Are there bats in your home?
Here’s how to get rid of them.
Have you heard scratching, squeaking, or fluttering in your home? It could be bats. It is not uncommon in Ann Arbor to hear these flying mammals hiding in your home, especially your attic during the night. Bats aren’t the houseguests you want occupying your home. Bats present several dangers to your home and health.
It is not uncommon to hear about bats living in an Ann Arbor home. There are several reasons these mammals choose to make their nests in your home or attic.
-
Comfort: Bats look for warm and dry places to roost. A wall or attic’s warm insulation offers the perfect blanket during colder months. A roof over their heads keeps them dry and out of the rain during warmer months. With all these comforts easily accessible, bats may choose to wander into your living space during spring, summer, fall or winter.
Space for the whole family: Your home can seem like the perfect place to raise a family to a mother bat. A mother bat will give birth to one pup each year, however sometimes twins are born, and a few rare species may give birth to more than one a year. This can result in large bat colonies forming in your home. It is not uncommon that by the time most people see a bat inside their home, the bats have been roosting there for a few years. A bat colony can have anywhere from 20 to a few hundred bats.
Bats like to be up high, which is why attics and chimneys tend to be the most popular bat nesting areas in homes. However, large bat colonies may outgrow these small spaces and find ways inside wall cavities and get access to lower areas of your home. A bat may lose direction and accidentally end up in weird places, like the first floor of a two-story house or in the basement. If you find bats in these strange places, it could be an indication that the colony infesting your home is quite large.
- Safety: Besides homes being dark and temperature-controlled, they are also safe from predators. Bats are able to rest in the dark, safe from predators. This is something they can’t always find outside in trees or caves — other common bat living spaces.
In order to get bats out of your home and attic, you first need to determine if it’s really bats you’re dealing with, or another critter. The signs of bat activity are similar to other rodents, so the easiest way to know is by physically seeing them. Bats will nest indoors in areas that are dark, undisturbed, and have easy access to the outdoors at night. If you don’t visually see a bat, here are some other signs you may notice.
You see:
- Piles of droppings in one corner of an attic or near an entry point
- Droppings on the attic insulation
- Stains on attic walls
You smell:
- A strong smell of ammonia, which is caused by excrement
You hear:
- Squeaking or chirping
- Scratching
- Fluttering
Here is more information about the types of bats found in Ann Arbor and Michigan.
Bats often find shelter in Ann Arbor homes during winter to escape the cold weather or to give birth to their young. Bats are able to easily enter attics through small openings or narrow gaps high on your house. They may also enter under loose-fitting doors, around windows and through gaps around conduits and utility vents. Bats only need an entry hole the size of a dime. Bats prefer attics over closets or living rooms because it is similar to their native shelter (trees, caves, and crevices).
Leave it to the professionals.
Bat removal can be a dangerous task to take on by yourself. You can put yourself at risk of getting bit and infecting yourself with rabies. You could also injure yourself or the bats. Many of the bats found in Ann Arbor are on the threatened or endangered list and are protected when removing them from your property.
It’s best if you leave it to our highly experienced technicians that know the laws of dealing with bat problems. Our technicians are trained specifically for bat removal and are ready to help you. Call Critter Control of Ann Arbor today at 734.449.5858.
Bats in Michigan are state and federally protected animals. Michigan, like many other states, has been affected by the devastating fungal disease called White-Nose Syndrome, which has significantly impacted bat populations. It is important to understand the regulations surrounding bats, in order to protect the species during safe bat removal.
It is illegal to harm, kill, or capture bats without proper permits in Michigan during any time of the year. Each season there are specific time frames when bats can be safely and legally removed from areas, due to roosting and maternity seasons. The experts at Critter Control of Ann Arbor are educated on the laws and regulations surrounding bat removal. Our experts can safely, humanely, and legally remove bats and bat nests from your Ann Arbor home or attic. Call 734.449.5858 for an inspection today!
How do I keep them from coming back?
Now that we have safely and successfully removed the bats from your home, it is important that you put measures into place to keep them from coming back. Bats are creatures of habit and will keep returning to the same spot year after year if measures aren’t put in place to keep them out.
Seal up any holes
The easiest way to prevent bats from returning is to seal up the holes they entered from. Remember that bats can get through holes the size of a dime, so be diligent when sealing up holes.
Clean up any mess
While wearing protective gear (gloves, masks, easy to clean clothes) collect any loose droppings or debris and dispose of them. Disinfect the area and dispose of any contaminated insulation or damaged wood.
Keep your house clean and cleared
Get rid of unnecessary items and clutter in your home and attic. This will discourage bats from viewing your clutter as nesting potential or protection from the elements.