Georgia Bat Removal
Did you know that out of 40 species of bats in the United States, 13 are considered endangered, two of those reside in Georgia, including the Gray bat, and the Indiana bat. There are many others on the threatened species list. In total there are 16 species of bats that reside in the state of Georgia.
Many people do not realize that it is illegal to kill bats. You cannot spray them or fog them. The proper, and legal, way to deal with a bat problem is through Exclusion, which is a fancy word for sealing up all potential entry points around a house. They key is locating where the bats are entering the structure. Sometimes it is fairly easy, if bats have been using an entry point very long you may notice a dark discoloration around that area. That is called sebum, and it is from the natural oils that are in a bats fur that get rubbed off as they are crawling through the entry hole.
We seal up all potential entry points except for a couple of select locations, at those locations one way doors are installed that allow the bats to leave the structure but will not allow them to reenter. Once all of the bats have evacuated the building, those one way doors are removed and the final holes sealed up. To learn more about Wildlife Exclusion click here.
Some common entry locations are gable vents, ridge caps, vents, roof junctions, valleys, and returns, and dormers. While these areas are built to keep wind and water out, they can readily allow a bat to squeeze in through a small gap. Bats only need an opening the size of a pencil to gain entry. Because bats can enter through such a small hole we do a detailed inspection and try to identify any possible entry points, and recommend sealing those. Sometimes that can turn in to quite a large estimate, but I can assure you it will be cheaper than the bats finding another entry and setting up shop again.
It is important to hire a professional if you suspect you have a bat problem because there are even times of the year when exclusion, what we call the process of evicting bats, is not allowed because bats have pups that are flightless and if an exclusion takes place during this time then the bat pups will die.
Click below to get in touch with a wildlife biologist to talk about your potential bat issue
Bats have many positive effects on the environment, including dispersing seeds, controlling insect populations, pollinating plants, influencing and inspiring advances in technology/engineering, and last but not least, playing a big role in the food chain. Bats do not have many predators, some of the main ones include hawks, owls, and especially snakes. The biggest threat to bats is disease.
Diseases like white-nose syndrome are a major threats to bats. This is a disease where a white fungus called Pseudogymnoascus Destructans infects skin of the wings, ears, and muzzles of hibernating bats. It has spread from the northeastern to the central United States. This disease is fatal to bats, and so far has killed an estimated 6.7 million bats since 2006, when the disease was first discovered.
Did you know that a single bat can eat up to 1,200 insects every hour, totaling up to 6,000-8,000 insects every night? Different species of bats have different diets. Some eat fruit, and nectar from flowers, and others eat frogs, fish, and blood. Most species of bats feed while in the air, or hover over flowers to drink the nectar. All species have their own way of adapting to the environment around them. For example, in colder weather, Evening bats only feed once per night!
Although it is rare, bats can carry rabies, and can transmit rabies to humans. If a bat is found to be in a bedroom, it may be a good idea to have the bat tested, especially in the case of young children that may not be able to communicate that they felt something on them or scratch them.
Another potential concern, particularly with concentrations of bat droppings is Histoplasmosis, which is fungal spores that can be inhaled and cause respiratory issues which can be severe in some cases. Typically the fungal spores are aerosolized when the droppings, or guano, is stirred up, either inadvertently or while attempting to clean the droppings up.
We follow Best Management Practices for guano cleanup, including wearing a full face respirator, full Tyvek body suit, spraying guano prior to vacuuming, and using vacuum systems with multiple filters. Areas that are heavily soiled with guano we offer complete remediation-removal of soiled insulation and replacement with new insulation as well as a pheromone treatment to disinfect the area but also to deodorize it to ensure other bats do not detect the previous bat presence and attempt to recolonize the structure.
Again, it is best to contact a professional who knows how to safely handle and remove bat droppings.
This article was written by Halle Heyer, an energetic young lady who is passionate about all wildlife species.
CatchPro Wildlife Removal offers bat removal and bat exclusion services in Clarke, Oglethorpe, Oconee, Walton, Morgan, Greene, Newton, Jasper, Jones, Henry, Gwinnett, Putnam, Monroe, Bibb, Baldwin, Hancock, Taliaferro, Wilkinson, Laurens, Washington, and McDuffie Counties.
CatchPro Wildlife Removal offers bat removal and bat exclusion services in Athens, Bogart, Lexington, Watkinsville, Monroe, Social Circle, Madison, Greensboro, Crawfordville, Thomson, Eatonton, Covington, McDonough, Monticello, Gray, Milledgeville, White Plains, Sparta, Oconee, Sandersville, Dublin, Macon, Gordon, as well as the Lake Oconee, Lake Sinclair, and Lake Jackson areas.