Hiring a Bat Exclusion Expert

Are you thinking of hiring a bat exclusion expert? Congratulations! You’ve decided to take the logical, responsible route in getting rid of your problem with bats. This is a big first step in living bat-free yet enjoying the insect control bats offer in nature.

Now, you just need to figure out what to do next.

When do I contact a bat control professional?

You should contact a bat control expert at the first sign of infestation (more than one bat encountered inside more than once a year, or physical signs of bat guano). This way, you’ll be sure to have the problem under control before the bats can cause any more damage to your property or health.

What should I look for when hiring a bat control professional?

• There are several steps you can take to make sure you are hiring a company or individual who will get the job done and in the least intrusive, least expensive, and quickest manner possible.
• First, make a list of the local companies that advertise bat control.
• Check out their credentials with the local Better Business Bureau.
• Ask them about their experience and their specialization in bat control. While the local exterminator may be good at getting rid of carpenter ants, and the local “critter getter” may be good at getting raccoons out of chimneys, neither one may know the safe, effective methods of removing bats from buildings—and keeping them away.
• Investigate the methods they use. Are they effective (as in exclusion methods with no-re-entry “doors”), or are they fads such as high-pitched whistles or bat-repellent odors? The Internet is a good source of material on which methods actually work.
• Ask for references. Find out what successes others have had working with these companies.
• Ask about their warranty. Professional bat control experts should be willing to give you a warranty of their work.  Some even provide an extendable warranty, based on a re-inspection just prior to the warranty’s expiration.

Things to avoid when hiring a bat control professional

• Watch out for the jack-of-all-trades, master of none. This guy will claim he can get rid of anything. Again, ask how he’ll do it, and for referrals.
• The fly-by-night, so-called experts are out there, even in bat control. These companies do not have a track record for effective control, but may try to lure you into doing business with a lower cost. Make sure the company you are dealing with will be there if the bats make a return visit.
• Some providers refuse to give warranties, saying that true bat exclusion is near impossible. That is rubbish! A reputable expert should be able to warranty no re-infestation for a period of time; with your right to call him back, at no cost to you, should the bats return.

What should I expect from the professional I hire?

Inspection Fee. Most bat control professionals will charge an inspection fee, based on the size of your building and the difficulty involved in inspection (lots of hard-to-reach areas, etc.). This inspection fee should be applied to the service fee if you hire the company.

Not a one-shot deal. Bat exclusion is a complicated process involving several steps. First will be the inspection. Then, the provider will carefully install special exclusion traps that allow the bats to exit the building, but not re-enter. After a few days or weeks, the expert will then make sure all the bats are outside the building, and carefully remove the “traps” and seal the holes. The clean up can follow, and may involve several days or weeks, depending on the amount of material left by the bats. Of course, bat mite control may be a part of the process, as well as repair of any damaged structures.

What will it cost?

There is no doubt about it; bat exclusion is expensive. Be sure to ask what is included in your estimate to make sure you are not left with any “hidden” costs after the bats are excluded. But even considering the expense of bat exclusion, it is still cheaper than the health risks, liability for possible exposure to others, and the property damage should you decide not to take action on your bat infestation. Think of it this way. If your roof were to leak because squirrels chewed holes and made nests in your attic, you’d pay whatever it took to get rid of the squirrels and repair your attic, wouldn’t you? This is the same, except the bats didn’t “chew” their way in!

What now?

If you suspect you have bats, call a bat control professional. Ask all the questions and make sure your concerns are addressed. When your choice is made and the process is underway, sit back and let the expert do his work. And look forward to bat-free days ahead.

Our Nationwide Service

We have many years of experience removing live bats from houses and commercial buildings. Bats are all we do, and as specialists, we are confident we can handle any situation. We are one of the few companies with such confidence in our work that offer warranties against re-infestation.

We have the utmost respect for all wildlife. However, we understand that bats and humans shouldn’t live together – so we simply remove the bats from the premises and insure that they do not re-infest your property.

All of our employees receive training, rabies shots, and hands on experience with patented devices used to remove bats from infested structures.

Your Local Bat Removal Expert,

Michael Koski