Bats live in both cities and wooded areas, eating half of their weight in insects every night. When looking for places to roost, they choose protected spots like sheds, attics, and smokestacks. At times, bats in chimneys cause problems due to their breeding habits and potential for disease.
Why Do Bats Roost in Chimneys?
Bats enter chimneys to hibernate or to give birth. Homeowners with a maternity colony of bats in the chimney may have a long-lasting problem on their hands. The animals have strong homing instincts and usually return to the same roosts. A bat can live for over six years, and females produce a pup every season.
Issues with Bats in Chimneys
When bats roost in chimneys, their droppings and urine build up on bricks and shingles. This leads to a musty odor and contaminated runoff during rainstorms. Bats in chimneys also create dark, oily stains similar to those left by rodents.
Any time bats live near humans, there is a definite risk of contracting rabies from a bite. Even a dead bat can spread the disease. In addition, airborne spores that develop within the pests' droppings may transmit histoplasmosis to humans.
Keep Bast Out of Attic
To deter bats from roosting in the chimney, a variety of methods can be helpful:
- Exclusion tubes - This device is a one-way exit, allowing bats in the chimney to leave but not to return.
- Mesh screens - Placing wire mesh over a chimney keeps bats out, though it is important to avoid trapping any animals inside.
- Chimney caps - Similar to a mesh screen, a cap stops pest wildlife from entering.
- Bat boxes - Installing this alternative home encourages bats in chimneys to move out on their own.
Setting up some of these devices requires special knowledge and equipment. Accessing the chimney also means getting onto the roof, which can be dangerous for homeowners. For safe and effective wildlife management, call Critter Control when bats cause problems.
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Best Bat Removal
Brandon was out to please and make out lives easier with out bat situation. Above and beyond of the call of duty and got the job done. Thank you!
BAT POOP CLEAN-UP AND PREVENTION! Bat guano removed from gables. No bats found in attic, so put new screens on all gable vents, as one screen was close to breaking and then bats may have gotten in! Great work in
Tulsa!
Squirrels and chipmunks were in our attic. So we called Critter Control to do an inspection. Their representative climbed all over our very steep roof and found several places where squirrels had entered our attic.
Upon inspection of the attic, evidence of bats was also found. The Critter Control team came on time to completely caulk the entire perimeter of the house and create an exit strategy for the squirrels and bats.
Because
bat droppings can cause histoplasmosis, this also required total removal and replacement of our attic insulation and sanitizing the space. Not a small job in a 1,300 sq. ft. attic! While Critter Control’s cost was high, our homeowners insurance covered most of it. Everyone representing Critter Control was professional, courteous and timely. I would highly recommend them to anyone who thinks they might have unwelcome guests living in their attic
On recommendations from a nearby pest control company, I called Critter Control for suspicious
bat droppings.
Madison came out the same day to do an inspection. She was knowledgeable, thorough, and highly professional. She examined the ‘matter’ that had been scattered on my threshold and thought it was foliage. But she then asked to go up to my attic space where the bats could be roosting. She had to walk up 3 flights of stairs with a heavy ladder. She again spent some time searching all the nooks and crannies and found nothing.
She seemed so interested in her craft, it was truly inspiring to see! She reassured me and is writing up a prevention strategy for my appraisal. She charged me NOTHING!! I am so impressed. We need more Madisons in this world!
Service:
Bat Removal
We noticed droppings on our brand new deck - we were given their number from our contractor. They came the next day. Brian looked at it and said - yeah, bats!! He then checked every area in our attic and he explained exactly what needed to be done.
He found evidence of a mice infestation, provided a referral and they are helping us as well. Great service, very informative, very professional! We are very satisfied and would recommend them to anyone who has any issues with any critters!
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