Nobody wants buzzing pests on their property, not even the most ardent Batman fan. Although they can help ecosystems and even eat insects, you shouldn’t allow bats inside. A bat colony can harm your property and your health severely over time.
Although these helpful animals can benefit the ecosystem, they present safety and health issues when they enter your home. Bats’ presence indoors can lead to problems with rabies, odors, allergies, structural damage to your property, and the risk of histoplasmosis.
You must take necessary action without delay if bats hide near your property. Managing a bat invasion can be challenging, though, as it is illegal to kill bats or use chemicals on them in most nations. If you want to exclude bats from your home, use the steps below or hire a bat removal service in Indianapolis or nearby.
Table of Contents
Time Bats Removal
Timing is crucial when using bat exclusion. From May through August, female bats may deliver offspring (one pup per cycle) at any moment.
You must carry out the eviction in the springtime, shortly before the offspring are born, or at the beginning of fall, just before the young bats leave for winter hibernation after they are ready to take flight.
Identify and Seal Entry Points
Check the outside of the house for cracks and openings while paying attention to the roof crest and any open spaces between clapboards or panels. Additionally, search the exterior of your home for guano, little brown streaks, tiny black granules, and signs of bat urine.
You must caulk every conceivable access point except the one-way exits the bats prefer to use as departures because they can fit through small spaces. Because of its versatility and clear appearance after drying, silicone glue can be your go-to sealant. Bats love returning to the same nests year after year. Thus, it is essential to seal off every entrance to deter them.
You may utilize hardware fabric alongside caulk to ensure bats never again enter your residence. The squirrels and other rodents can nibble through wood, but bats cannot. A preventative measure to guarantee bat-proofing durability is using wire mesh. Hardware fabric can seal the vent in your attic if it is a possible entry point.
Install Exclusion Devices
Exclusion tools (one-way exits, bat valves, and mesh) are an efficient and straightforward DIY technique. These tools give bats a route out of their roosting places but prevent them from getting back in.
If you want to take this route, it is crucial to hold off until the late summer or early fall when young bats will be old enough to migrate. Otherwise, you will lock baby bats inside and their caregivers outside.
Bear in mind that bats can fit through gaps as tiny as 3/4 inches while you look for entry locations. Seal almost all the holes you detect with caulk or similar sealant; only a few should remain open and have bat exclusion measures in place.
Construct a Bat House
As it gives the bats a secure place to shelter, adding bat homes to your outdoor space is an excellent supplement to other bat inhibitors. Bats who depart your residence are less prone to try to return by offering them an alternative refuge, allowing them to settle more securely in your garden.
Bats are also excellent pest controllers, so having them in your yard is frequently beneficial for protecting your flower and vegetable garden plans.
Once established, bat colonies frequently make their homes for a very long period, and they will keep visiting the location as long as it is practical.
Due to the destruction of their natural habitats and the preservation of human buildings, bats frequently enter people’s homes. When implementing pest management, it’s crucial to consider how the animals will fare once they leave your property.
Use Repellents and Deterrents
Natural chemicals or objects that bats dislike serve as bat-repelling agents and deterrents. Bright lighting can be a potent deterrent because bats prefer dimly lit areas. Ultrasonic or high-frequency sound emitters might annoy their ears and hamper their use of echolocation purposes. Furthermore, effective repellents include mothballs, mint, juniper, and other essential oils with potent scents.
To make prospective entryways and roosting spots less alluring, apply or place deterrents there. Depending on the type of bat, its efficacy can vary.
Get Help
Even though do-it-yourself solutions can work for little bat issues, some circumstances necessitate expert help.
Based on the species involved and state regulations, DIY bat eradication might not be possible. For huge colonies and difficult-to-reach areas, consider employing experts.
You can find an accredited and registered bat removal service in Indianapolis or anywhere through local directories, online searches, or referrals from regional wildlife organizations. When selecting a professional, consider their credentials, insurance, and method carefully.
A meticulous property examination will be the first step in an expert bat removal service. The technician will determine the types of bats present, their routes of entry, and the colony’s size. They will next start implementing an exclusion plan.
Decontamination and cleaning are essential after removing the bats. Experts can safely discard bats’ feces and urine to avoid health dangers like histoplasmosis.
Examine Inhabitable Areas Periodically
To check for symptoms of re-infestation, perform comprehensive examinations of your attic, basement, vents, or other impacted areas regularly. Keep an eye out for bats and their droppings.
After you’ve blocked off their entrances, bats won’t likely return. However, it’s best to find out promptly to prevent the issue from escalating if they do.
Unexpected debris or drafts may indicate that bats have nibbled their way inside. Bats can rest under decks, within screened-in porches, and even under roofing tiles, even though they frequently end up in attics and chimneys.
Removing and Preventing Bats in Your Home
A bat invasion can endanger your health and potentially harm the structure of your house. Take urgent measures to remove the bats and stop them from returning if you spot the warning signs of an infestation. Use the DIY methods described here, or contract a reputable pest treatment business.
Remove possible nutritional sources (such as compost or rubbish that attracts insects) regularly. Trim nearby tree branches to remove bat-friendly entry points, and maintain your home’s exterior illuminated and clutter-free.