How To Keep Bats Out of Your Home
Bats have something of a public relations problem. Our first reaction to bats might be disgust or horror, but they are a vital part of the ecosystem by all accounts. They pollinate crops and eat pest insects like mosquitoes.
In fact, a 2011 study suggested that bats save the US economy an average of 23 billion in pesticide costs every year.
Bats can be welcome guests on our property, but nobody wants uninvited house guests.
How to Prevent Bats From Entering
Stopping bats from becoming your roommate can be accomplished in two ways.
- Seal Points of Entry
- Bats can enter your home through any opening a quarter inch or larger.
- Caulk, steel wool, window screens, chimney caps, and draft guards are perfect to close these openings.
- The roofline, siding seams, and windows are common points of entry.
- Doors and windows should be kept shut. Bats are more than happy to take the easy entrance.
- Make Your House An Unappealing Roost
- Clear out any fallen trees or debris from around your house
- Remove their food source by controlling the insect population on your property.
- Get rid of any standing water that bats rely on, such as birdbaths.
- Light up possible roosting spots. Bats will avoid the light.
- Use natural repellents like cinnamon, peppermint, eucalyptus, menthol, human hair, or even coyote urine if you’re daring.
How to Remove Bats From Your Home
If you’re already playing host to unwanted bats, removing them is a job best left to the professionals at YESPest Solutions.
- Bats can carry diseases, such as rabies. Though human cases of rabies are rare, it is a very severe disease and possibly fatal. We are trained and equipped to deal with bats safely.
- Some bats are endangered and protected by law. There can be severe fines levied against homeowners who harm or remove these vulnerable bats. We can tell you if the bats in your home are among these protected species and how to legally remove them.
- Bat babies are vulnerable and could be harmed in the removal process. Since bats are a valuable part of our local ecosystem, we don’t want to hurt them. At YESPest, we know when and how to move even delicate bats.
If you must clear out the bats yourself, keep the following in mind.
- Allow the bats to leave by themselves instead of trying to handle them. This will prevent the possibility of exposure to disease. Wait for the bats to go hunting at night, then seal up the entrance to your home.
- Avoid removing bats from May to August. This time of year is when bats are raising children and may have a nest of them inside your home. If the bat is endangered, it may be illegal to remove them during this timeframe.
- Remove the bats only after July. Most babies will have matured and will be ready to leave the nest by the end of the month. This is the safest time to remove a bat family.
Consider waiting until Fall or Winter. The bats will leave by themselves to hibernate. You can easily fortify your home against bats while they’re away.
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