screen to allow air to flow freely while keeping bats out.
• Install weatherstripping around doors and windows to seal off cracks.
• Inspect your home regularly for damage and repair any cracks or openings.

Call Skedaddle for Bat Removal in Ottawa

Knowing some of the ways bats get into homes allows you to be proactive when it comes to the timely removal of these animals.  Luckily, with Skedaddle’s humane bat removal services it’s easy and affordable to remove them from your home before any permanent damage or health risks are caused. 

In addition to providing effective and humane bat removal in Ottawa, our knowledgeable team is at your service with advice regarding preventative actions for avoiding future problems. Don’t wait another day- call Skedaddle now and let us help in keeping your home safe from bats!