Pets are the most likely member of the household to be bitten by a rabid bat, as they are exposed to the risk of infection outdoors and can’t communicate being bitten or feeling ill. However, as one of the primary carriers of rabies in the U.S., bats should be a concern for people as well. When homes are infested, the chances of bat bites on humans are far higher. Sleeping residents can suffer bat bites as can those trying to shoo a trapped bat out of the house. A difficult disease to identify, rabies doesn’t present symptoms for several months. By the time signs like severe fatigue, muscle weakness, and nausea emerge, the deadly disease has often progressed too far to be cured.

Unless there is a large number of bats in the attic, infestations can continue for a long time without being noticed by homeowners. Look for the winged animals leaving the attic at dusk and returning sometime during the pre-dawn hours. They can also be detected by noticing stains on exterior walls caused by bat excrement. Inside the house, the smell of guano can become noticeable over time. Large infestations of bats in the attic can deposit enough guano to make the ceiling sag and eventually collapse.

This is something we deal with on a regular basis. If you have this significant of guano buildup, we suggest letting us inspect your property for any other potential entry points. When the bats are evicted from the vent, they will naturally look for another way into their — or in this case, your — home. Also. while you may not see bats in the attic or home, you are not necessarily in the clear. The urine and guano of bats are very corrosive and can deteriorate the bottom of gable vents. Eventually the vent will rot and bats will inhabit the space between the walls and brick, siding, or rock. Don’t procrastinate, as guano can build up fast inside these voids. This not only causes the health risks you hear about but can attract other bats for years to come.

If possible, safely confine the bat to a single room.

• Open a window or door to allow it to escape at night.
• Never handle a bat with bare hands.
• If you suspect a bite or scratch, contact your local health department immediately.
• If you can safely do so, try to contain the bat, so that it can be tested for rabies.

Bats leave plenty of evidence for property owners. For one, seeing the animal flying around treetops and into trees directly tends to be the most common sign. Such behavior occurs in the evening, which makes sighting bats difficult. In such cases, finding bat droppings at the base of a tree is a sure way to know that at least one of the animals is roosting on your property. Noticing missing or damaged bark can also be a sign that bats in trees are present.

Positively identifying what kind of animal is living within the walls is important to begin removal. Bats make high-pitched squeaks, which are employed to find insects and heard mostly during the night. Various scratching and other movements may be heard from walls, as well. If droppings are present, residents should look for dark, greasy scat with visible insect body parts. As finding bat guano within walls can prove difficult, it is wise to check other popular bat hangouts like house eaves and attics.

The only way to permanently keep bats away is with a full exclusion done to the home. This will consist of screening gable end vents, sealing behind fascia board along eaves, sealing construction gaps, sealing dormer corners, sealing ridge caps, and any other areas that will allow a bat to enter into the home. If bats are currently present, a bat valve will be installed which is a one-way door that allows the bats to easily leave the home but does not allow them to get back in. Once all bats have left through the bat valve, it may then be removed and permanently sealed. As for sound machines and repellents, no. Although it may seem that it rustles the bats at first, it is simply the activity of your presence. The bats will soon settle down and continue to roost in that area. If there is a food source present in an area, bats will stay put.

DIY bat removal is strongly discouraged because

• Bats can bite, posing a risk of rabies.
• Disturbing bat colonies can spread diseases.
• Improper removal can lead to bats becoming trapped inside.
• It is very easy to hurt yourself while attempting to do work in attics and on roofs.

Bats are beneficial due to their insect-eating habits, but a quick encounter with them can bring lethal consequences. Immunizations that help prevent rabies are recommended for anyone in an area with high insect activity. Due to the painless nature of bat bites, those who have been near these pests are advised to receive cautionary treatment from a physician. Keep in mind that symptoms typically associated with rabies, such as mouth foaming, aggressiveness, and hydrophobia, are rarely present in humans, so any bite should be treated as a potential threat. When bats are observed in the home, attic, or garage, leave the removal risks to the experts at Trutech.

At Trutech, we focus on exclusions not bat extermination. We safely removing bats and preventing their return. Killing bats is often illegal and ecologically harmful.