With the return of insects this spring comes the return of bats. The two species of bats that are most commonly found in Silver Spring are the Big Brown Bat and the Little Brown Bat. These two species are often found roosting in attics and crawl spaces. Bat experts at Mid-Atlantic Wildlife Control receive hundreds of calls throughout the warmer months from homeowners wanting to know how to get rid of bats behind shutters. Both the Big Brown Bat and the Little Brown Bat can fit through gaps and openings around the rooftop that are about the size of a quarter. Since bats do not chew or dig they can only enter through pre-existing openings or gaps which all rooftops have. The louvers on gable vents and soffit vents are usually spaced far enough apart for bats to fit through. To prevent bats from entering the gable vents or soffit vents they should have a heavy gauge screening or hardware cloth that is a ¼ inch or smaller on the interior. Other entry points include where the edge of the roof and the fascia board meet (see photo below). This gap occurs when roofers install a cheap pre-made drip edge along with the fascia board that does not properly fit. Many so-called bat removal companies in Silver Spring will use spray foam to fill this gap in an attempt to keep bats out. Instead, they should install a drip edge that is custom-made for that particular fascia board to prevent bats and other animals from entering the attic. A homeowner on Kingsbury Drive, Silver Spring 20910 went into the attic to retrieve some springtime clothing and discovered 12 bats roosting above the gable vent. They contacted Mid-Atlantic Wildlife Control to do an inspection to locate the entry points. Upon inspection, the technician from Mid-Atlantic Wildlife Control discovered that the bats were not coming through the gable vent because the homeowners had installed a heavy gauge screen on the interior of the gable vent. Once the technician put a ladder up around the rooftop he quickly found that the bats were coming through a gap where the fascia board and roof’s edge meet. He installed aluminum drip edging to seal the gap but left a 2-inch opening where he then installed a one-way door to allow the bats to exit but not re-enter. The one-way door will stay in place for a little while. Once the bats have left the one-way door is removed and the 2-inch opening was sealed with the aluminum drip edge.
The technicians at Mid-Atlantic Wildlife Control are carpenters that have years of training, knowledge, and experience working on bat eviction and properly sealing up homes to prevent bats from re-entering. Mid-Atlantic Wildlife Controls technicians professionally install the proper materials to match and blend in with the existing facade of your home. It’s important to know that all ten species of bats that reside in the state of Maryland are protected by law and it is illegal to kill them. Anyone that conducts a bat eviction or removal from a home or building must be licensed and must follow the guidelines set forth by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Mid-Atlantic Wildlife Control is licensed and follows all laws and guidelines to ensure the protection of the bats and the people and pets that live in the home. If you want to know how to get bats out of an attic and keep them out then give Mid-Atlantic Wildlife Control a call at [DirectNumber].