With all due respect for everything bats do for the environment and ecosystem, they are not the best neighbors. When a colony of bats moves into your attic, they can cause thousands of dollars in property damage, as well as expose you to potentially deadly diseases, such as rabies and histoplasmosis. But you can’t simply ask them to leave. And just the thought of entering an attic where dozens (maybe even hundreds) of bats hang upside down is somewhat nerve-wrecking. As Maryland bat removal experts, we get a lot of calls about bat problems in Edgewater, Glen Burnie, Annapolis and many other areas. We don’t recommend homeowners tackling bat problems on their own, simply due to the associated health risks. But if you want to know how we do it, here is a brief overview of how to get rid of bats in your attic.
The Concept of Bat Exclusion
It would be nice if you could put up an eviction notice in your attic and wait till the bats comply. But we have the next best thing that is called bat exclusion. The idea behind bat exclusion is to let the bats leave the attic on their own but prevent them from returning. This is achieved by installing one-way devices, such as mesh netting and bat valves, on the entry and exit points used by bats (typically gable vents and holes along the roof line.)
Why Bat Exclusion is Our Preferred Method
- It works every time
- It allows to get rid of the bats without hurting them
- It’s humane, effective and fast
It’s important to know that not all bats will leave at the same time. Some of them will fly out at night to hunt, while others, especially the younger generation, may stay in. For this reason, we avoid conducting bat exclusion during the times of year when bats have flightless young with them. They are helpless and will die by themselves if they are separated from the mother.
Bat-Proofing Your Attic
After a few nights, the majority of the bats should be gone from your attic. We always check to make sure every single bat is removed before sealing their entrance holes. Bats are small and can’t apply much force to make their own holes, but thanks to their size, they usually find plenty of opportunities to enter your attic through tiny gaps. To make sure the bats don’t return to your attic, our Maryland bat exclusion pros take care to identify and seal all current and potential gaps and holes, including but not limited to:
- Gaps around window and door frames
- Corners formed by siding
- Flashing around the chimney and plumbing vents
- Fascia boards and drip edge
After everything is sealed, our cleanup division can start removing bat droppings, damaged insulation and other contaminated items from your attic. This is one of the reasons Maryland homeowners choose Mid-Atlantic Wildlife Control because, trust us, you don’t want to clean up this mess yourself!
Bat Houses
As we mentioned in the beginning of the article, bats are actually beneficial to have around, especially if you live near a body of water and have an insect problem. If you want to coexist with bats peacefully without allowing them to invade your attic, you could install bat houses on your property. There is no guarantee bats will use them, but this will give the evicted bats somewhere to go to instead of trying to enter your attic again or moving into your neighbor’s attic. Do you have any further questions about bat exclusion or want us to remove bats from your attic? Give our Maryland bat removal technicians a call today to get your bat problem solved!