Ontario has seven different species of bats, the two most common being the Big Brown Bat and the Little Brown Bat. When we think of a bat’s natural habitat, we usually conjure up images like caves, old barns or even church belfries, but prevention is key when it comes to having bats in the house. If you have a bat inside your home, it is one of two ways. If the exterior of your home is locked up tight, and there are no areas of entry in your roof or roofline, you’re probably not going to get them in the attic area. However, if you find yourself with these flying critters inside, it's important to determine how they entered - through an open door or window. Or maybe by crawling out from an interior heat vent? Either way, we must remove them safely.
DIY bat removal is possible and can save you money if the bat flying around comes in through an open door or window, but it's crucial to do so properly. However, two bat species (the big brown bat and the little brown bat) can also enter an attic or roofline from outside through very small entry point gaps, sometimes as small as a half inch or a hole no bigger than a dime. Brampton Wildlife Control can get them out and prevent bats from re-entering if they are in your attic. These animals can sometimes wake from hibernation and crawl from the attic into the walls, making their way into your house from lower vents or heat exhausts. That's why it's important to have these safe bat removal tips handy so you can ensure the bats' well-being and your household's safety from a potential bat infestation.
Bats, as we know, are an essential part of our ecosystem. They help control the insect population because bats eat insects such as mosquitoes, moths, and other destructive creepy crawlers that would otherwise harm our plants and crops. Keeping the insect population in check is paramount. Due to their crucial role, many places have enacted laws safeguarding these wondrous creatures. They are protected, so if bats find a way inside your home or office, removing them humanely is essential. Here are the top safe DIY bat removal tips that won't harm the bats. Bats prefer to live in tight spaces, such as attics or walls, so if you suspect bats living inside your home, you'll need wildlife control to inspect the exterior area carefully. Once they locate the area where the bats fly, they cover the entry areas with wire mesh hardware cloth. Pest control technicians will provide bats with exclusion devices, such as one-way exit doors at the entry points, and covering other vulnerable areas with building materials, such as hardware cloth, is the best way to get rid of bats. Removing bats is done by installing a one-way exit (such as bat cones) that allows the bats to fly out but not return. During baby season, female bats enter to give birth, and usually, they only have one pup, although there have been cases of twins. Installing the one-way door may have to be delayed to get rid of bats until the pup(s) can fly. There are also pest control repellents available on the market that may also repel bats. It's critical to remember not to harm these winged mammals but rather treat them with the respect that they deserve while still protecting your property. Install bright lights or hang reflective materials as bat repellents. Some people choose to install their own bat house or bat box to help out the bat species. A bat house can be attached on the upper side of your roof or your chimney stack, which will help prevent bats from squeezing into your roofline when looking for a home.
Remain Calm: Discovering a bat in your house can be a startling experience, but try to remain calm. Bats are not aggressive towards humans and rely on echolocation to navigate, so panicking may cause unnecessary stress for you and the bat. Providing bats with an open door or window might solve the problem. But if you need to remove the bat physically, using protective gear, such as gloves or a thick towel, is always recommended to avoid any potential bites or scratches. Bats are attracted to warmth, so turning off a bright light and opening your windows can encourage the bat to leave alone. It's also important to note that bats hate the smell of certain herbs, including peppermint and eucalyptus, so placing these in the area may repel bats. Remember, if it flew in from outside, then there's typically only one bat loose in a house, but if it came up through a heat vent or flew out from a fireplace, there could be a bat infestation hibernating in your attic, and precautions will ensure everyone's safety.
Assess for Bites: It’s important to approach the situation carefully. Before attempting to remove the bat, assessing if anyone has been bitten or scratched is crucial. Bat bites can be small and may require medical attention to prevent rabies. It's also important to remember that the bat can be tested for rabies, so it's worth contacting disease or local animal control to see if that's an option. If removal is necessary, avoid direct contact with the bat and use a container or net to catch it safely. If the bat leaves independently, assess the room for other bats or potential entry points to prevent future encounters.
Secure the Area: To ensure a safe and successful bat removal process, the first step is to secure the area and remove any children or pets from the room. This is crucial to prevent any potential contact with the bat. Be sure to close any interior doors leading to other rooms, as bats tend to squeeze into small, enclosed spaces. It's also important to keep an eye on the their movement as the bats fly around the room, they can be quick. Also, bats can hang or hide behind picture frames, shelves, curtains, drapes, or furniture.
Ventilate the Space: When a bat takes up residence in your home, handling the removal process with care is important. One of the first things to consider is ventilation. Opening windows and doors to give the bat a way out is a good place to start. But be sure to close off any other areas where the bat may enter another part of your home. Another helpful tip is to use bright lights to encourage the bat to fly towards an exit. However, if you're dealing with a bat that came in from a vent, that would mean there’s most likely more of them up in your attic, and it's best to leave the bat infestation removal process to the professionals. While there are some effective DIY methods, it's important to prioritize safety when handling bats inside your home.
Wait for the Bat to Land: It’s sometimes difficult to catch a bat from the air and sometimes easier to wait for it to land. Once it lands, you can cover it gently with a towel or a box or container. Slide a piece of cardboard under the container to trap the bat inside. If it’s during warm weather, you can release it outside, but it’s best to call a pest control expert for advice during cold weather.
Protect Yourself: Always wear thick gloves when handling a bat. This protects you from bites or scratches. One bat can carry diseases like rabies, so direct contact should be avoided. Contact a wildlife removal specialist if you don’t feel comfortable attempting to get rid of bats by yourself.
Use a Towel for Capture: Gently capture the bat with a thick towel and place it in a secure container for release. Using a net can make it difficult to catch a flying bat in the house. Bats are incredibly agile, and their delicate wings can get caught up in the netting, making for a cumbersome release if you do catch one.
Open Windows and Doors: If the bat accidentally flies into your house, it's likely trying to find a way out. You can sometimes remove bats by opening windows and doors nearby to give them a clear exit. Turn off indoor lights and close interior rooms to encourage the bat to leave.
Do Not Use Sticky Traps or Poison: Never use sticky traps or poison to catch or kill bats. These methods are inhumane, can harm the bat, and may be illegal. They also pose a risk to pets and children in your home. The bat is a protected species by local and state laws in place to protect them. There are much nicer ways to get rid of bats.
Contact Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation: If the bat cannot be safely released outdoors or is found during winter, contact a local wildlife removal service or rehabilitation center for assistance. Please do not attempt to remove bats from the outside in the cold months; they will perish in the cold as they have no fur to keep them warm.
Bat Guano (Bat droppings) in your Attic: While some may see bats as curious creatures or beneficial to have around when they reside in your attic, they can cause serious problems. Why are bats attracted to your attic? For the warmth, shelter, safety from predators, and a secure spot to raise their pups. But be warned - bat guano, or bat droppings, can carry dangerous fungus that can lead to respiratory illness if inhaled. Additionally, bat urine can spread disease and over time, bat droppings can also cause structural damage to your home so you should get rid of it too. Be careful not to confuse bat feces with mouse droppings, as they look similar. Check Google Photos for comparison. If you're experiencing a bat infestation, it's important to take action to get rid of them. However, trying to DIY bat control can be dangerous and ineffective when they’re in your attic. Most bats won’t just fly out of your house voluntarily. Instead of getting rid of bats with the experts, it's best to leave it to the professionals, such as a pest control company like Brampton Wildlife Control, to safely and effectively remove the bats, seal the entry point(s) and solve your bat problem. Alternatively, consider installing a bat house to provide a safe home for bats and potentially prevent them from choosing your attic as a residence. You could cut down any fruit trees in your yard to deter young bats further.
After safely capturing a bat, release it outdoors (weather permitting), preferably at nightfall, in a clear area away from your house. This gives the bat the best chance of flying away safely. If you are uncomfortable or unsure about removing a bat yourself, or if you suspect the bat might be sick or you are worried it might get back inside your home's structure or living space, it's best to contact local wildlife control or a professional bat removal service. They can remove the bat safely and check if a bat colony in your home needs to be addressed, setting bat cones over the entry points covering all the holes, allowing any remaining bats to fly out on their own.
Bat Control
Bats are fascinating creatures, playing crucial roles in ecosystems worldwide, including pest control and pollination. However, when they find their way into our homes, a bat problem can cause concern. Not only are certain species of bats protected by law in Canada, making it illegal to harm or kill them, but they can also pose health risks, such as rabies. Understanding how to handle bats in these situations safely and humanely is essential. This guide provides a detailed approach to managing bats in your home, emphasizing safety, legality, and conservation.
Understanding Bats in Your Home
Legal Protection and Health Risks
In Canada, bats are protected species under wildlife conservation laws due to their ecological importance and the declining populations of certain species. It is important to recognize that harming or killing bats is not only unethical but also illegal in many cases. Moreover, bats are known to carry rabies, a deadly virus, to humans, necessitating careful and safe bat removal procedures.
Special Considerations
Handling Bats in Winter
Bats hibernate during winter, and finding one in your home during this time could indicate it is seeking warmth or is in distress. In such cases, capturing the bat and placing it in a container with ventilation holes, then contacting a wildlife rehabilitation service, is advisable for further instructions. Wildlife control can then install exclusion devices once the bats come out of hibernation, and can use other building materials to secure additional vulnerable areas of your roof.
Injured Bats
If the bat appears injured, gently place it in a container with ventilation and contact a wildlife rehabilitation center. These centers are equipped to provide the necessary care to recover and eventually release the bat back into the wild.
Professional Removal Services: Are Bats Hard to Remove?
Should the bat prove difficult to remove, or if you're uncomfortable attempting to remove it yourself, hiring a professional bat removal service is recommended. These experts have the training to remove bats safely and know the legal requirements for wildlife handling. They can also remove bat feces, which might look like rodent droppings.
Post Bat Removal Actions
After successfully removing the bat, it's crucial to prevent future occurrences by inspecting your home for entry points. Bats hide in the smallest nooks or crannies. You can use some DIY methods to deter bats from your property. You can try installing bright lights or hanging reflecting objects like little mirrors, old CDs, or aluminum foil strips. If the DIY methods are not for you, a professional pest control company or wildlife removal services company like Brampton Wildlife Control can conduct thorough inspections to identify how bats might be entering your home and recommend appropriate exclusion measures, such as a bat cone exit, and then to seal off other entry points, ensuring bats and other wildlife cannot re-enter.
Conclusion
Dealing with a bat in your home requires a calm, informed approach that respects the animal's welfare and legal protections. Following the steps outlined in this guide, you can ensure the safe and humane removal of bats, protect your family's health, and contribute to conserving these important creatures.
