Bats are the only mammal that can actually fly.  They flap their wings like a a bird and can also use their wings to hold onto insects in order to eat them.  Because bats feed on insects (they can eat 1000 mosquitoes an hour!), they are beneficial and should not be needlessly destroyed. However, if bats are causing problems in a building or home, it is left to the owner's discretion to solve the problem.

In the fall, brown bats leave their summer homes and migrate to tunnels, mine shafts and caves. They will cluster against one another and hibernate. In the spring, they emerge and will return to the same summer roost sites year after year.  This pattern will continue throughout their life span (they can live up to 40 years) and their offspring will follow along with the cycle as well.  Due to this, if a bat is found in you home or attic, it is important to have them excluded before a colony can establish itself.  

A single baby bat is born to each female between June and July. After four weeks, the young bat is fully grown, can fly and is ready to leave the colony.  Therefore, exclusion must take place before June 1 (birth date) or after August 15 (maturity date).  Exclusion must also take place before hibernation or some bats may decide to winter over in your attic and become entombed.

It’s important to note that bats do not cause damage to get into your home; therefore, even a well maintained house can get bats.  They most often get in gaps and cracks along the roofline, ridge vents or other roof vents.  Once these areas are sealed, a bat cone can be placed in one area to allow the bats inside to fly out but not fly back in.  Once all bats are gone, the final seal up can be performed and clean up (if necessary) can be started. Since Histoplasmosis is a disease you can get from exposure to bat guano (bat droppings).  It is vitally important to have soiled insulation removed from your attic. 

Call Wild Things Wildlife today with any questions or to schedule an inspection.  We can exclude the bats, seal their entry points  and clean up the mess they left behind.