Bats are not usually the first creatures that come to mind when you think about pests. Yet year after year, many homeowners find themselves with these unexpected guests living in their attics. As fall turns to winter here in Ellenburg, bats will be looking for places to hang out during the colder months. If you are not careful, your home could be their hibernation spot.
What Do Bats Look Like?
Bats are interesting creatures. Although they look like rodents, they aren’t rodents. And although they fly like birds, they aren’t birds. Because of this, scientists have given them their own group called Chiroptera, which means hand-wing. A bat has forelimbs that are adapted as wings and are commonly covered in fur. Identification does vary among species, but it's safe to say, if you see something flying at night, or hanging upside down, it’s probably a bat.
Are Bats Dangerous?
Fortunately, you don’t have to worry about bats making too much noise if they were to get into your home. If they are moving around in wall voids, you might know it, but they aren't very loud. What you do have to worry about are the dangerous pathogens bats have been known to spread such as rabies and histoplasmosis. Rabies can be contracted when an infected hyper-aggressive bat bites an individual. Histoplasmosis, on the other hand, is spread through a bat's fecal matter which is dropped on the floor of an attic space as they hibernate through winter.
Some Bat Prevention Tips
At this point, you are probably curious to find out how to keep these dangerous creatures out of your home. You are in luck. Here are some tips to keep your home bat-free this winter.
- Build or purchase a bat house. This will give bats a better place to nest, deterring them from settling into your attic.
- Invest in lights designed to deter bats.
- Make sure your chimneys are properly capped.
- Investigate the roof line of your home to make sure there is no damage or entry points bats could use to get inside.
What To Do If Bats Get Inside
As fall turns into winter, keep an eye out in your attic for bats. If you find any hanging about, don’t try to deal with them on your own. To minimize your chances of being bitten or breathing in spores that could get you sick, call on a professional. Here at Prosite, we have the safety gear and experience needed to properly handle bats.
For more information on how we handle bats, or to schedule a service visit for your Ellenburg home, feel free to reach out to us today.