![\"\"](\"https:\/\/atticpestauthority.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/cover-bats.jpg\")
<\/span><\/p>\nYou’re here because bats in your household are giving you headaches, right? That’s bad news, but we’ve got some good news for you now: after reading this article you’ll know exactly<\/span> what steps you need to take to make this problem a thing of the distant past.<\/p>\n This guide is suitable for you if you’re looking for information on how to get rid of bats in your attic without incurring thousands of dollars in removal costs. On our website, you will learn the different methods that we and other professionals use to get rid of these foul beasts safely and efficiently. <\/p>\n Whether you’re a D.I.Y kinda guy\/gal, or just want to get the professionals in to remove your little flying friends quick-smart, the following information will guide you in the right way. Click the links in the table of contents to jump to the correct section, or simply start scrolling and taking notes…<\/p>\n \u200bBats are winged mammals<\/a> most commonly known for their habitation of caves and consumption of various insects over the course of the night. These animals, many of which are either threatened or endangered depending on the species, provide a great deal of color to the nig<\/p>\n Unfortunately, their habit of hiding out in parts of your home or attic can make these helpful critters a homeowner\u2019s worst nightmare.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Unlike certain other household pests, bats cannot be removed simply by applying a poison. In fact, in most states, it is illegal to poison bats because of the service they provide to the ecosystem<\/span>.<\/p>\n So how can homeowners protect their homes from infestation or safely remove bats in the attic that are already roosting? Here you will learn about the different kinds of bats, the concerns that arise with an infestation, and what you should do if you have bats in the attic or household.<\/p>\n There are more than 40 species of bats common to the U.S. Some of the most prevalent are the Mexican free-tailed bat, which is the state bat of Oklahoma and Texas, and the Virginia big-eared bat, which is, as its name suggests, the state bat of Virginia. And, if you want to know how \ufeffbat bites look like<\/a>, then go to this page.<\/p>\n The Mexican Free-Tailed Bat<\/p>\n Virginia big-eared bat<\/p>\n These two types of bats are among the most abundant mammals in North America, and the most common bats found in attics across the US.<\/p>\n Though some feast on fruit, most bats are known for their enormous appetite for insects. In fact, a single, little brown bat can eat more than one thousand mosquitoes in a single night. They also act as pollinators for many plants, including the agave plant.<\/p>\n Bats most commonly roost in caves, which provide a safe, enclosed area for them to sleep and raise their young. But they don\u2019t always utilize a cave.<\/p>\n Mexican free-tailed bats, for example, can create a roost in almost any environment provided it is dark and shut-in. This flexibility in habitats means that your home could be at risk for a colony invasion. And since a bat colony can contain anywhere from 40 to twenty thousand bats, the damage done to your home can be extensive.<\/span><\/p>\n Bats seek the safety of dark, enclosed areas like caves to raise their young, called pups, However, when a cave is not available or overpopulated, bats will turn to the household attic because it most resembles a cave.<\/span><\/p>\n An attic may even have some advantages over a cave because of the reduction in predators and the advantage of height. If you want to learn more how to remove the bats yourself (DIY)<\/a>, click this page.<\/p>\n The roosts found in attics are composed entirely of females, since they are the ones who raise the pups. Female bats give birth to a single pup anywhere from late April to early June. During this time, the baby bats are helpless and incapable of flight, meaning that bat removal cannot occur during the summer as it would endanger the pups. This is why they will stay in your attic for long periods of time!<\/p>\n The 3 Main Giveaways:<\/p>\n The most obvious sign of a bat infestation in your house is, of course, seeing a bat.<\/p>\n Note: A single bat might not indicate a full-blown roost.<\/p>\n So how can you tell if your home has become a haven to a bat colony? Looking for the most obvious sign: bat guano (droppings)<\/p>\n First, most homeowners tend to notice the odor that a bat colony can create – it can be extremely pungent!<\/p>\n While bats in your attic themselves do not possess a particularly strong odor, their waste, in the form of guano and urine, is extremely pungent.<\/p>\n While bats aren\u2019t destructive like rodents, an accumulation of their guano can corrode wood and drywall and be a source for mold growth.<\/span><\/p>\n This short video will show you how to identify bat guano from other rodent droppings:<\/p>\n Homeowners can also identify bat activity based on noise, especially if the colony is on the larger size. In general, bats, when in smaller groups, are quiet creatures (unlike other attic rodents such as squirrels) so picking up their noise is generally a tough way to find them.<\/p>\n Besides the attic, there are several other places around the home bats like to congregate. If you suspect a bat colony is residing in your home, thoroughly check the following areas for bat activity and attempt to observe how they are getting in the house:<\/a><\/p>\n Chimneys are a common roost site for bats, so if you find yourself in this situation, it is imperative that you do not light a fire. Doing so can cause bats to flee the chimney by entering your house.<\/p>\n Bats can also take refuge under Spanish barrel tiles, which are commonly found in the south of the country. Removal under these circumstances requires attention to detail and proper training, so do not attempt a DIY removal in this situation.<\/p>\n \u200b<\/p>\n In addition to occupying the outer parts of a house, a bat can also make its way into the living area of your home or garage. Removal of a bat from a living space requires care, both for you and for the bat. Tips for removing a trapped bat can be found below.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Though bats provide a helpful service to the environment, no homeowner wants to surrender their attic to a roost of nursing bats. Besides the inconvenience of removing bats, they can also pose a number of health risks to the inhabitants of the home.<\/p>\n Bats are mammals which means that they shed hair on a regular basis. This hair (plus the mold that can grow on their guano) can be an allergen trigger for sensitive individuals.<\/p>\n In rare cases, that mold can trigger a disease called Histoplasmosis, which is an infection of the lungs of those who breathe in the mold spores found on bat waste.<\/p>\n This is called \u2018bat guano di\ufeff\ufeff\ufeffsease<\/a>\u2019 and is most dangerous when bat poop builds up in large volumes (which can happen fast with infestations)<\/p>\n Bats in your attic can also carry fleas, ticks and mites, which can create a secondary pest problem for your home.<\/p>\n Another threat that homeowners must consider is that approximately one percent of bats carry rabies. While this is a small amount, all it takes is a single bite or scratch from an infected bat to pass along this deadly disease. Bats should never be handled by anyone other than professionals to avoid any possible transmission of disease to your family.<\/p>\n If you have a bat infestation in any part of your home, never try to handle the creatures unless you are a trained professional – its not worth the risk of rabies.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Bats are most active in early dawn and dusk hours. Most homeowners will not hear bats at night because once the sun sets, the colony will vacate the nest in search of the insects that come out in the evening. This hunt will keep them out all night, and they will not return to their roost until the sun starts to rise.<\/p>\n Homeowners would be able to hear them around those times and could visually confirm a bat infestation by stepping outside just as the sun sets. Bats occupying the attic would stream out of exit points near the roofline at that time<\/em>.<\/p>\n Ever wondered how those bats get in your house or attic anyway? There are many points of entry around your roof line. Those exit points also act as entryways for bats.<\/p>\n Bats can enter a house through a gap as small as 3\/8 of an inch.<\/span> Holes this size can be found in fascia boards, ridge caps, loose or broken windows and around vents. Since it’s illegal to poison or harm bats, these entry and exit points are crucial to securing your home against a bat invasion.<\/p>\n If you’re wondering how to get rid of bats in your attic, consider the following steps. As mentioned previously, bat colonies cannot be removed during the summer because of the threat to the flightless bat pups, however once they are grown, there are a variety of ways to ensure your home stays bat free the next year.<\/p>\n <\/span> Now, let’s get into more detail on how to remove these unwanted pests from your home. Follow these steps carefully as these animals can be a handful to deal with. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n 1<\/span><\/p>\n Get Them Out<\/p>\n First, the entry and exit points the bats favor should be carefully noted. Make sure not to seal these access points while the bats are inside. If a bat dies in your home, you will be subject to an unpleasant odor for several days as the bat decomposes. An entire colony would make the house unliveable, plus would be an inhumane solution when there are so many other ways to remove bats.<\/span><\/p>\n Bat removal depends on your location. If your state experiences a cold season, then bats in the attic will migrate as temperatures cool, leaving you free to seal up any cracks or entry points the bats were using. If your state stays warm year-round, however, bats will not migrate. This will make removing them slightly more difficult, as sealing off entry points will have to be done over a series of days to make sure none are missed.<\/span><\/p>\n One way to identify entry points that may be too small to see is to look for an accumulation of guano or urine stains underneath the point. These stains will often lead homeowners to a crack they would not have seen otherwise. All of these access points need to be noted, and sealed to prevent the bats in your attic from returning and reoccupying the roost (which leads us to the next step)<\/p>\n 2<\/span><\/p>\n Seal All Entry Holes<\/p>\n Once you are 100% certain that there are no bats left in your attic, its time for the most important part- sealing your house.<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n When sealing entry points, make sure to wear protective gear, such as thick gloves in case of a bite, a long-sleeved shirt, a respiratory mask and eye goggles. A tall ladder and fresh boards, caulk, and screening material may be needed depending on where the bats are gaining entry.<\/span><\/p>\n While this method will prevent the bats from coming back, it does not address the waste left behind. A single bat can produce 20 or so pellets of waste per night, so an entire colony can leave behind a mountain of guano.<\/span><\/p>\n 3<\/span><\/p>\n The Clean Up<\/p>\n Now its time to get rid of that awful bat poop, which may have been building up for a while.<\/span><\/p>\n As previously mentioned, their droppings can cause health risks (from the mold resulting), so make sure you where protective gear, and a respirator when clearing the guano.<\/span><\/p>\n Its highly likely that there will be an awful stench even after you\u2019ve cleaned up the mess, so an enzyme cleaner will need to be used.<\/span><\/p>\n So in summary, in getting rid of bats, we highly recommend that you wait until they have left your house (which they will do eventually) and then seal up all entry holes. Problem solved.<\/span><\/p>\n But maybe you can\u2019t wait until they leave? Maybe there are hundreds of them, messing up your attic, creating a horrible stench, and threatening your family?<\/span><\/p>\n If you find yourself in this situation, its best to get in touch with a wildlife removal expert, who will do the job fast and give you piece of mind. They will utilize methods such as special one-way bat doors (and exclusion door)and traps, and they will clean seal up your attic up correctly, leaving your attic and house bat free.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Getting rid of bats DIY style It\u2019s no always recommended, but Single bats can be carefully removed from the home if they accidentally find their way inside providing you follow a few critical steps.<\/p>\n Firstly <\/strong>– close off the room the bat is in to prevent it from flying around the house. Next, <\/strong>make sure to approach the bat only if you are wearing protective gloves. A scared bat could bite as a defensive action to being cornered. You don\u2019t want that.<\/strong> Using a small net or a towel, gently cover the bat and scoop it up, being careful not to squeeze it too tightly.<\/p>\n Once the bat has been caught,<\/span> you can simply release it outside or place it on a tree if the bat will not fly away on its own. Bats cannot easily lift off from the ground, so placing the bat on a higher surface allows it to climb to a sufficient height for takeoff.<\/p>\n After removal, <\/span>a thorough examination of the attic and eaves is needed to ensure the bat was a sole invader and not part of a larger colony.<\/p>\n Check out our top 10 DIY removal tips when dealing with attic pests such as bats yourself.<\/a><\/p>\n The following 3 methods that we will talk about include:<\/p>\n Various repellants can also be employed to keep bats from roosting in carports and chimneys. Mylar, a kind of flash tape, discourages bats from touching down on the areas it covers. Fine screens and bright lights also repel bats.<\/p>\n Interestingly, most commercial brands of bat repellent have a very poor track record. Mothballs have been shown to be effective, but large amounts of them can trigger allergic reactions and be dangerous to both humans and household pets.<\/p>\n Sound machines are also marketed as being particularly effective against bats, however, their effectiveness varies from one case to the next<\/a>. These machines emit an ultrasonic frequency that supposedly drives bats and other pests away.<\/p>\n While you can attempt to remove a bat colony on your own, there are many risks to doing so without professional help. Skilled, professional help should always be employed when removing bats.<\/p>\n A professional bat removal expert will know and understand all local laws relating to safe and ethical bat removal. They will also have the equipment needed to seal up every hole and entry point the bats were using. Plus, their experience and equipment will help remove every unpleasant trace of bat habitation, especially the guano left behind.<\/p>\n For more information on natural bat repellents (using household items) check out this article<\/p>\n Trapping bats<\/a> yourself is ineffective. While nets and traps may entangle bats returning from their nightly feedings, the homeowner is then faced with the challenge of safely removing the bats from the nets and traps. Relocating the bats is also ineffective, since bats can find their roosts from up to 500 miles away. If the house is not properly sealed, bats will just keep coming back.<\/p>\n Many professional bat removers or repellent will employ a system called exclusion, which is more effective than simply guessing where the entry points are. The professionals will watch the home during the evening and make careful note of where bats are seen exiting the home. Then, they will place excluders over these holes.<\/p>\n Excluders are boxes that allow the bat to exit the roost, but block off the return route, so the bat cannot reenter the home. These are monitored over the course of several days to ensure that every access point to the home is closed. Once there are no more bats inside the home, each excluder is removed and the entry point it covered is tightly sealed.<\/p>\n Once the house is properly protected from a new bat colony, cleanup work will begin in the attic and infested areas to remove all trace of guano, urine and hair. With this repellent technique, you are sure to get rid of all the bats in your home!<\/strong><\/p>\n The following video includes some great HUMANE bat removal tips for you to follow when removing bats from your home. You will be able to learn a few techniques in dealing with these kinds of animals in the future. They can be dangerous if you do not know what you are doing and if you are not prepared with the right kind of information when facing these creatures. So, be safe when it comes to these pests and watch the video down below to learn more about how to avoid harming yourself and the animals.<\/p>\n Unfortunately the DIY bat remover will commonly become frustrated when they find repellants and deterrents don\u2019t work, and they will attempt to kill those bats. Typically, there are some repellents that actually work but that is not the case here.<\/p>\n Typically, one may use bat poison, bat bombs, or other forms of bat extermination – all of which are not a good idea.<\/p>\n Poison is a bad idea because bats feed on live insects<\/span> – so they are unlikely to nibble on a bar of poison- it just doesn\u2019t happen. In the unlikely event that they do take the bait, they will die, and now you have a decomposing bat carcass in your attic. Throw into the equation another 50 dead bats (not uncommon) and you have a serious problem, and serious smell, coming from your attic.<\/p>\n Lastly – it\u2019s against the law.<\/span> Yes, it may be acceptable to kill pests such as house mice or even roof rats if your game, buts its just not the case with bats. Nearly every state in America has laws forbidding you to poison these creatures, as they are an important part of our ecosystem. There’s a reason we have bat conservation groups.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n In many cases, homeowners insurance will cover at least part of the cost of bat removal.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Bats provide a great deal of service to the environment, so you can return the favor by removing them in a kind and humane way via professional help. A company specializing in large pest removal will be able to secure your home against future colonization and will minimize stress on you.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n By now you should have a great idea of how to get rid of bats like a pro.\u00a0If<\/a> you suspect you have different pests invading your attic, click here for tips on how to best manage your pest problems.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Ultimate Repellent Guide: How to Get Rid of Bats From Your Attic or Household You’re here because bats in your household are giving you headaches, right? That’s bad news, but we’ve got some good news for you now: after reading this article you’ll know exactly what steps you need to take to make this […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nBat Facts – What You Need to Know<\/h2>\n
Most Common Bat Species Found In Attics & Homes Across the U.S.<\/h2>\n
![\"how](\"https:\/\/atticpestauthority.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/mexican-free-tailed-bat.jpg\")
<\/span><\/p>\n![\"how](\"https:\/\/atticpestauthority.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/virginia-big-eared-bat.jpg\")
<\/span><\/p>\nWhere Do Bats Live? (when not in your attic or home)<\/h2>\n
Evidence That You May Have Bats In Your Attic or Home<\/h2>\n
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Seeing Bat Activity Around Your Home<\/h3>\n
Bat Guano (Poop\/Droppings)<\/h3>\n
![\"bat](\"https:\/\/atticpestauthority.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/bat-article-guano.jpg\")
<\/span><\/p>\nHearing the Bats<\/h3>\n
Other Areas You May Find Bats In Your House<\/h2>\n
Bats In The Chimney<\/h3>\n
Other Common Bat Hideouts<\/h3>\n
Health Risks Arising From Having Bats In Your Attic & Home<\/h2>\n
![\"How](\"https:\/\/atticpestauthority.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/bats-in-house.jpg\")
<\/span><\/p>\nBat Guano Disease<\/h3>\n
Rabies<\/h3>\n
When Are They Active? (when can I hear them?)<\/h2>\n
How do they get inside the attic?<\/h2>\n
Bat Removal – How to Get Rid of Bats<\/h2>\n
Follow these 5 simple steps to get rid of bats:<\/h3>\n
![\"bat](\"https:\/\/atticpestauthority.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/bat-in-a-tree.png\")
<\/span><\/p>\n\n
Do It Yourself Bat Removal? (How to Remove Bats Yourself)<\/h2>\n
![\"getting](\"https:\/\/atticpestauthority.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/getting-rid-of-bats.jpg\")
<\/span><\/p>\nHow to Keep Bats Away (The Best Repellent)<\/h2>\n
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Bat Repellants and Deterrents – How to Repel Bats<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"bat](\"https:\/\/atticpestauthority.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/41iSq4KhbL.jpg\")
<\/a><\/span>![\"bat](\"https:\/\/atticpestauthority.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/bat-repellent.png\")
<\/a><\/span><\/p>\nBat Traps<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n
Bat Exclusion – The Best Way to Get Rid of Them!<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n
Killing Bats – Why You Shouldn’t Do It<\/span><\/h2>\n