When you think of annoying pests, bats may not immediately come to mind. However, there are 10 species of these winged mammals in Maryland. Bats can be annoying, flying around your home and making noises in your attic. Bat droppings, also known as guano, can accumulate and cause damage to your home.
Bats are beneficial to the environment. They pollinate plants and more than 300 species of fruits. They are highly effective insectivores, eating mosquitoes, moths, and beetles all night. One little brown bat can eat more than 1,000 mosquitoes an hour.
However, bats can pose issues when hanging out in and around your home. You want them gone right away, but the thing is that you cannot kill them. It is illegal to do so, so get help from Environmental Pest Control today. We know how to safely remove these pests and other wildlife from your Arlington home.
Why Are Bats in My Home or Business?
Bats once made their homes in old hollow trees. Since many of these trees have been removed by humans, bats have adapted and now use other habitats, such as houses, apartment buildings, barns, and churches, condominiums, townhouses and apartment buildings.
Bats love the hot weather. Baby bats need the high temperatures found in attics and buildings in order to grow fast and put on enough fat to survive hibernation. Because of this, during the summer, bats will create colonies consisting of mother bats and their babies.
Bats can enter cracks and holes that are less than ½ inch in diameter. They can easily get into your home through:
- An unscreened attic vent
- An open cellar hatch
- A hole or crack under a rotted eave
- A separation where the chimney meets the house
- Loose or warped siding
- The chimney
- Openings where pipes or wiring meet the house
- Rotted window sills
- A loose-fitting screen
Dangers of Bats
While bats can be helpful to the environment, they can also be dangerous to humans. For example, they can cause the following:
- Rabies. Bats are known carriers of the rabies virus, and their bites or scratches can transmit the disease to humans and other animals. Therefore, it's important to avoid direct contact with bats.
- Zoonotic viruses. Bats can also transmit various zoonotic viruses, such as Hendra virus, Nipah virus, and coronaviruses. These viruses can potentially jump from bats to humans and cause deadly outbreaks.
- Guano accumulation. Accumulation of bat guano in buildings can pose health risks due to the potential for fungus and the release of harmful airborne particles.
- Structural damage. The urine and guano from bats can take up residence in buildings and other structures, causing structural issues and potential health hazards.
Contact Us Today
Bats can be an annoyance, but you need to know how to remove them legally. You cannot kill them, so contact Environmental Pest Control for safe and legal bat removal.
From bat removal to insulation sanitation to guano cleanup, we do it all. Call us at (540) 441-7397 to schedule a consultation. We serve the Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia areas.
