Bat Removal Services
Professional bat removal and eradication services
Understand Legal and Ethical Considerations
Before attempting any exclusion, it’s crucial to understand that many bat species are protected by state, federal, or international laws due to their ecological importance and declining populations. During maternity seasons, attempting exclusion is not allowed. Typically, May 15 to August 15 to avoid separating mothers from flightless pups.
Always check local regulations and consider consulting with a wildlife professional.
Conservation efforts and legal protections have been successful in recovering some bat species. For example, the lesser long-nosed bat and gray bats have shown signs of recovery
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The economical impact bats have on humans is impressive to say the least. Bats play a crucial role in pest control, saving more than $1 billion per year in crop damage and pesticide costs across all agricultural production in North America. This results in a savings of more than $3 billion per year. Bats can live more than 30 years and are capable of flying at speeds of 60 miles per hour or more.
Bats can find their food in total darkness using echolocation. This involves emitting high-pitched sounds and listening to the echoes to locate insects. More than half of the bat species in the United States are in severe decline or listed as endangered. Major threats include habitat loss, white-nose syndrome, and climate change. White-nose syndrome, a fungal disease, has decimated bat populations in the U.S. and Canada.
Bat Removal
Vanishing Varmints is your leading bat removal service in Kansas, specializing in safely and effectively handling your bat issues with a strong focus on attic exclusion and one-way door techniques. When bats take residence in your attic, they not only pose health risks through the potential spread of diseases, such as rabies and histoplasmosis but also can cause significant damage to your home’s structure and insulation. Our team at Vanishing Varmints understands these risks and employs specialized methods to ensure these nocturnal guests are removed safely. One of our most effective strategies includes the installation of one-way doors, which allow bats to exit your attic but prevent them from returning. This humane approach is a cornerstone of our bat removal services, ensuring that bats are not harmed during the process.
We also emphasize the importance of attic exclusion, a comprehensive method to seal potential entry points and prevent future bat infestations. This not only addresses the immediate concern of the bats present but also safeguards your home against future invasions. Our skilled technicians meticulously inspect your attic and the rest of your home to identify and seal these vulnerabilities, using materials and techniques that offer lasting protection. The benefits of choosing Vanishing Varmints for your bat removal needs in Kansas include:
– Expert removal of bats from your attic using humane and effective methods.
– Comprehensive attic exclusion services to prevent future bat infestations.
– Installation of one-way doors to ensure bats can leave without returning.
– Detailed inspection of your home to identify and seal potential entry points.
– Assurance of a safe and effective approach, minimizing health risks and structural damage.
Bats in your attic are more than just an inconvenience; they can pose serious health risks and cause damage to your home. Trust Vanishing Varmints to address your bat removal needs with compassion and professionalism, employing proven methods like attic exclusion and one-way doors. Our team is committed to restoring peace and safety to your home, ensuring that your bat problem vanishes for good. Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can assist you in handling your bat removal needs in Kansas effectively.
What Are The Signs Of Bat Infestation In A Building
Identifying the signs of a bat infestation is crucial for timely bat removal, ensuring the safety and health of your household. Here are some key signals that you might need professional bat removal services:
Noises at Dusk or Dawn: As nocturnal creatures, bats leave and return at twilight. Hearing scratching, squeaking, or fluttering at these times might indicate an infestation.
Guano Accumulation: Bat droppings, or guano, are a clear sign. These droppings accumulate near entry points and can pose health risks, highlighting the need for bat removal.
Unpleasant Odors: The accumulation of guano and urine emits a strong, musty odor. This smell, resembling that of ammonia, can infiltrate living spaces, indicating a bat presence.
Visible Entry Points: Bats can squeeze through small openings. Look for gaps or holes in the roofline, siding, or vents that might serve as entry points, necessitating professional inspection and bat removal.
Grease Marks: Bats leave greasy, dark marks at their entry and exit points. These stains are from their fur and are a telltale sign of frequent bat activity.
Presence of Bats: Spotting bats flying around your home, especially at twilight, is a direct indicator of a possible infestation, calling for immediate bat removal action.
Stains on Walls or Ceilings: Bat guano and urine can seep into porous materials, causing stains. These unsightly marks can also indicate a long-term infestation needing bat removal.
Odd Behavior in Pets: Pets might act strangely if they detect bats in the attic or walls, showing signs of agitation or nervousness.
Cool Air Drafts: Bats can displace insulation, creating drafts. If you notice unexpected cool air flows, it might be time to inspect for bats and consider bat removal.
Insect Increase: Bats feed on insects. An unusual increase in insects around your home might attract bats, suggesting a need for bat removal to prevent infestation.
If you notice any of these signs, it’s imperative to contact a professional bat removal service. Handling bats improperly can lead to injury or health risks, such as rabies or histoplasmosis from guano. Professional bat removal experts can safely and humanely remove bats, ensuring your home is free from infestation and potential damage.
Having a bat infestation poses health risks.
Bat infestations in homes or buildings pose several health risks to humans and pets. These risks stem from the diseases bats can carry and transmit, either directly through contact or indirectly through their droppings (guano) and urine. The primary health risks associated with bat infestations in North America include.
Rabies: Rabies is a viral disease affecting the central nervous system, leading to brain disease and death if left untreated. Bats are significant carriers of rabies in North America. Humans can contract rabies through bites or scratches from infected bats, or possibly through exposure to bat saliva on broken skin or mucous membranes. Rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms appear, but it is preventable through prompt medical treatment following exposure
Histoplasmosis: People can get histoplasmosis by inhaling spores of the Histoplasma capsulatum fungus, which is present in bat guano. While histoplasmosis primarily affects the lungs and can cause flu-like symptoms, severe cases can lead to hospitalization and even death. Especially in individuals with weakened immune systems. Person to person, the disease is not transmitted.
Hantavirus: Although less commonly associated with bats than with rodents, there is a potential risk of hantavirus from bat infestations. Hantavirus can cause severe respiratory diseases in humans, such as Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS), which can be fatal
Cryptococcosis: This fungal disease is caused by Cryptococcus neoformans and is associated with bird and bat droppings. Cryptococcosis can affect the lungs and the central nervous system, and it can be particularly severe in individuals with compromised immune systems
Parasites: Bats can carry external parasites such as mites, ticks, and fleas. Which can infest homes and potentially transmit other diseases.
Allergic Reactions and Respiratory Issues: Exposure to bat guano and urine can cause allergic reactions and exacerbate respiratory conditions such as asthma. The accumulation of guano and urine can also lead to the growth of mold, further contributing to respiratory issues
It’s important to address bat infestations promptly and safely, preferably by consulting with wildlife control professionals. Humans receive ecological benefits from bats, making it essential that we remove any potential hazards in a way that minimizes risk to both human populations and bat colonies.
Common Entry Points For Bats
Bats can enter buildings through surprisingly small openings with their small, flexible bodies. They are able to do so due to their size and flexibility. Here are the common entry points for bats into buildings.
Open Gable Vents with Loose Screens: Bats take advantage of open gable vents that have loose or damaged screens to enter attic spaces.
Open Eaves or Soffits: Where the roof line intersects, open eaves or soffits are a primary entry point for bats into buildings.
Holes and Crevices as Small as 1/2 Inch: Bats can enter buildings through holes and crevices that are as small as 1/2 inch, often found in high, out-of-the-way areas above 10 feet, but sometimes even in basements, cellars, and other lower areas.
Damaged Roofing: Bats frequently find their way into attics by squeezing past damaged or rotting shingles. Even minor roof damage could create an opening big enough for a bat.
Vents: Vents, especially those that are damaged or cracked, serve as perfect roosts for bats. Sometimes, bats fly all the way through the vent and into your space.
Chimneys: Chimneys provide dark, secluded, sheltered, and easily accessible roosts for bats, making them frequent roosting sites.
Open Ridge Vents: These are also common entry points for bats, allowing them access to the attic.
Between Roofing Shingles and Flashing: This is another common entry point for bats, where the roofing material does not sit flush against the structure.
Through Cracks in Mortar or Gaps in Sealant: Weather changes that cause materials to shrink and expand can create openings where there were none before, allowing bats access.
Holes Cut for Utility Lines: These are potential access points for bats, especially if the holes are larger than necessary or if the sealant around them has degraded.
Under Loose Shingles: Bats can enter through gaps under loose shingles, finding their way into the attic or wall voids.
Behind Downspouts & Gutters: These areas can also provide entry points for bats, especially if there are gaps or damage.
Torn Window Screens and Broken Siding: Any damage to the exterior of a building, such as torn window screens or broken siding, can serve as an entry point for bats.
Eaves/Soffit Vents: Bats can enter through eaves or soffit vents, especially if the vents are open or damaged.
Basement Doors: Basement doors can be entered by bats, especially if they are left open or have gaps around them.
Helping bats in Kansas
Install Bat Houses
Provide Alternative Roosts: Bats can find safe roosting alternatives by installing bat houses, particularly when natural habitats are limited or bats are excluded from buildings. Ensure bat houses are installed in sunny locations, at least 10-20 feet above the ground, and away from bright lights to increase the likelihood of occupancy. Do not mount bat houses on trees as they provide too much shade and make bats vulnerable to predators.
Plant Native Vegetation
Create a bat-friendly garden with native plants that attract insects, which are a primary food source for bats.
How Can I Create A Bat-Friendly Garden In My Backyard
Since most North American bats, including those in Kansas, are insectivorous, planting native flowers and herbs that attract nocturnal insects will provide a food source for bats. Include plants that bloom at night or have a strong fragrance to attract moths and other insects.
Some recommended plants for Kansas include Goldenrod (Solidago spp.), Coneflower (Echinacea spp.), Yarrow (Achillea millefolium), and Phlox (Phlox paniculata). Plant herbs like rosemary, thyme, and marjoram, but avoid cinnamon, eucalyptus, and peppermint as their scents can repel bats.
Organic Gardening
Refrain from using pesticides in your garden, as they can harm bats and the insects they feed on. Bats are natural pest controllers and can help maintain the insect population. Check with local native plant nurseries and conservation groups for additional advice and resources specific to your region.
Water for Bats
Set up water features like bird baths or ponds to provide bats with drinking water and attract insects for them to feed on.