Bats, the only mammals capable of flight, are a crucial part of our ecosystem. Living exterminators, these flying critters are responsible for controlling pests like mosquitoes from getting out of hand.
Bats once filled the great forests of the Lehigh Valley and even the suburbs surrounding Southeastern Pennsylvania. However, bats are a protected species that are considered at risk.
While the temptation to remove a bat by any means may cross your mind, wildlife experts and exterminators must follow specific protocols to protect bat populations in Pennsylvania.
While bats are critical for pest control in the ecosystem, they can cause a lot of damage to your home as nuisance wildlife themselves. If you have a bat infestation or are looking to get rid of a bat in your home, here are seven important things you should know about bats and bat exclusion.
1. Bats Are a Protected Species
Multiple bats are under threat of extinction as the US Fish and Wildlife Service recently classified the northern long-eared bat as an endangered species. Driving much of this decline is a loss of habitat and a vicious fungal virus, known as white-nose syndrome, killing an estimated 97% of this bat species.
Because bats are a protected species, this limits pest control options for homeowners dealing with bats in their home, including when and how they can be removed. For this reason, unless you have read up on the proper regulations, you need to call a professional to get rid of bats in your home.
2. Bat Exclusion Is the Proper Form of Pest Control
Due to their protected status, bats can only be removed from their habitat between July and October to prevent the bat mating cycle disruption.
The only long-term solution for bat pest control is bat exclusion services. This service includes a mix of preventative measures designed to prevent bats from entering your home in the first place, such as:
- Seal all cracks and access points around your home; bats can squeeze through openings as small as ½ inch.
- Cover open sections with netting or screens, especially around vents, chimneys, and eaves.
- Complete all roof repairs to eliminate gaps or damaged areas that bats could use to get inside.
- Plug up even the smallest holes using durable materials like caulk, steel wool, or hardware cloth.
- Eliminate mosquito breeding grounds by removing standing water around your property—bats are often drawn to areas with abundant insects.
- Make your home less appealing to bats by keeping outdoor lighting low and removing overhanging branches or clutter near the roofline.
Many bats like to roost in high or dark places, which could include many spots in a home. They often find their way underneath eaves and hide away in attics.
3. Bats Carry Disease and Can Damage Your Property
While many people are aware of the risk of rabies that comes with bats, they can also carry several other diseases, such as histoplasmosis, which is found in their droppings (guano).
However, bat guano can wreak havoc in many other ways. Due to the large volume of waste that bats excrete, they can actually damage your home, including your floors, siding, and walls, if left unchecked for long periods of time.
Additionally, should bats reside or get trapped inside your home, they can become ill, injured, or die in the nooks and crannies, causing additional problems.
4. There Are Multiple Bat Species in Pennsylvania
There are several species of bats found all across Pennsylvania that have their own unique traits and behaviour.
- Big Brown Bats: These bats are mid-sized mammals that are dark in color. They feed on insects and roost in any high point they can find. You can find them in your eaves, attics, and other high places during the day and hunting at night. They are common nesters during the winter months and can travel alone or in groups.
- Little Brown Bats: These little creatures are only about three inches long. They can hide in small spaces in the warmer months and seek shelter when they hibernate. Their favorite delicacy includes small, soft-bodied insects, or bugs, near slow-moving water.
5. Timing Is Everything When It Comes to Bat Exclusion
Timing is everything if you want to flush a bat infestation from your home. Bat exclusion is tricky; if done incorrectly, you can have more problems. It should be done after the young bats have had a chance to vacate and after the adults venture out to feed, typically in the summer. Your home could suffer more damage if done too early or too late.
Fleeing bats could become trapped and die. Females could be separated from their young and could continuously try to re-enter their home. Therefore, a professional should handle this process to ensure that the outcome is satisfactory for you and the wildlife.
6. DIY Bat Pest Control Is Not Recommended
While it may be tempting to try removing bats yourself, DIY exclusion can be dangerous, ineffective, and often illegal. Bats are protected in Pennsylvania, and mishandling them, especially during maternity season, can result in fines, health risks, and worse outcomes for the bats and your home.
Improper sealing can trap bats inside your attic or walls, creating a biohazard and leading to dead animals you’ll have to locate and remove. Additionally, guano cleanup must be done with care to avoid exposure to harmful spores that can cause lung infections like histoplasmosis.
7. Bats Are Mostly Harmless and Good for the Environment
Bats play a vital role in Pennsylvania’s ecosystem. A single bat can eat hundreds of mosquitoes and crop-damaging insects in one night, making them excellent natural pest control. They’re shy, non-aggressive animals that typically avoid human contact.
However, problems arise when bats roost too close to human living spaces. Their droppings can cause property damage and health issues, and though rabies in bats is rare, the risk still exists.
That’s why responsible removal is key. The Pest Rangers use exclusion methods that protect your home while respecting bat conservation efforts. We’ll help you keep bats out without harming them or violating wildlife laws.
If you suspect that you have a bat infestation, contact our licensed pest control experts to assess the problem and protect your home from nuisance wildlife.
FAQs
How do I know if bats are in my attic?
Look for signs like bat droppings (guano), strong odors, squeaking or fluttering sounds near dusk, and visible exit points near your roofline or chimney.
Can bats make me sick?
Yes, though usually indirectly. Guano can host a fungus that causes histoplasmosis, a lung disease. There is also a small risk of rabies from bat bites. Never attempt to handle bats yourself.
How do professionals remove bats humanely?
Professionals use one-way exclusion devices that let bats exit but prevent them from re-entering. Once all bats are gone, entry points are sealed to prevent future infestations.
