Do I Have Bats?

Bats, the only mammals that fly, are like humans in that they prefer a private dwelling where they are safe from predators and inclement weather. Thus, they will take up residence in homes, apartment buildings, and just about any other structure that will offer them a dark, protected nesting space. Although bats are beneficial, they should not cohabit a structure also occupied by humans.

How can I tell if there’s a bat colony in the building?

Sometimes, when bats have moved into a building, they can be spotted flying about, lost from their family and searching for a way outside. That’s the easy way to know that at least one bat is living in or passing through the place. Many times, bats that have taken up residence in a home, apartment building, or other structure will live there for a long time with no one being the wiser. However, there are some telltale signs that bats may have decided to become nonpaying tenants.

• Are there a large number of bats outside the building? If so, it is possible that some may have decided to take up residency inside, and it would be prudent to inspect the building.
• Has anyone heard scratching or squeaking noises from walls, chimney, or attic? Although these noises may be from raccoons, birds, or mice, if other signs of bats appear, it would be wise to consider this clue. Bats like to live in dark, secluded areas, and often nest in places where they are safe from predators and bad weather. Gaps as small as 5/8 inch are large enough for bats to enter. These are often found near chimney flashing and under eaves.
• Have bat droppings (guano) been found (or smelled)? Guano can often be found on the wall or below an entrance used by bats. Small and dark, guano consists of the remainders of bugs that the bats have eaten. Unlike mouse feces, bat guano can be easily crushed. It has a distinct odor, so even if the droppings are not out in the open, the smell could give it away.
• Are there unexplained stains on walls and ceilings? When bats are nesting in an attic or wall, stains from bat urine may be found on the wall or ceiling, or sometimes, in unused buildings, crystallized urine (a powdery white material) may pit furniture or wood within the building. (If enough urine collects, stalactites and stalagmites will appear.) Like guano, bat urine has an unpleasant smell, which can attract insects or other pests, thus adding to the infestation problem.
•  Are there rub marks on the outside of the building around areas with holes or cracks? These are left behind by bats entering and exiting the building.

• If the bat is flying around, turn down the lights and open windows (and screens). More than likely, the bat is simply lost from its colony and is looking for a way outside.
• If the bat is resting, it should be captured and released, unharmed, outside.

What if I think someone’s had contact with a bat?

• Again, if possible, capture the bat and call the local animal control facility. The bat should be tested or held for confirmation of illness.
• If the bat cannot be captured, call the animal control facility and local medical authorities. Post-exposure treatment (Rabies shots) may be in order. (Note: If a bat was in a room with a sleeping person or infant, all precautions should be taken as bat bites are not always visible to the naked eye, and the person may have been bitten without your knowledge. Check with local medical authorities.)

The bat is gone. Now what?

• The bat control professional will make a careful inspection, ascertaining how the bats entered. Entry holes are often nearly as secluded as their nests. A professional will know what to look for and have the proper equipment for finding entry gaps used by the bats. During this process, the professional will use proper safety precautions in order to avoid contact with any guano, remaining bats, and the other pests that might have been “neighbors” of the bats.
• The bat control professional will carefully seal all entryways so that any remaining bats can still exit in order to feed, but when they try to return, they will not be able to get back in. A few weeks later, the temporary plugs will be replaced with permanent seals, guaranteeing the bats’ exclusion from the building.
• The services of the bat control professional will be covered by a warranty. You may also, however, wish to have post-exclusion inspections made prior to the expiration of the warranty. At that time, the professional will let you know of any problem areas he sees, seal any additional holes encountered, and extend the warranty. An annual inspection can often pay for itself in the savings the property owner will realize simply from not having to have another exclusion process.