3 Potentially Deadly Diseases Caused By Bats

Nuisance bats are nuisances for very good, and frightening, reasons. For one, they are highly destructive, and can cause extensive structural damages to homes, buildings, barns, and more. These damages are not only tedious to reverse, but also very costly. However, the threat of structural damage is not the key reason why bats are not something you want around your property. The biggest threat they pose is disease and illness. Bats are common carriers of several infectious and parasitic diseases, some of which are potentially deadly to both people and pets.

Continue reading to learn more about bat diseases and safety threats, including the top 3 diseases that can be fatal.

Louisville Bat Removal and Control 502-553-7622
Louisville Bat Removal and Control 502-553-7622

Rabies Virus

The most widely known disease associated with bats is the rabies virus.  Rabies is a very serious illness that is easily spread through bodily fluids, like urine or saliva. There is no cure or treatment for Rabies once it is contracted, making it 100% fatal. For this reason, pet vaccinations are crucial. In fact, the Kentucky Administrative Code statute states that all dogs, cats, and ferrets must be vaccinated at 4 months of age, and then re-vaccinated annually by a licensed and accredited veterinarian. If a bat were to bite a person, it is possible for that person to contract the Rabies virus. In this case, they would require immediate medical attention involving a series of injections, medications, and treatments. But before the vaccine was invented in the 1900’s, all cases of rabies in humans were fatal. 

Histoplasmosis

Histoplasmosis is an infectious disease that is contracted as a result of being exposure to bat droppings (guano) over a long period of time. A fungus that grows in guano called Histoplasmosis Capsulatum produces spores will travel through ductwork and into the living or trafficked areas of a property, thus exposing people and pets without any knowledge. The inhalation of these spores can cause flu-like symptoms, such as coughing and difficulty breathing. Fortunately, there is a treatment for Histoplasmosis, as well as vaccines for pets. However, the disease can turn deadly for those with existing medical conditions or suppressed immune systems, as well as for infants and elderly folk.

Fibrosing Mediastinitus

If a person is ill with Histoplasmosis, they may experience a very rare complication of the disease called Fibrosing Mediastinitus. In contrast to the symptoms of Histoplasmosis, Fibrosing Mediastinitus will cause serious complications that can lead to death. The disease essentially constricts the heart and lungs from functioning. Without immediate treatment, it can be fatal. Although very rare, it is a terrible and painful disease for those infected.

Dealing With Nuisance Bats?

If you suspect you have issues with bats, or a bat infestation in the attic or other area of your home, contact our DNR licensed and insured professionals at 553-502-7622 for safe and humane bat control service in Louisville, Kentucky and its surrounding counties. We have more than two decades of experience working with bats and offer both residential and commercial bat removal and control services, including minor attic restorations for bat damages. Request a free estimate, today.

How to Solve Nuisance Bat Problems in Winter

Bats are extraordinary mammals. Not only do they serve a vital ecological role, they help support our local economies. Furthermore, there are several interesting and impressive facts about bats that will open your eyes to their amazing ways. For instance, did you know that bats are the only mammals on Earth that are capable of true flight? That means that bats are the only mammals that can actually fly like birds. There is much more to learn and love about bats, but there are also certain warnings you should be aware of, especially if you live near woods or a year-round body of water.

Bats can also be a nuisance animal to homes and buildings. Not only can they squeeze into tiny openings and cause structural damages to properties, they pose a long list of health and safety risks to both people and pets. Basically, bats are wonderful in nature, but you do not want them to become a nuisance problem around your house.

Continue reading to learn what you need to know about abating nuisance bats this winter.

Louisville Bat Control 502-553-7622
Louisville Bat Control 502-553-7622

Hibernation, Histoplasmosis, and More

Bats in the Kentucky regions hibernate for the winter. Their hibernation period generally begins around mid-October, but can sometimes be delayed until the temperatures begin to remain under 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Once in hibernacula, bats remain in a torpor-like state until spring emerges with warmer weather. So how does this affect you as a homeowner?

Bats look for warm, private, safe areas to hibernate for the winter, and our homes are a common target. Bats are small, and can fit through openings as little as 3/8th of an inch, giving them access to attics, rafters, walls, roofs, garages, crawl spaces, basements, and more. Torn screens and vents, loose shingles, missing chimney caps, damaged weatherproofing, thin layers of insulation, crumbling mortar, and rotted siding are common entry points for bats. Once inside, they will soil everything with their droppings, which is not only unsanitary and structurally damaging, it also poses the risk of Histoplasmosis.

Histoplasmosis is a fungal disease caused by inhaling airborne spores that grow on bat guano. These spores can get into ventilation systems and travel through the interior living quarters of the home, putting everyone at risk of developing this serious respiratory disease. Furthermore, bats are known carriers of several infectious diseases, such as Rabies. They also carry and spread pests, such as lice, mites, ticks, and fleas.

What to Do About Nuisance Bats

To abate bats in the winter, you need to implement preventative maintenance before they go into hibernation. This includes having your home inspected and sealed by a professional Louisville bat control company. But if you already have a bat problem on your hands right now, it is not too late to deal with it effectively.

Louisville Bat Removal 502-553-7622
Louisville Bat Removal 502-553-7622

Call 502-553-7622 for prompt and professional Louisville bat removal and control you can trust. We are DNR licensed wildlife control contractors who provide residential and commercial bat removal services at competitive prices. Whether you have one bat or an entire colony, we are fully equipped to manage any job regardless of size or scope. Request a free estimate or advice, anytime.

What is Histoplasmosis?

Bats are one of nature’s most fascinating mammals. Not only do bats consume thousands of insects each night, their guano is an effective fertilizer used in multiple industries around the world. With all of these positive characteristics in tow, what exactly makes a wild bat so dangerous to humans and pets? The answer is disease. One of the most implicating diseases a person or pet can catch from having bats nearby is called Histoplasmosis.

Continue reading to learn more about Histoplasmosis, and how to protect your home from bat infestations.

Louisville Bat Removal 502-553-7622

Louisville Bat Removal 502-553-7622

Infectious Bat Diseases

There are various infectious diseases that bats can contract or carry, which are all hazardous to human and pet immune systems. Bats are known to be carriers of the Rabies virus, Leptospirosis, and even Salmonella. All of these infections can be transferred, transmitted, and passed along to humans and pets; and they are all potentially fatal if left untreated.

Bats can also transmit less serious, but equally frustrating, parasitic conditions, such as lice, bat mites, ticks, fleas, and more. Histoplasmosis is a bit different from the infectious diseases just mentioned since it is not directly contracted by a bat. Instead, Histoplasmosis is indirectly spread by bats through by airborne fungal spores that grow on bat droppings, also known as guano.

Histoplasmosis in Detail

Histoplasmosis is referred to by many names, such as: Spelunker’s Lung, Cave Disease, Darling’s Disease, or scientifically, Reticuloendotheliosis. It is an infectious disease that is contracted by over exposure to bat guano. There is a fungus that grows in guano called Histoplasmosis Capsulatum. The inhalation of these spores within the guano causes flu-like symptoms, like coughing and difficulty breathing. It is not a contagious infection but can be easily contracted if precaution is not taken.

Anyone, child or adult, can contract Histoplasmosis. It is rare for just anyone to get the disease because the fungus is only found in dark, warm areas that bat guano is found. So the more common people to fall victim to the illness are spelunkers, chimney cleaners, cave miners, and people that frequent attics and crawl spaces often.

Because they work in areas that bats may dwell in, they are at risk to inhaling the infection causing spores and falling ill. It is not typically fatal unless a person has severe and long term health complications, such as the elderly. Otherwise, if treated at the first signs of illness, it is no more dangerous than the common cold. In fact, in most cases, it just goes away on its own.

Do You Have Bats in the Attic?

Louisville Bat Removal Kentucky

Louisville Bat Removal 502-553-7622

Call 502-553-7622 for Louisville bat removal and control you can trust. We are DNR licensed and insured bat control contractors who use safe, non-lethal methods of extraction and exclusion. We serve both residential and commercial clients, and at the most competitive prices in town. Emergency 24 hour service is also available. Request a free estimate, today.

Can Bat Guano Hurt Me?

If you have bat activity on your property, there is a very good chance that you will come across some guano. Bat guano has many positive impacts when used as a fertilizer, as it enriches and improves soil to grow crops. It is even a frequently utilized in villages and tribes all over the world for weapon crafting, building homes, fertilizer, and more. But when it comes to human exposure, bat droppings are not something you want to mess around with, nor be around at all!

Continue reading to learn more about guano, including how it can cause health implications in both people and pets.

Louisville Bat Removal and Control 502-553-7622

Louisville Bat Removal and Control 502-553-7622

Where You’ll Find Guano

Bats like to roost in private, sheltered locations that are dark and cozy. Attics are a common site to find a bat infestation, and a good place to start an inspection if you suspect bats are in your house. Chimneys are another hot spot, as well as, roofs, gaps in siding, barns, and log piles. When it comes to spotting guano, the entrances and exits to these roosts are where you will find the most accumulations. Bat droppings are often found around window sills and door frames, or next to ledges, rooftops, and tall trees.

Dangers of Bat Droppings

The problem with bat guano exposure are the fungal spores that it develops overtime. These fungal spores, known as Histoplasma Capsulatum, can become airborne and travel through a residents vents, ductwork, and more. The airborne spores can be inhaled by both people and pets, which can lead to an infectious lung disease called Histoplasmosis.

Histoplasmosis is referred to by many names, such as Spelunker’s Lung, Cave Disease, Darling’s Disease, or scientifically, Reticuloendotheliosis. The people who are most at risk for developing this illness are spelunkers, chimney cleaners, cave miners, and people that frequent attics and crawl spaces often. However, it is possible for anyone in the presence of such spores to develop the condition as well.

What To Do if you Find Guano

If you come across some guano, just be sure to keep a safe distance to avoid any contact. Your next step is to have the area inspected for bat infestations, and then remove any bats living on your property. From there, you will need to have bat proofing strategies implemented in order to prevent further infestation or exposure. A licensed Louisville bat removal and control company can provide all of these services, including bat cleanup and attic restorations.

Louisville Bat Removal and Control

Louisville Bat Removal Kentucky

Louisville Bat Removal 502-553-7622

Call 502-553-7622 for Louisville bat removal services you can trust. We are DNR licensed and insured bat control contractors who use safe, non-lethal methods of extraction and exclusion. We serve both residential and commercial clients, and at the most competitive prices in town. Emergency 24 hour service is also available. Request a free estimate, today.

Which Ailments Can a Person Contract From a Bat?

Wild bats are a highly beneficial species to have as a part of our ecosystem. They are magnificent creatures and the only mammals capable of true flight. They are truly amazing. On the other hand, bats, just like any other wild animal, can carry diseases that can cause illness in humans and other animals.

Continue reading to learn about some common diseases carried by bats, how you can contract them, and how to protect yourself from them.

Louisville Bat Removal and Control 502-553-7622

Louisville Bat Removal and Control 502-553-7622

⚠ Bat Mites

The first most common illness contracted from a bat is bat mites. These are little insects that sort of resemble tiny fleas. They produce similar symptoms to lice, except the bats typically attack the surface of the skin rather than the scalp. Bat mites are often times confused with bed bugs too. They bite the skin and leave behind a red bumpy rash that itches persistently. There is no need to worry if you or a family member has contracted bat bites; although unpleasant, it is completely curable. Contact a doctor and a bat exclusion professional to get rid of the problem altogether.

⚠ Rabies

Rabies is the most associated illness with bats. The truth is, many other animals carry the rabies virus too, but so can bats. To contract rabies from a bat, a person or pet would have to be bitten by them, ingest their saliva, or come into contact with their waste matter. These are the areas that contain the rabies virus. Be sure to seek out immediate medical attention if you are ever bitten or scratched by a bat.

⚠ Histoplasmosis

Another common illness that a person can contract from a wild bat is Histoplasmosis. This is a disease that attacks the respiratory system, causing difficult breathing, coughing, and other discomforts. Histoplasmosis comes from the spores that grow on bat guano. If a home has a bat colony infestation, they are at risk for this illness. The spores are invisible and move through the air, being breathed in without notice. A licensed Louisville bat removal specialist will need to come in to inspect, remove bats, clean, treat, and possible repair the area where the bats were dwelling.

Louisville Bat Removal You Can Trust

Louisville Bat Removal Kentucky

Louisville Bat Removal 502-553-7622

Call Louisville Bat Removal at 502-553-7622 for bat control service in Kentucky. Our bat removal and control technicians are highly trained and experienced to carry out any degree of bat control, from removing one bat, to an entire structural repair project. We also offer services to protect your home and property from bat damages, as well as, provide minor restorations for bat damages. Request a free estimate, today.