#1 Bat Control Atlanta
How to Know if You Need Bat Control Services
Bat control services is a sensitive subject for many people, because it is widely understood that bats are beneficial animals. North American bat species are voracious insect eaters and help control the populations of many annoying bugs, including mosquitoes, flies, and more. In fact, lots of homeowners install bat houses on their property to encourage these insectivores to stick around and feast on bugs around their home.
However, nobody wants bats living in their house. Most homeowners would prefer to have bats relocated from their home, rather than have the bats exterminated. But how can you really tell if you are in need of bat control services? Here are four strong indications that bats have taken up residence in your home:
- You hear scratching, scurrying, chattering, or squeaking in your ceiling or walls.
- You spot bat droppings (guano) in your attic or around the perimeter of your home. Guano is tiny pellets similar to mouse droppings, but they usually crumble when touched.
- You may also smell guano or bat urine in areas of your home; the odor is similar to gerbils or rats.
- You see bats flying around your yard at dusk; if you watch carefully at just the right time, you may be able to tell where the bats are exiting your house.
In addition to being beneficial insectivores, many American bat species are covered by state and/or federal wildlife protection and therefore, they cannot legally be killed. Therefore, exclusion is the preferred method of bat control. Bats can squeeze through openings as small as half an inch in diameter. If you do spot the hole your bat colony is using, do not seal it up right away.
Sealing a bat hole without first excluding all of the bats can cause two problems. First, trapped bats inside will try to find another way out – and that can lead them into your living spaces. Now you don’t have a colony of bats in your ceiling, you have a colony in your living room! And second, if any bats are trapped inside and have no other means of escape, or if they are baby bats that cannot fly, they will die in your walls… which will lead to a whole new odor problem in a week or two.
It is important to call a bat control expert to ensure that your exclusion is done appropriately, thoroughly, and at the right time of year. North Fulton Pest Solutions provides effective bat exclusions all over Atlanta. Learn more about our bat control services by visiting our website.