Do Bats Have Rabies?

Do bats have rabies? Yes. Do ALL bats have rabies? No. Only about two percent of the bat population actually carries rabies. Now, that does not mean rabies is any less dangerous of a disease. If you are ever exposed to a bat scratch or bite, it is best to contact a medical care provider for proper examination and treatment. Even if you wake up to a bat in your bedroom, it is still safest to contact your medical care provider in case the bat scratched or bit you while you were asleep.

Not every case of rabies entails an animal foaming at the mouth with extreme aggression. That can be the case, but other times only by testing the animal can that be determined. The risk of contracting rabies through a bat is low but still possible. Other animals that are capable of contracting and transferring rabies to humans are coyotes, cows, goats, skunks, foxes, dogs, horses, and raccoons. Rabies can be treated if caught in time, so do not wait to go in if you think you have been exposed to the disease. So, what is rabies? Why is it so deadly?

What Is Rabies?

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, rabies is a viral infection that infects the central nervous system. Rabies is usually transferred by the bite, or saliva, of the infected mammal. The Center for Disease Control website lists these symptoms of rabies to watch for: insomnia, anxiety, confusion, paralysis, excitation, hallucinations, agitation, hypersalivation, difficulty swallowing, and hydrophobia. It is vital to seek treatment after being exposed to rabies disease. While there is a rabies vaccine, it is only effective before symptoms appear. The vaccine itself is not cheap.  Rabies shots prices can vary from $8,000 to $13,000 per person for treatment.

A bat removal service is much less expensive and will eliminate the risk of rabies from the home. Nearly everyone has heard about the old rabies vaccinations involving numerous painful injections in the stomach from large needles. Thanks to medical advancements, that is no longer the procedure. Generally, the rabies vaccination consists of four doses of the medication, which means only four shots are needed. The first shot is given on the day you are exposed to the disease. After the first shot, you will return three days later for the second dosage of the vaccine. The third dose is given on the seventh day, one week, after the exposure to the disease. The final dose of the rabies vaccine is given on the fourteenth day after exposure.

If the vaccine is administered before the onset of symptoms, the disease should be easily prevented by the medication. If symptoms set in before you seek treatment, the chance of the disease becoming fatal is extremely high. Rabies is an incredibly dangerous disease and should be taken seriously if there is ever a chance you have been exposed to it.

Bats and Rabies

Keep in mind that bats do not intentionally seek to attack humans. Bats will not go out of their way to bite and attack you. A bat will only bite out of self-defense if it is cornered and scared. Simply having a bat flying around in the house does not mean you have rabies. A human must be bitten or be exposed to the saliva of an infected bat to contract the disease. That is why if you ever wake up to a bat in your bedroom, you should contact your health care professional.

Bats can bite so gently that it will not always wake you up from sleeping. One way to easily avoid encountering a bat bite is to never handle a bat barehanded. Thick leather gloves work best because the bat’s small teeth and claws will not go through the leather material. The leather will protect you from contracting rabies.

Reduce The Threat

The best way to eliminate the threat of rabies from bats in your home is to have the bat colony from your home removed. If you have found or captured a deceased bat inside your home, you can send it off to be tested for rabies. There are a few different places that will accept and test the bat. The first place to contact about testing bats for rabies is your state’s Department of Health office. Once you contact them, they should have an address that you can bring or even send the bat to.

Some State Universities have veterinarian programs that will accept and test bats for rabies as well. There should be a form that you can print, fill out, and send with the bat. A small fee may also be charged for the testing. Depending on the results of the test, the bat will be handled properly. To eliminate the chance of contracting rabies from bats, the bat colony should be excluded from the home. The only way to get rid of bats safely and properly is by calling professional bat removal experts.

Other Bat Diseases

Rabies is not the only disease dangerous to humans that bats can pass along. The bat feces, guano, is full of fungal spores that when inhaled can cause Histoplasmosis. As stated on the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website, the fungus Histoplasma is responsible for causing the respiratory disease. Histoplasma is found primarily in bat feces but can also be found in bird feces.

As the bats live in your house, they will defecate and urinate in the attic area. Over time the amount of guano will pile up and fungal spores will form throughout. Those fungal spores, when inhaled, can cause the respiratory disease histoplasmosis. Some common symptoms of histoplasmosis are fever, cough, and fatigue. Histoplasmosis can be treated with antifungal medication prescribed by a doctor. Those with weaker immune symptoms have a higher risk of the disease becoming severe and possibly fatal if left untreated. Bats may be small, but they carry huge risks when they live in a human house. Granted, they do not mean us any harm. Getting rid of bats can be done humanely and be safe for the bats, but only if you call professionals.

Conclusion

Rabies is a deadly disease. Do bats have rabies? Yes, but not all of them do. Don’t be the person who thinks it can’t happen to them. The percentage of bats that carries rabies is low, but it only takes one infected bat to transfer the disease. Having a colony of bats inside your house is only inviting the chance of the disease being present in your house. Bats are wonderful creatures, but they can cause unintentional harm. Sharing your house with bats is never a good option, so make the right choice to protect you and your family before an incident. It is better to be safe than it is to be sorry especially when dealing with bats.

Bats and Bat Houses

Bats are extremely beneficial animals to our environment. Insect control is just one of the many valuable contribution’s bats provide for us. A single brown bat can eat over 1000 insects an hour!  Bats typically eat flying insects like mosquitoes, beetles, and moths. Could you imagine the number of mosquitoes there would be if there were no bats to eat them? That alone should persuade people to protect these animals and to get rid of bats safely. But what about bats and bat houses?

However, bats do not just eat mosquitoes. Bats also eat the insects that terrorize crops which helps the farmers. Which means the bats contribute to pollinating plants for the environment.  Unfortunately, with the good comes the bad. Bats are amazing creatures that belong outside. Often, bats will move into a human home for shelter. Sharing your home with bats is dangerous, but how do you get rid of the bats in your house? Where will the bats go when they leave? There is the controversial solution of installing bat houses to deter bats.

Bat Houses —Do They Work?

After learning about how beneficial bats are, it’s time to learn about where bats go during the day. Bats are nocturnal which means they are awake primarily during the night. During the day, bats rest and wait for another active night of feeding. But where do the bats go? People have attempted to provide bats with a safe living setting known as a bat house. A bat house is typically a two-foot-tall by one-foot wide wooden box with chambers built inside used to house bats.

Bat houses can be ordered online or made at home. Building a bat house gives you more opportunity to create exactly the type of bat house you want. Do bat houses work? This has been a controversial and highly debatable subject within the bat removal community. Some bat removal experts say the bat houses will deter the bats from living in human houses because they will have adequate space with a bat house. Other bat removal experts argue that bat houses invite bats to live too close to human houses which a bat will prefer to live in.

From our experiences with bat houses, we have found that it only attracts bats to human houses. It really comes down to survival instincts. Would you rather live in a small unheated box usually attached to a tree in the middle of the predators, or live in a secluded attic setting where predators cannot follow you inside and is heated? A bat will not willingly choose a bat house over a house. There is not an effective way to attract bats to a bat house either. The only way to attract bats is with insects (food source) and stable water supply. It’s up to the bats to decide whether they will move into the bat house.

Types of Bat Houses

The three most common types of bat houses are a single chamber, four-chamber, or rocket box. There has long been speculation about which bat house works best. There is no conclusive answer because it depends more on the environment and setting than the design of the bat house. The only evidence that supports bats choosing a certain bat house over another is the color of the house. In colder climate areas, bats prefer a darker bat house. The darker color will absorb more heat for the bats living inside.

A lighter-colored bat house is favored in areas with a warmer climate.  A single chamber bat house is a simpler style of bat houses.  The main issue with single chamber bat houses is the inconsistent and fluctuating temperature. A four-chamber bat house means there are four areas inside the bat house the bats can use to roost. The last type of bat house, the rocket box, is the most unique. It is a tall narrow bat house, and the inside looks like boxed stacked inside each other. The space between these stacks allows space for bats to roost.

The price bat houses can range from $15.00 to $200.00 or more. Remember to take into consideration the climate, location, and color of the bat house before purchasing. Then, you just need to find somewhere to put it.

Where Do You Put a Bat House

?

If you choose to install a bat house, there are some locations that are safer for bats than others. The first-place people tend to think a bat house goes is on a tree. While bats do live trees naturally, installing the bat house on the base of the tree will not suffice. Bats live inside hollow trees higher up off the ground. If the bat house is installed on a tree, the shade the tree provides causes the temperature inside the bat house to fluctuate. Therefore, the bats will not like unstable temperatures.

If attempting to install a bat house on a tree, make sure to install it on the South facing side of the tree to get as much direct sun as possible. A bat house should be installed 10 feet or higher off the ground to keep them away from predators. Another popular location people install bat houses is on the exterior of their own house. There are some issues that come along with that installation location. Guano, or bat poop, will accumulate outside of the bat house. Bats do not poop where they sleep, so if they are utilizing the bat house there will be a mess left behind to clean up daily.

The biggest concern with installing a bat house on a human house is that can invite the bats to move into your own house. A bat will sense the human house is a safer, more stable environment than the bat house is. The most recommended area, however, is on the South facing side of exterior buildings such as barns. Installing a bat house will not guarantee bats will move in. A bat will ultimately choose the location it feels the safest and comfortable in. There is a chance bats will move into the bat house, but do not be discouraged if they do not.

Why Bat Houses Do Not Work

Bat houses are an amazing way to try and give the bats shelter to safely live in. However, not many bats will willingly choose to live in bat houses. Approximately 30% of bat houses are successful in hosting a colony of bats. Places that are prone to more cold or harsh winters will have fewer success rates as areas that are generally warmer year-round. Bat houses can be ineffective because bats simply choose not to live in them. The bat does not feel safe in that setting and will seek better shelter. Usually, the bat will find its way to the nearest human home and make its way inside.

A human house has tiny entrance areas high enough no predators can follow the bat inside. A human house also has heat, which attracts bats even more. Finding a temperature-controlled structure is the jackpot for a bat colony! There are numerous places for a bat to hide within the house as well, which offers another form of protection for the bats. Bat houses do not work because the bat does not feel as safe in the bat house as in a human house. Basically, bat houses are a great idea but are not as effective as we hope.

Does Homeowner’s Insurance Cover Bat Removal?

After years of performing bat removal services, our customers ask, “Does Homeowner’s Insurance Cover Bat Removal?” many times. Homeowner’s insurance does not cover bat removal. Bat removal-bat proofing is the responsibility of the homeowner. The reason insurance companies will not cover the bat removal-bat proofing is because the infestation is a general maintenance issue (in the eyes of the all-mighty Insurance companies, anyway). Usually what the insurance company means by that is there is preexisting holes, gaps, or other areas the bats are using to get in. You, the homeowner, are responsible for remedying those minor maintenance issues.

However, everyone’s policy is different, so it is best to consult your insurance company. Most commonly, the homeowner’s insurance will cover the attic restoration or cleanup of the attic once you remove the bats. The attic restoration can end up costing much more than the bat proofing, depending on the extent of the damage. Again, this is just from our personal experience with this issue. Be sure to ask your insurance agent about your specific policy.

Adulting 101- Homeowner’s Insurance

Insurance can be a confusing subject because of the terminology and the amount of overwhelming information thrown at you in a short amount of time. Homeowners insurance is no exception to the mind-boggling issue of coverage. Which policy do you choose? What is all covered? What is the price? Which insurance company do you pick? Numerous companies offer homeowners insurance. There are general policies to choose from that have you covered against things like weather-related damage or fire.

Depending on the company, they may offer individual coverage insurance such as flood or earthquakes because general policies do not cover natural disasters like that. Unfortunately, bat removal is a disaster that is not covered under any general homeowner’s insurance policy. Nor is there individual insurance which you can purchase for it. We will get into the details why bat removal is not covered by homeowner’s insurance next.

Homeowner’s Insurance VS. Bat Removal

Why won’t homeowner’s insurance cover bat removal costs? Insurance companies see bat infestations as a “general maintenance issue.” Because bats can enter through dime-sized spaces that can form as a house settles, the insurance company will tell you to fix those issues yourself. What the insurance company doesn’t understand is how tedious that is! The problem with homeowners taking care of bat removal themselves is typically they do not know where or how to seal bat entry points properly. The worst thing a homeowner could do is trying to fix or seal up areas him/herself.

Do not seal the bats inside the home! Going out at night and sealing the areas you may see bats flying out is only going to lock the other bats inside the house. Locking the bats inside will only lead to them entering the living quarters or even worse the bats will die within the walls. In time those dead bats will start to smell, and that gets to be a more intricate bat removal project. Homeowners might not know where to look for bat entry points — for example, venting on the house that doesn’t have appropriate screens, damaged siding, or a crumbling chimney. Also, bad soffits and damaged shingles can provide access points for bats.

It’s best to hire professionals to ensure the sealing is done the first time correctly. Bat removal is not a very cheap service, but it is not the most expensive, either. Homeowners insurance may not cover the bat removal-bat proofing, but some do cover the cleanup costs after you remove the colony. We will talk about attic restoration, prices, and coverage next.

Homeowners Insurance VS Attic Restoration

Bats are troublesome little pests to remove. The bat colony will not leave on its own. Professionals must be called to get rid of the bats safely and adequately. Hiring professionals is the only way to ensure you remove the bats permanently. After those bats are kicked out, there is usually a big stinky mess left behind. The damage bats cause in an attic depends on the size of the colony.

Additionally, the amount of time the colony has been in the structure can make a big difference. The amount of guano can range from being scattered across the attic, to mounds of bat feces that have built up over time. Scattered guano can be cleaned up relatively quickly by professionals.

A large bat colony or well-established colony can cause such an immense amount of damage a full attic restoration will be needed. A full attic restoration consists of removal of soiled insulation, removing the guano, sanitizing the attic, and re-installing the customers choice of insulation. Attic Restoration is generally a much more expensive service than the bat removal-bat proofing service. Homeowners insurance covers the restoration because it is accidental physical damage, which is usually included in a homeowner’s policy. The worst thing about bat waste, besides the smell, is the diseases it can carry.

Health Hazards

You should treat and dispose of bat guano the same way as you would hazardous waste. Do not try to clean bat waste yourself. It contains fungal spores that when inhaled can cause respiratory disease, histoplasmosis. Bat feces, or guano, looks very similar to mouse droppings. The best and grossest, way to distinguish the difference is to wear a mask and put on latex gloves, then crush some of the excrement between your fingers. Hold the sample in the light and look for reflective pieces.

The reflective material found in the bat guano is insect wings, which confirms bats. Mice do not eat flying insects. Therefore there will be no remnants left behind. Location of the feces is also a telltale sign. If the feces seems to be along the walls its most likely mice, bat guano can be scattered throughout the attic or in piles. Bat guano is dangerous enough that you should treat it as if you are disposing of hazardous waste. Masks and safety suits should be worn to prevent the inhalation of the fungal spores. If the extent of the damage in the attic is too great, a full restoration will be needed as we talked about above.

Conclusion

To simplify this all down, because insurance can be quite confusing: Homeowners insurance does NOT pay for bat removal-bat proofing services. Bat infestations are a general maintenance issue. You, the homeowner, are responsible for removing the bats. Remember, the only way to remove bats correctly is hiring professionals. Once you completely remove the bats, the homeowner’s insurance will cover the cost of the attic restoration or cleanup of bat feces. The bats can cause a large amount of accidental physical damage to your home.

Most homeowner’s insurance general policies cover accidental physical damage done to a home. Everyone’s policy is different, so be sure to ask about your specific policy. If you are still unsure, it’s best to contact your insurance agent (policyholder) to discuss further.

How to get rid of bats in your house?

If only bat removal were as easy as going in the attic and telling all those bats to get lost! Unfortunately, bat colonies are much more stubborn than you would think. Once the colony makes roost, the bats will not leave until they are kicked out! There are not a lot of things people haven’t tried to get rid of bats. One quick google search can turn up hundreds of crazy natural home remedies or Do It Yourself techniques to get rid of the bats in your house. We’ve heard all kinds of ridiculous stories about people attempting to get rid of bats on their own.

Some of the odd and more absurd things we’ve heard that people try are dryer sheets, moth balls, sonic noise machines, leaving the attic lights on, windchimes, or some have been attempting chemicals. Out of those Do It Yourself bat removal methods, two are illegal and they are all ineffective!  There is only one proper way to get rid of bats in your house and that’s calling professionals. Only professionals have the expertise to locate and seal bat entry points as well as install exclusion devices in the proper locations. We’re going to let you know why those do it yourself or natural home remedy bat removal methods do not work.

Mothballs = Illegal

The most common DIY or natural bat removal method we hear about is mothballs. Now, mothballs are typically used when storing clothing, and the proper way to use mothballs is to store them in an airtight container. The vapors from the mothballs are supposed to eliminate clothes moths. The most common active ingredient in mothballs that is responsible for this vapor is either naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene.  Both are dangerous chemicals that can cause serious illness in children or animals if mishandled.

Since bats are federally protected, using chemicals of any kind to try and remove the bats is illegal. Not only are mothballs completely ineffective to get rid of bats in your house, but they can also be dangerous. Additionally, mothballs are meant to be kept in airtight containers because of the toxic vapor they emit. Long term exposure to the vapor can cause illness in humans.  Tossing a handful of mothballs into your attic will cause you to be exposed to those dangerous vapors, and it is an impractical way to get rid of bats in your house. The only way to get rid of the bats in your house is to call bat removal experts.

“Want to Hear the Most Annoying Sound in the World?”

Many people ask us about the ultrasonic noise machines that are supposed to get rid of the bats in the attic. To be frank, the ultrasonic noise machines will not get rid of the bats in your house. The machine will set you back anywhere from 30 to 100 dollars. We do not recommend spending money on these devices. The ultrasonic noise will cause the bats to stir until they become used to the sound.

The thought behind these devices is that the ultrasonic noise will disrupt the bats sleep cycle and communication methods. After a period of adjustment, the sound will stop affecting the bats. While the noise may annoy the bats at first, they will grow accustomed to it. If there isn’t a real threat, they aren’t going to willingly leave their safe space. Bats are smart little creatures.

Bat Wake Up

It’s no fun to wake up to a bat flying around your bedroom or even one making a surprise appearance during the holidays. Trying to remedy the issue yourself can lead to even more bats entering the living quarters of your home. Bat removal experts are trained to locate primary and secondary bat entry points and create a custom solution for each home. Getting rid of bats in your house is a process, but professionals can get rid of the bats and keep them out. If you ever have a loose bat in your house and want to try and get rid of the bat yourself, we have some tips for you to try. Remember, do not handle the bat bare-handed! Here are some tips on how to get rid of a loose bat in your house:

How to Get Rid of a Bat Flying in Your House

Have you ever been surprised to find a bat flying around in your house? Don’t know who to call or what to do? We have some tips for people to get rid of a bat in your house without harming it:

1. Open windows and doors to provide easy exits for the bat to fly out through.
2. You can get a towel or sheet and hold it in front of yourself and try to shoo the bat towards the open window or door.
3. Do not try and handle the bat with bare hands—thick leather gloves work best. If you are bitten or scratched, seek medical attention immediately.
4. If the bat is lying dormant, not flying, you can capture the bat using a Tupperware/bucket/bowl and release it outside.

**Please keep in mind the tips to get rid of a bat that’s flying indoors will not completely remedy the bat infestation issue. It is a temporary fix to a much larger issue. Seek proper help from professionals to get rid of the bats in the house completely. Bats are fragile animals. The bones within the bat’s wings are delicate, so it is important to be gentle when handling bats in any way to avoid harming the bat. Never attempt to handle bats bare-handed. **

Conclusion:

Getting rid of bats in your house is not as easy as going into the attic and plucking them off the rafters. Although, some people have attempted to remove bats that way—it didn’t work. There is only one correct way to get rid of bats in your house. The trick to get rid of the bats in your house is hiring professionals to find the problem areas, resolve the issue correctly, and allow these magnificent creatures to re-enter the environment safely. Also, it is important that the bats get out safely because they are federally protected. It is illegal to intentionally kill or harm bats.

People often do not think about how helpful bats are. Bats are tremendously beneficial to our environment especially with insect control. Bats like to eat water-based insects like mosquitoes, beetles, and moths to just name a few. If you have a cabin on the lake and there aren’t many mosquitoes, you can thank the bats for that! Not only do they help with insect control, but they also help with pollination. So next time there is a bat in your house, don’t pick up your tennis racket, pick up the phone and call experts instead.

How long does bat removal take? As much as we would like it to be a one-day process, the length of time it takes for bat removal from a house, office building, church, or other structure can vary greatly. Bats are stubborn! Once they move into a structure, they will not leave until they are kicked out. If only getting rid of bats was as easy as them moving in.

There are a few significant factors that can affect how long it takes to remove bats from the structure. For example, the size of the structure, the size of the bat colony, where the bats are roosting in the structure, when they last got food and water, baby bats, and the weather all can affect how long bat removal takes. Removing bats from buildings can be done, but it is not an overnight magic cure. Our method works, but only as fast as the bats allow it.

Where are the Bats?

We service all properties from residential homes to commercial properties, so we have seen every type of infestation from massive to minimal. Bat removal can take longer depending on the kind of structure that the bats have moved in to. Structure size can affect the length of time for bat removal because the bats can travel throughout the walls of the structure and often end up in the basement or lower levels. Bats use wall cavities as highways systems to move throughout the structure. It takes time for the bat to crawl its way back up to the attic area where it originally entered.

Bats will need to return to the attic area to find their exit out of the structure to feed. The bats will leave through the exit which will have an exclusion device installed to make sure the bats cannot enter back into the house. The bats fly out at night in search of water and to feed on insects. If there is a large number of bats in the colony, they will need time to complete their feeding cycle. Bats that have just returned from a meal won’t have to leave the roost for a few days. Location of the bats in the structure and the bats feeding cycle both affect how long bat removal takes.

Baby Bats?

The presence of baby bats can also affect how long bat removal takes. During the summer, female bats will give birth to one or two babies, also called pups. Those pups will be dependent on the mother bat for at least six weeks. That means that baby bats will not be leaving the roost for at least six weeks after they are born. The baby bats depend on the mother and her milk. If the mother bat leaves the roost and is unable to return, the baby bats will die. Because the baby bats need the mother to survive, you should avoid bat exclusions during the birthing season.

You cannot do bat exclusions if baby bats are present in the home—however, in some states because of health-related issues from the bats, the state may grant exclusions during the birthing season. You will need to check with your state’s wildlife conservation group. If baby bats are found in the structure, the bat removal process will take a more extended amount of time. Because the bats are federally protected, the national resume date for bat removal is August 15. By then, all the baby bats should be flying and feeding independently, and exclusion can resume.

Bats in Winter vs. Bats in Spring/Summer

How long bat removal takes during the warmer seasons is different than how long bat removal takes in winter. Bat removal is seasonal work because of how the bats react during the seasons. As the temperatures cool and fall weather sets in, the bats will search for a hibernating roost. Bats hibernate in structures during the winter months. Bats that hibernate primarily sleep through the winter.

However, the bats can wake up due to fluctuating weather conditions. If the bats get too cold in the area they are hibernating in; they will wake up and search for a warmer area in the house to go back to resting. Bats will not leave the structure until Spring—when the temperatures are warm enough. While we can get the home prepared for the bats to leave, there is nothing that can be done to get the bats to move in the winter. That is why bat removal takes longer in the fall or winter.

In the Spring, the bats wake up and immediately search for water. Which means when the temperatures are warm enough, the bats will willingly leave the structure, and at that point will be removed from the home—through the exclusion devices. Have you ever looked up at the night sky in the summer and seen bats flying around? That’s because June, July, and August are the months the bats are very active. There’s an abundance of mosquitoes out for them to eat! That is usually everyone’s favorite thing about bats!

It is crucial to keep in mind the birthing season during the summer months. Exclusions are prohibited when babies are present in the summertime. Bats are resilient, and these little creatures can become active as early as March if the weather cooperates!

Rushing Bat Removal

There is no way to make bat removal go any faster than the bats allow. Rushing the bat removal process can result in some nasty consequences. When a homeowner gets impatient and seals the bat entry points shut without providing an exit, the bats get trapped in the house. If the bats are lost in the walls and searching for a new exit, they may die in the wall. Trying to do bat removal during the birthing season, can leave you with dead baby bats. Having dead bats inside the walls of your home is not healthy and will stink in time. Killing bats is illegal. Bat removal must be done safely because bats are federally protected. The best way to get rid of bats is by calling professional bat removal experts.

Conclusion

Getting rid of bats is a process. There is no way to tell how long bat removal will take. Overall, the bats decide how fast the process will work. The type of bat removal method we use, while it is the most effective and permanent solution, still takes time to resolve the issue. We cannot give an exact date when the bats will be out of your house. The bats leave, but it does take some time. At some point, each bat will need to go out to feed or get a drink. During the bats most active season, most bat removal companies ask for 30 days to allow the bats to leave. Any issues after that, the company’s warranty should have you covered!

How much does bat removal cost? Well, it depends on what exactly is being bat proofed. Additionally, there is not one set price for bat proofing and bat removal services. Each infestation is uniquely different from the last. With so many changing factors, the price changes for each specific structure. We bat proof residential homes as well as various commercial properties. So, the “how much does bat removal cost” question can vary dramatically. A small, one story home isn’t the same price to bat-proof as a movie theater or church in town. The size of the structure, the size of the bat colony, and the condition the structure is in will all affect the price of the bat proofing-bat removal service.

By asking questions about the structure and seeing images of the property, it is possible to give accurate bat removal estimates over the phone. However, some people are skeptical of over the phone estimates, but if you have taken care of your home and it is not completely falling apart on the exterior, the over the phone estimate will be accurate. So, how much should bat removal cost? If the price for bat removal sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Bat removal is not cheap. If you want to get rid of bats, you will need to call the right professionals.

Bat Removal

Bat removal is not cheap, but most house maintenance projects aren’t! With bat removal services, you really do get what you pay for. The lesser the price often means the lesser the quality. Bats are crafty little creatures that can get in your house through dime-sized gaps. It’s tedious and time-consuming work to locate and seal every primary and secondary bat entry point correctly. Professionally trained technicians are most qualified to be locating and sealing bat entry areas. Most people who try to do their own bat removal end up sealing all the bats inside the house. Once the bats are sealed inside, they will go searching for an exit—that’s when multiple bats end up flying in the living quarters.

Sealing is only half of the bat removal process and it should be done only by professionals. The other half is giving the bats a way out of the house. Also, exclusion devices should be installed to give the bats an exit. There are a couple of different types of exclusion devices, either plastic or mesh. The plastic exclusion devices do not fit as well as mesh devices. Plastic exclusion devices are often white or gray. Installing bulky devices like plastic exclusion devices can alter the appearance of the home. Custom-made exclusion devices are the best bat exclusion device because it is made to fit for specific locations and is less noticeable.

Bat Removal Quotes-Estimates

With today’s technology, it is possible for us to give free estimates over the phone. To give an estimate over the phone, we must ask a few questions. The questions that are asked for the over the phone estimates are relatively basic. The answers to the questions tell us more information about the size and materials of the house. Some examples of questions that are asked are: How many stories is the home? (single story, two-story, etc.) What type of roofing material is on the home? (asphalt shingles, metal roof, etc.) What kind of siding does the home have? (vinyl, brick, etc.) Is there attic access, if so where?

Smaller houses with less detail will be a lesser price. If the house is larger, has a lot of structural detail, and has a difficult type of roof, the price would increase as more entry points are likely. After asking these simple questions, it can also help to see images of the house to get a visualization of the detail of the structure. We ask for the address to pull the home up online to see as much of the structural details as possible. Structural features like dormers, scalloping, turrets, and other structural designs can affect the price. Those types of details can provide ample opportunities for the bats to take advantage of.

Over The Phone Estimates

Over the phone, estimates are accurate to a point. If the house’s exterior has been taken care of over time, the over the phone estimate would be accurate. However, when a house’s exterior has been neglected and is starting to fall apart, the over the phone estimates may not be as accurate. The extent of the damage upon technician inspection may cause an increase in the price. How much bat removal costs can vary, and each home is different so each price will be different.  Bat removal may sound easy, but there is a lot more work that goes into than many may think.

Bat Removal Scams

Be careful when calling companies for bat removal and bat-proofing services. If a bat removal company tells you they can do the bat removal service for $200, hang up the phone immediately. The companies that offer bat removal services at such low prices are looking for quick cash. Scam companies like that are opening more frequently. Bat-proofing and bat removal is a rather expensive investment for your home. Trying to find the cheapest companies can leave you with the most expensive consequences.

Companies that do the bat removal job incorrectly either do not get rid of the bats at all or they end up sealing the live bats inside the home. Locking bats inside only drives them deeper in the structure. It also increases the amount of mess that may need to be cleaned. Any bat removal company that doesn’t offer a warranty or only offers a one-year warranty is also unreliable. We hear the horror stories about bats swarming in the house because of incorrect sealing methods from those companies. The other complaint we hear most commonly is that the bat infestation never left. Instead of trying to “save” money by hiring lesser qualified companies, spend the money to save yourself the stress and frustration.

Good Questions to Ask When Calling Around for Bat Removal Services:

• How long have you been in the bat removal business?
  • Asking this question can help eliminate possible fake companies or can verify the business.
• What kind of warranty is offered?
  • If a bat removal company offers no warranty or one-year warranty, they will not be very reliable.
  • Warranties vary from a minimum of a 3-year warranty to a maximum of a 10-year warranty.
• Are they properly licensed and insured?
  • The number of fake or scam bat removal companies is increasing. By asking this question, the company verifies they are a legally insured and licensed business.
• What materials are used?
  • Lower quality companies use lower quality materials. If a bat removal company primarily uses spray foam or plastic exclusion devices ordered offline, those materials will hinder the appearance of the exterior of the house.
  • Clear silicone is preferred over spray foam.
  • Mesh devices are preferred over plastic exclusion devices.
• Referrals?
  • People may request referrals from bat removal companies, but there may not be any to give out. Many bat removal customers do not like to broadcast that they have had issues with bats and do not want to be contacted as a referral.
  • The best substitute besides direct referrals is online reviews—Be sure to check the dates of the reviews.

**By asking these questions, it should eliminate many scam companies. Bats are federally protected which means killing bats is illegal. If the cost of bat removal sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Hopefully, with these tips, you will call the right professionals the first time.**

So how do bats get into your house? Where do bats even live? Bats can live just about anywhere. They are not limited to living in caves or abandoned houses like in the movies. In the wild where no other structures are available, bats tend to roost in caves, hollow trees, or abandoned buildings. In more urban areas, bats will choose to live inside a structure. Bats are mammals, and their one goal is survival. One of their favorite places to reside is inside our houses, but how do bats get inside your house? If they need a place to roost and your house has even a tiny opening, they will move in.

Our homes are temperature controlled, quiet, and to them, the safest place to be. That’s how easy it is for bats to decide to take residence in your home. Many times, you may not even notice the bat colony until a bat makes a surprise appearance in living quarters. Bats are crafty little creatures, and you’re going to be surprised just how determined these little bats are.

Bats in The House

If you have ever had a bat in your house, your first thought was probably how do bats get inside your home? Sorry to say, there is not just one answer to this question. Bats can take advantage and enter areas as small as a dime-sized gap! So relatively any dime-sized opening on the exterior of your house a bat can easily squeeze through and enter your home. Bats also have a “grease” that coats their fur which helps them squeeze through such tiny spaces. That’s why you may notice a dirty residue left on the exterior of your house where bats are using to enter the structure.

If you have a dormer on your home, that’s an excellent place to look for how bats get inside your house. The dormer area is often the main entry point bats use to get inside your house. Areas like that, where roof lines meet, provide excellent opportunities for bat entry points. The main misconception is that bats willingly fly into homes through open windows and doors. While a bat can enter your home that way, it is the most unlikely way for it to enter. They prefer their secret, hidden entrances, but why?

Bat Entry Points

Whether your house is brand new or 100 years old, there are bound to be a few areas bats can use to enter your home. People are always shocked to hear that a home built even one year ago can have bats. That doesn’t mean poor construction. Bats are crafty creatures, and it doesn’t take a big space for them to squeeze through. Typically, having a structure so exposed during the building process is enough to invite unwanted guests inside. Certain structural materials and designs on the house can also be more inviting locations for bats to enter the home. Any dormer, soffits, fascia, flashing, chimney, siding, or vents could be the main access point for the bats. Something such as different types of roofing materials can affect the number of bat entry points.

Remember, all it takes is a dime-sized space for bats to get inside your home. Bats choose these small spaces because predators cannot follow them inside. When one bat enters the house, that is only an invitation for more to come on in. The bats can smell each other’s scent, which helps them find their roosting location. Once bats find a safe roost, they will continuously return. Bat colonies will not leave on their own. The population of the colony grows more and more each year. The only way to get rid of bats permanently is to contact professionals to get rid of the bats safely. Only professionals will be capable of locating and sealing up not only the primary bat entry points but the secondary bat entry points we will talk about next.

Bats and Roofs

Bats get inside your house most frequently around the roof line. The reason for that is that bats cannot take flight from the ground and need to look for a high place to live. A bat needs to drop from higher up to be able to fly, so they need to live higher up. Any defects or gaps in the roof provide bat entry points. The type of roofing material on the home can significantly affect the number of entry points the bats use to get inside your house. We deal primarily with asphalt shingles, cedar shake shingles, metal roofs, and tile roofs. Cedar shake shingles and tile roofs are typically bats favorites! Wood shingles or tile homes offer almost unlimited access points for bats. The gaps in those types of roofing materials allow bats to fly right up underneath of them and get inside your house.

We approach these homes with a different sealing method. We perform all of the bat proofing from the interior, attic area. The technicians will have to screen behind the roofing to ensure bats cannot fly up and directly into the house. This is the only way to prevent the bats from getting inside your home with all the gaps provided by the roofing. We do not seal each tile to prevent bats from getting inside your house. The reason we do not fill the gaps is because of how unsightly that can make the home appear.

Other companies use spray foam to fill the gap between each tile, and that is not very aesthetically pleasing. Metal roofs are similar to the cedar shake shingles, and tile roofs in that bats can enter under the corrugated edges. Tile, cedar shake, and metal roofs are more expensive to bat-proof because of the amount of bat entry points to be sealed.  The last area of the house that bats can use to get inside your house would be ridge vent. What is a ridge vent?

Ridge Vent VS. Bats

Another critical area bats can try to use to get inside your home is the ridge vent. The ridge vent is on the very top of the home and covers the space on the peak of the roof.  Not all homes have ridge vents, but those that do probably have the wrong kind of keeping bats out. It comes down to plastic vs. metal, which is better for a ridge vent? We do not recommend installing plastic ridge vents. However, if you have a plastic ridge vent, it will need to be screened to ensure there were no bat entry points—even if the ridge vent is brand new and “insect proof.”

The reason plastic ridge vents are not as reliable is that in time the bent plastic will be continuously stressed in that position. In time, the plastic ridge vents will crack due to the flocculating weather and sun exposure. Because of the risk of those cracks and spaces opening, we do not suggest plastic ridge vents.

Bats are stubborn animals. The bats will not leave their roost unless they are kicked out. Getting rid of bats safely and humanely is possible. Bats are federally protected animals. Since bats are on the endangered species list, removing them carefully and humanely should be of utmost priority. There are a couple “Dos” and “Do Not’s” when trying to get rid of bats in your house safely and humanely.

To begin with, chemicals should NEVER be used to try and defer or remove bats from your home. Chemicals can kill bats, which is illegal. So, do not go throw a handful of mothballs up into the attic. Not only is it illegal, but it is also dangerous for your health. Mothballs do not get rid of bats, but the toxic vapors it will emit is hazardous for humans to breathe. Even though the bats are entering into the attic area does not mean they will be visibly hanging out. Bats will burrow behind the insulation to live in the walls of the home. The only way to get rid of the bats safely and humanely is to call professional bat removal experts.

Never try to seal your house up to keep the bats from getting back in—they’re in there all the time, day and night!  You will end up sealing the bats inside, and they will either come into living quarter or die in the walls. Dead bats in walls is a nasty and expensive mess to clean. Finally, do not go and find your trusty tennis racket when you do have a bat loose in your home. Just go open windows and doors to help the bat find its way out or pick up the phone and call professionals.

Natural Bat Removal Methods. Do they work?

As already mentioned, chemicals cannot be used to get rid of bats. However, chemicals are not the only thing people use to try and get rid of bats themselves. Peppermint oil, dryer sheets, windchimes, leaving lights on, and noise machines are the most common. Peppermint oil does not work; it will not get rid of bats. Additionally, dryer sheets will do nothing to get rid of bats in your house. The noise from the windchimes will not drive the bats out, nor will it spook them enough to leave. Bats do not easily or willingly leave their roost. Leaving lights on because bats are nocturnal will also do nothing. Bats can wake up during the day; they choose not to.

The bats come into the house after a long night of feeding and sleep the day away! Bats are nocturnal because that is when insects are out flying, and there are not human interferences. Leaving the lights on will not get rid of the bats, but it will make your electricity bill go up! The ultrasonic noise machines are becoming more popular as a do it yourself bat removal method. The ultrasonic noise is supposed to disrupt the bats because they use sound waves for echolocation. However, time and time again all of these natural bat removal methods have proven not to work. The physical or do it yourself bat removal methods are ineffective. The only way to get rid of bats safely and humanely is to call bat removal professionals.

Safe and Humane Bat Removal Process

How to get rid of bats in your house safely and humanely is a process. The way the whole process works is simple, but it can be a little time-consuming. First, bats enter the house around the roof line and gain access into the attic. From there, the bats will burrow behind the insulation in the attic and enter the wall cavities. The bats primarily live in that dark, safe wall area. Bat removal experts’ job is to find every primary and secondary bat entry point, seal those, but also give the bats a safe way to exit the structure. All the sealing should be done on the exterior of the home. Interior (attic area) bat proofing is only done depending on the type of roofing material and the condition of the house. Custom-made exclusion devices are one-way valves that give the bats a way to exit the home to safely.

The bats can re-enter the environment when they are excluded using this method. Once the bats fly through that valve, they will not be able to get back through into the home. Thus, when the bats fly out to feed at night, they leave home and become locked out, unable to return to your home. Once the bats realize they can no longer enter back into the structure, they fly off to find a new roost. The “catch” to bat removal is the bats leave on their own with their feeding cycle. Bat removal experts cannot speed up the process. Which means depending on the colony size and weather conditions, it may take some time for the bats to leave altogether. Bat removal experts cannot make them move any faster than nature allows.

Product Quality

When looking for professional bat removal services, ask as many questions as you can. Make sure the service you are getting is the best, safest, and most effective method for the bats and your house. Most companies use spray foam or plastic devices they have ordered offline. Lower quality products like this can alter the exterior appearance of the home. The plastic devices ordered online are gaudy and do not fit on the houses that well. No bat infestation is the same, so why try to treat it the same? Instead of having unsightly yellow foam and obnoxious white cones sticking off your house, technicians should use galvanized steel mesh to form a relatively small valve device to install on your home. That mesh valve device allows the bats to leave the house, but the bats cannot re-enter once they fly out.

The custom-made devices are much less noticeable to the naked eye and keep your home looking aesthetically pleasing. These custom exclusion devices have proven to be 100% effective. Not only do they work, but they are also the safest for the bats.

Conclusion

So, can bats be removed safely and humanely? Yes, but only professional bat removal experts are capable of getting rid of the bats. Is it easy to get rid of bats? No. Bats are incredibly stubborn. Once the bats move in and make themselves at home, they will need to be kicked out. The bats will never willingly leave their safe roost. Is it worth trying natural bat removal methods? No. If the process is not dangerous or illegal to use on bats, it is ineffective. There is no cheap and easy solution to getting rid of bats. Do not waste time and money on products that have been proven not to work. Hiring a professional is the only way to ensure the bat removal is done safely and correctly.

Getting rid of bats in your house takes time, and you cannot rush. Since the bats are federally protected, we must get the bats out safely. The only people capable of getting rid of bats safely and humanely are professionals.

Have you ever been the victim of a bat flying loose in your house? Was it frightening to watch that tiny creature swoop, dive, and fly all around your living room? The real question is, do bats attack humans? That answer is simple, no. Bats are terrified of humans and do not maliciously fly down to attack us. A bat may fly near you as it is searching for an exit, but it does not mean to cause you any harm.

One good way to think of it is that the bat is just as scared of you as you are of it. Just because the bat is scared, too, does not mean they are safe to have in your home. Bats are a health risk to share your house with, not to mention they are very messy tenants. Overall, bats do not seek to attack humans. Keep reading to learn more about how bats “attack” humans.

Do Bats Attack? Or Are They Just Blind?

Have you heard the old wives’ tales of bats attacking humans and getting stuck in hair? That is usually an overdramatization of what happened. A human’s hair is the last place a bat wants to be stuck! Contrary to what people think, bats are not blind. Bats know precisely where they are flying and what is surrounding them.

Bats use echolocation to navigate flying, so they are always aware of their surroundings. In order to do this, bats echolocate by producing a high-frequency sound wave. When the bats sound wave bounces off an object and echoes back, the bat will be able to hear or feel how far away the object is. Also, bats can use echolocation to grasp how big an object is and its shape—especially crucial during hunting. If a single brown bat can catch and eat over 1000 insects an hour, then it must be able to “see” pretty good. It also makes them good at hiding when they are loose inside your home like we talk about next.

Bats Inside House

If a bat is loose inside your home, it can be quite a battle to locate it. The bat may begin its rampage by flying aimlessly around the house. As it flies back and forth, many people think the bat is doing that to attack. When really, the bat is in a panic. It’s flying trying to get away from you. If you lose sight of the bat and it finds a place to hide, the chances of you finding the hiding spot is slim. You can check behind pictures, in curtains, under the couch, etc. but don’t be surprised if you can’t locate the bat.

Once the bat regains energy, it will be able to fly again. Open windows and door to give the bat an easy escape route. Releasing the bat outside will eliminate the issue of the bat loose inside, but it won’t get rid of the colony hiding in the walls. Finding a live bat in your living quarters is the number one sign of a bat colony living in the structure, so do not ignore the warning. Bats attacking humans should not be the only worry. Another significant risk with bats is that they can pass diseases to humans as well as cause extensive damage to your home.

Bat Diseases

I’m sure everyone has heard about bats and how they carry the disease rabies. While only 2% of the bat population has rabies, it is still an incredibly dangerous disease. A small bite or scratch from a bat is all it takes to transfer to a human—which typically happens when someone tries to handle or touch the bat without the proper safety gloves. Never handle a bat bare handed! If you are going to attempt to handle a bat, it’s better to use thick leather gloves. The bat’s small teeth and claws cannot pierce through the leather. Always be gentle when handling bats, they have fragile bones in their easily breakable wings.

If you wake up to a bat in your bedroom after being asleep, then you should consult medical professionals. There is a chance the bat could have bitten or scratched you in your sleep. A bats bite can be gentle enough that it may not even wake you. It’s always better to be safe than sorry. Just because a small percentage of bats carry the disease, it doesn’t make the disease any less deadly if left untreated. Moving on from the diseases physically transferred to humans, we’re going to hear about the diseases we breathe in.

Take a Deep Breath and Relax—Not Too Deep

Another dangerous disease linked to bats is Histoplasmosis. Histoplasmosis is a respiratory disease caused by inhaling the fungal spores from the bat guano or feces. The bats defecate and urinate in the attic area, and over time it can pile up, literally. Our technicians have witnessed mounds of bat droppings on multiple occasions. Bats don’t like to sleep where they poop, so they designate an area to keep things separate.  The more they use that one location, the larger the mound of feces grows, and more spores develop. Over time, inhaling those spores can make you sick.

The best way to prevent histoplasmosis is to eliminate the bat colony and have the attic sanitized. Kicking out the bats should be the first step. Once the bats are gone, attic restoration may begin which involves removing guano and soiled insulation (if needed). After we get all the contaminated and hazardous waste out, we can sanitize the area and get it looking good as new!  Now you may be thinking what is as gross if not even grosser than bat poop? Bat Bugs.

What’s Worse Than Bat Poop? –Bat Bugs.

Bat bugs are tiny insects that live off mammals, specifically, bats. They appear as a small, round-bodied, reddish-brown insect. Bat bugs look almost identical to bed bugs, and only professionals will be able to spot the difference using specialized equipment. Usually, Bat bugs stay up in the area where the bats are, so typically in the attic space. Also, Bat bugs feed on bats which is why they must be near the bat colony. Some of the worst infestations we’ve seen have involved the technician opening the attic access door and having bat bugs fall out onto the floor. If you remove teh bat colony, the bat bugs that are left behind may feed on humans as a last resort. However, bat bugs cannot reproduce without bats. Eventually, the bat bugs will die out if no bats are present.

Conclusion:

No one wants bats in their house, but sometimes they find their way inside. Not only are bats scary, but they are also a health risk inside our homes. The only safe way to get rid of bats in your house is to call bat removal professionals. Bat removal professionals guarantee to get rid of the bats and make sure they stay out. Professionals will remove the bats safely and that any mess left behind has been addressed and cleaned.