Bats play an important role in the ecosystem. They consume large numbers of insects that can be a nuisance to humans and that can spread diseases in some cases.
When bats get into houses, however, they can cause problems for people who live there. Bats can be much more than an annoyance or an inconvenience. They can also be dangerous to your family’s health. They can carry rabies, and a fungus in their droppings can cause histoplasmosis, a respiratory illness. Here are some steps you can take to keep bats out of your house.
Find and Block Entry Points
Look for ways that bats could enter your house. Bats can squeeze through openings just ½ inch wide. When searching for potential entry points, focus on areas where building materials are joined, such as near vents and roof flashing, as well as places where pipes and electrical wires enter your house. If you see droppings or brown discoloration near those areas, those are indications that bats have used those openings as entry points.
If you find any openings, seal them off. Fill in small openings with caulk, stainless steel wool, or expanding foam insulation. Use window screening or hardware cloth to block vents and other large openings. Make sure that any doors that lead to the outside of your house are sealed to keep bats out. Cover other potential entry points with chimney caps, window screens, and draft guards.
When to Bat-Proof Your House
Bats typically make their homes in attics between April and August, when babies are born and then dependent on their mothers. Young bats are unable to fly and are therefore very vulnerable.
Once bats have entered your attic to give birth and raise their young there, you will have to wait until the babies are able to fly before you can seal off openings. If you bat-proof your home while babies are inside, they can be trapped in the house after their mothers leave, and they may die in the attic or crawl into the walls, get trapped, and die there. Find and block entry points before the breeding season begins or after it ends so you can avoid a problem around the time when bats give birth.
How to Get Rid of Bats That Are Already in Your House
If you already have bats in the attic of your Connecticut home, they will need to be evicted before the entry points that they used to get in can be sealed off. The team at Anderson Wildlife Control can get rid of bats in your attic, as long as there are no babies that are unable to fly, and seal off entry points to keep them from returning. Contact us today to get an estimate for bat removal and bat-proofing services.
