- LAST UPDATED: December 19, 2023
The very first indication of infestation is scratching and squeaking noises that come from the walls, chimney and ceiling.
How to get colonies of bats out of your attic? It would be wrong to state that there is a single effective solution. People practice various methods. Some of them are much more efficient than others, but home owners keep looking for the right ones till the time all the pests are eliminated.
We have made up our minds to assist you in this tough process, saving your time, effort and money. We suggest a few worthy mechanic and chemical options to choose from. Read, choose, use and succeed.
Bat Removal from Your Attic with a Bat-Proofing System
If you decide to exclude these animals from your area for many reasons, try to concentrate all your efforts on bat-proofing the area. And before telling you what should be done, we want to point out that there are some forbidden steps.
What you should NOT do:
- Expect that animal control services will help you.
- Rely on local dogcatchers.
- Take care of the problem yourself.
- Leave these creatures, their droppings and parasites neglected.
- Pick up or touch bats unprotected.
- Seal up the entry points before the pests leave the attic.
The process of bat removal from attic can be started with sealing all the entry points in the right way. When you know where the animals are coming, seal up the holes. If you choose to accomplish the aim during the daytime, they are going to be trapped inside the house. Later on they will look for additional ways out.
This is why the entire procedure should be done at night, when they leave the area. Of course, this method is not totally reliable, as far not all animals leave the place every night. However, in most cases it really works.
Stainless steel rustproof scouring pads or stainless steel wool are also perfect materials for blocking all narrow cracks.
There are several important places in which your house may need to be caulked:
- Between window drip caps, door drip caps and also siding;
- Between window sills, the main body of the house and porches;
- At joints between window frames, joints between door frames, as well as siding;
- At sills where the wood structure meets foundation;
- At the corners that are formed by siding;
- Where masonry and chimney meet the siding;
- Where walls meet the eves on the structure;
- Where wires and pipes penetrate the ceiling below the attic;
- Where storm windows meet window frames;
- Outside water faucets;
- Outside special breaks in the house surface.
If you have found any deep crevices on exteriors, you can effectively use spray foam. It gets an additional sealing caulking coat. Caulking is a usual weapon used in the process of bat-proofing. It is also possible to get some screening strips for filling wide gaps before caulking.
Popular Devices for Effective Bat Removal
How can you remove bats from your attic? Today’s market is ready to offer many useful devices that have already proven their efficacy.
Your primer task is to read the basic feature descriptions and choose the ones that will work in your case:
Solution 1. Exclusion Devices
This devices are usually installed on all the bat entry and exit points. The variants include netting or cones, which form a single-way door that allows the animals to fly out of the attic, but not fly back into it.
The devices should be installed on all the points you have found for at least 2-3 days. Then a homeowner monitors the situation whether all the creatures have left the area.
- The most successful option is a bat valve installation. The devices are installed at the entry holes that are always marked with urine and guano from the pests. Most valves can be trimmed in order to fit various exit holes for a successful removal.
The constructions are easily mounted and are available with a fastening strap. Others can be caulked in place. - In case you are searching for the simplest and cheapest option, choose flexible mesh netting.
Just seal off all the points of entry using a solid seal except for the one that bats can freely exit. Use the netting over the hole, but do not seal it up. Attack the netting creating a funnel to guide the flying creatures out. As soon as they slip out of the net they will be free to fly, but won’t get back ever again.
As soon as all the bats are safely out, seal off the point and start cleaning.
Solution 2. Buying Bat Homes
FYI, pests have a keen sense of location. They will definitely return to their nests. To eliminate them from the attic but not from the territory use a bat house that can hold up to 100 bats. The higher the house is placed, the more chances will be used.
Hang it close to one of the most favorite entry points. And this is how you will increase the odds of their infesting the new residence.
Today many variants are sold commercially and are available at cost between $15-50.
Solution 3. Ultrasonic Pest Repelling Device
Most devices of this kind can cover the area of 5,000 square feet. But the best bat repellent, CLEANRTH, can cover up to 7,000 ft² in open areas.
Such waves are absorbed by textured surfaces, including drapes, walls, carpets or furniture, grass, wood floor, and ceramic tile that reflect ultrasound. So, when such a device is installed somewhere in an attic with insulation or any other building material, they cover a very small area.
The device that broadcasts from one location point to another cannot effectively cover more than one room.
Solution 4. High-Frequency Repellants
They are extremely popular in the process of getting bats out of your attic. As a rule, they let off a high-pitched noise. It is heard only by these pests.
The noise is so disturbing that it makes them get away. Such high-frequency devices are used to repel bats, as well as many other pesky animals that may settle somewhere in or around your home. Just place the device in the attic, where they are or may invade.
Chemicals for Bat Removal: Do They Work?
Today there are no chemical substances that are officially registered for use on bats. Some time ago and DDT were commonly used to poison them. But the main problem is that they seep into the house and are admitted to be hazardous to people.
The use of such chemicals increases the risks of homeowners and their pets coming into contacts with dead animals. So, these days such use is regarded to be illegal.
Naphthalene crystals. This is the only registered pesticide that doesn’t kill but repels pests. The process of getting rid of annoying bats in the attic with their help can be successful.
Nearly 3 pounds of flakes or crystals should be spread in empty spaces or all over the attic floor to repel the animals. The flakes are the most effective in air spaces that are confined. The crystals disappear in a couple of weeks, so the bats return. It means that naphthalene crystals are only a temporary solution. These repellents keep the flying creatures away, but not for good.
In addition, there is another drawback worth mentioning: pets and small children get a hold of these pesticides. They can get sick or die.
Aerosol dog and cat repellents are also working. These are used in the case when bats are roosting behind shutters, in sheltered areas, or above the doors. However, you should not spray these repellents on them, as they harm the animals. Unfortunately, not all sprays are equally effective. And, as in the case with naphthalene crystals, they lead to a temporary, not permanent result.
You should clearly understand that there are no quick fixes or any shortcuts when it comes to bat elimination. Choose the right pesticide, device, method, materials, time, and location and start working.
If you find all of the above-mentioned solutions and techniques too tough to be followed or worthless, address a bat removal professional who is trained in the identification of all entry holes, their sealing, and animals exclusion.
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