Nuisance wild bats are not something you want loitering around your home. Although they are among the best insect control you can have, especially for mosquitos in the summer, they are not conducive to urban living. Bats are known to cause extensive amounts of damage to both interior and exterior areas of a home or building. Since local bats are tiny, they can squeeze through an opening as small as 3/8th of an inch! That means the smallest gap, crack, or opening is a wide open door for bats. They are best at gaining entry into attics, crawl spaces, garages, roofs, sheds, and more.
If you suspect that you have an abnormal amount of bat activity on your property, it will help to consult a professional wildlife removal and control company for expert advice and service. They have the proper permits, licenses, and experience to accurately assess your home for susceptibilities, suggest the proper methods of resolve, and implement both extraction and exclusion services on your behalf. While you wait for your professional bat removal specialist to arrive, review these common questions and answers about bat damages to better understand what to expect.
What Kinds of Damage Do Bats Cause?
Bats cause a lot damage, mostly with their droppings. Wherever they reside or roost, bats will leave behind urine, feces, and food debris. Floorboards, ceilings, walls, insulation, electrical wiring, and more will become saturated and stained overtime. They may also gnaw on electrical wiring, drywall, insulation, and more. On the exterior of a home, bats will leave behind an oily residue around their entry points. This oil comes from their fur, and leaves behind black-ish brown stains that are indicative of a bat infestation. Bats can also damage roof shingles, siding, and gutters.
Where Do Bats Like to Hide Out?
The most common areas for bats to roost is hollowed trees, roofs, attics, crawl spaces, under porches, in garages, and in sheds. They prefer quite, dark, and warm spaces. If they can find access to any of these areas, they will roost there for as long as they can.
How Many Bats Do I Have in the Attic?
The only way to know how many bats you have in your house is to hire a professional to diagnose the problem. However, it is helpful to understand that bats are not solitary mammals. So where there is one or two bats, there are likely many more.
Is Bat Guano Dangerous?
Guano, or bat stool, can be a highly useful resource under the right circumstances. However, the accumulation of guano in your home can pose some serious health risks, making it quite dangerous indeed. Guano can grow fungal spores called Histoplasma capsulatum, which can cause a serious lung disease called Histoplasmosis. Histoplasmosis is also known as “Cave disease”, “Darling’s disease”, “Ohio valley disease”, and “spelunker’s lung.” Histoplasma capsulatum fungal spores can become airborne and then inhaled by both people and pets. Guano can also develop and transmit viruses, bacteria, and parasites, which become airborne too.
How Can I Repair Bat Damages?
The only way to properly renovate bat damages is to hire a professional wildlife removal and control company that provides wild animal damage cleanup and restoration services. In many cases, home owners’ insurance policies cover bat damages to some extent, and many wildlife control companies accept and perform insurance claim work. They will cleanup, decontaminate, sanitize, fumigate, and repair the mess left behind.