How to Get Rid of Bats in Raleigh Area Homes
Bats are an important part of the Raleigh area’s ecosystem since they control the populations of many flying insects, including mosquitoes. However, bats can become pests if they decide to start roosting in your attic. While bats aren’t as destructive as some other nuisance wildlife species can be, their corrosive droppings – or guano – can cause a huge amount of damage. As guano piles up on your attic floor and insulation, it will soil everything it touches and may even seep through to your ceiling, creating an awful stench.
Another problem with bats is that they’re the most common rabies carriers in the Southeastern United States. Since bats are likely to bite if you try to shoo them out of your attic, bat removal is something you shouldn’t attempt yourself. It may also be illegal; North Carolina state law prohibits bat removal from the start of May through the end of July. Keep reading to learn how bats can be removed from your home in Raleigh, and how they can be prevented from entering to begin with.
The Professional Bat Removal & Prevention Process
If you hear squeaking or fluttering sounds coming from your attic or start to smell a pungent ammonia odor, you probably have a bat infestation in your Raleigh home. When this happens, your best option is to call a local wildlife removal company in Raleigh to have the bats removed. Bat removal specialists know how to safely get rid of bats without harming the animals, damaging your home, or putting anyone at risk of being bitten.
Wildlife control technicians will inspect your attic and the exterior of your home to determine the bats’ entry point. Bats often find their way into attics through openings around exterior vents or holes in the roof. To remove the bats from your attic, professionals will install a one-way valve in the bats’ entry hole. This valve will allow bats to depart at night as they hunt for bugs, but won’t let them back in the next morning, forcing them to find a new roost. The reason that bat removal is banned during summer is because this is bat breeding season and bat pups cannot fly until they are three weeks old.
Once all bats have exited your home in Raleigh, the next step is to prevent future bat infestations. This can be accomplished by sealing off all possible entry points to your attic. Unlike rodents, bats will not persistently scratch and gnaw at weaknesses in your home perimeter, they’ll simply take advantage of openings that are already there. If you’re still worried that bats might find a new way in, there are some DIY bat prevention tactics you can try. Bats hate the smell of mothballs, so scattering them around your attic may prevent bats from roosting there. Bats are also nocturnal and generally avoid light, so they can be deterred using motion lights and light-reflecting materials such as aluminum and mylar.
Following bat removal, it’s also important to have your attic cleaned and disinfected. Bat guano can lead to outbreaks of histoplasmosis and bats are also known to carry bat mites, which can infest your home just like bed bugs. Have your attic professionally restored to eliminate these health hazards. You’ll also need to replace any insulation that has been soiled by guano.
The Top Bat Removal Company in Raleigh
If you need help to get rid of bats in your attic, leave it to your top-rated local professionals. Give Sustainable Pest Systems a call today if you need to have bats removed from your home in the Raleigh area!