Bats In The Belfry? How To Prevent And Remove Them

If you have ever lived in the country, you may have spent some time chasing a bat around the bedroom in the middle of the night. It's an unpleasant and sometimes scary experience and certainly not a long-term solution. Neither is garlic around the neck. If your home is harboring bats, you can take a few steps to get rid of them and keep them from returning.

Dangers of Bats

Although you will not turn into a vampire if you are bitten by a bat, you can be exposed to several nasty viruses, including rabies and ebola. Bats carry some of the most dangerous viruses because their body temperature runs so high when they fly that lesser viruses are killed off. That means anything you catch from a bat won't be destroyed by high temperatures in your body. If you are bitten by a bat, you have to seek medical attention. If possible, you should also bring the dead bat in a box so that it can be evaluated.

Preventing Bats

Experts say that you should bat proof your home sometime between November and March because there should be no bats in your home at the time. Otherwise, you'll end up sealing in the bats, something you definitely do not want to do. You will need to examine every inch of your home for small openings that bats can squeeze through. Some bats can squeeze through a  space slightly larger than half of an inch. You may use caulk, roofing sealant, and other materials to close up all the openings. If you have an older home, this project can be extensive. You may need to call in the professionals.

Pest Control

If you cannot get a handle on your bat problem, call in a local pest control company. They may need to hunt down and remove some bats before sealing up your home. The experts might also employ some type of repellent. If you have children, consulting with the professionals immediately is an excellent idea in order to protect their health.

Bats in your attic or anywhere in your house is a scary ordeal. Bats actually do some good for the environment by controlling some insect populations, but diseased bats are a real threat to your family. If you have a problem, you will need to seal up your home so bats cannot enter. However, if you already have a significant infestation, call the pest control experts.

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