Many people get scared, scream and sometimes even panic when they see bats coming out of their attic. Indeed, this can be an unsettling spectacle. However, picking up a tennis racket or a BB gun and starting to shoot or smack the bats down is not the way to go. At Mid-Atlantic Wildlife Control, we always advocate for humane and safe animal removal, especially when it comes to bats. And here is why we do this and how you should solve your bat problem.
Bats Are Good to Have Around
Do you enjoy spending summer evenings and nights outside? Would you like to continue doing this without becoming a meal for mosquitoes? Bats can help. They eat thousands of insects every night they fly out to feed. It’s truly incredible how many insects they can consume in one night—anywhere from 6,000 to 8,000 for a single bat! Bats are also natural insecticides for crops grown both commercially and residentially. Farmers love having bats around as they help keep the pest insects at bay.
Bats Are a Protected Species
All 10 species of bats that call Maryland home are protected by the Maryland law. This means you are not allowed to harm or remove bats unless you’ve been licensed by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. In fact, in the most recent 10-year action plan draft for wildlife conservation in Maryland, all local bat species are listed as in need of protection. Many bats are dying on their own because of the deadly white nose syndrome rampant throughout the East Cost and the mid-Atlantic region. Conservation of bats is in everyone’s best interest, even if they took up a residence in your attic. So how should you approach bat removal then? We recommend bat exclusion.
What is Bat Exclusion?
Rather than physically removing bats from your attic, our Maryland technicians prefer to allow the bats to exit on their own. They fly out to feed every night anyway, so why not use this natural habit? We use special exclusion devises that attach to the bat entrance points. These devices are designed to allow the bats to exit but not return. When a bat tries to enter your attic after returning from its feeding frenzy, it simply can’t find the way to do it and is eventually forced to leave. However, there are rules regarding bat exclusion and it should only be done during certain times of year. When bats have babies, these little bats can’t fly for a few weeks. Flightless bats won’t exit the attic with the rest of the colony, and you risk sealing them in if you are not careful. That’s why it pays to hire a professional for a smooth and stress-free bat exclusion both for you and the bats. If you want to keep the bats around but not inside your home, consider installing bat boxes or bat houses. These are low-profile wooden structures that provide plenty of room for bats to roost during the day. Contact us today for professional bat removal in Maryland!