Do Bat Repellents Work?
Whether you’ve got a problem with ants, spiders, cats, mosquitoes, skunks, dogs, or birds, these days, whatever the pest, you can find a repellent that claims to keep them away. Now, you can even buy bat repellents! Many options are on the market, from repellents made from essential oils to plug-in machines emitting ultra-sonic or mega-sonic sound waves. Some products claim to get rid of bats in just a few days! But can you really trust these products to prevent a bat infestation or drive away bats living in your property? Do bat repellents work?
Do ultrasonic bat repellents work?
Ultrasonic bat-repellent machines are designed to emit high-frequency sounds (audible to bats but not humans) to scare the bats away. The designers feel these sounds will irritate the bats and disrupt how they communicate and navigate through echolocation. A major selling point is that these repellants aim not to harm bats but deter them. Unfortunately, these machines don’t necessarily work. Our residential bat removal specialists have visited properties with bat infestations, where there are supposed “bat repellent devices” plugged in that have not succeeded in their purpose.
Do odor repellents work?
Many odors are thought to be repulsive to bats, including mint, garlic, cinnamon, rosemary, eucalyptus, and others. As a result, some people choose to hang these herbs around their homes or purchase moth balls, sprays, or other products formulated to smell bad to bats. So, do these bat repellents work? The products get mixed reviews. The fact is no one can be confident that these repellents will work. Some bats may avoid these scents, but that doesn’t mean they will stay out of your home or leave if they are already roosting in your property. As mentioned, bat removal technicians have visited homes with an array of “bat deterrents” in place, including odor repellents, that have proved ineffective.
Will “scare” tactics repel bats?
There are many other tips to be found on ways to repel bats. You may have seen suggestions of hanging foil or metal things up to scare away bats. Some people keep a fan by the window, as it’s thought bats don’t like a breeze. Other suggestions include using a loud noise to confuse the bats. If bats are roosting in your property, although they may find the noises/lights unpleasant, this will likely not be enough to force all the bats to leave. Some bats may not be bothered, and others may just look for a quieter / darker / less disruptive place in your home.
What about bat poison?
Using animal poison is not only ineffective but highly unethical and illegal. Many bat species are federally protected, and there are laws specific to individual states regarding bats, and the penalty for harming bats will vary depending on where you live. In addition to breaking the law, many of the chemicals in poisons or fumigants can be extremely harmful to humans and other animals in the vicinity. Bats that are poisoned will die in the wall cavities and attic, causing a bio-hazard as well as a bad odor until removed.
Should I try a bat repellent before calling a bat removal specialist?
If you’ve asked the question, “do bat repellents work” because you have bats roosting in your property, more than a bat repellent is needed to solve your problem. If you spend time trying different bat repellents, your situation will undoubtedly worsen, and the bats may look for other places in your home to roost. The last thing you want is bats in your living space. The repellents will inevitably fail, by which time the amount of mess and damage caused by bat urine/guano will have increased. The longer you have bats living in your home, the more significant the risk to your health – unfortunately, there is the risk of contracting rabies from contact with bats. In addition, the more bat guano builds up, the higher the chance of harmful spores developing, which can cause a respiratory disease called histoplasmosis. Clearly, it is not a good idea to delay properly removing the bats from your property.
What is the best thing to do to get rid of bats?
The only truly successful method to remove bats and keep them out of your property is to seal up all gaps in its exterior. Then, bat exclusion devices should be installed at the bat entry/exit points. These let the bats out but prevent them from coming back in. Once the bats have all left, the bat’s entry point(s) should be sealed up. Bats can squeeze through tiny gaps, as small as ⅜ inch wide. Therefore, the property must be thoroughly examined for holes.
Professional bat removal experts have the equipment needed to reach all areas of a property. At Get Bats Out, our technicians are qualified to do rope work, allowing them to use man-lifts and ropes to access all points on high-rise buildings. This highly-specialized training and equipment can ensure successful bat removal and exclusion. We even provide a warranty against re-infestations. So, rather than risking damage to your health and further property damage, a professional bat removal service can save you time and stress and give you confidence that your home will once again be bat-free.
Contact us today if you need help with residential or commercial bat removal.
Your Local Bat Removal Specialist,
Michael Koski
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