How to Solve Nuisance Bat Problems in Winter

Posted on January 29, 2019 by admin

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.

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 3/8^th 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.

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.

FAQS About Pet Bats

Posted on April 16, 2018 by admin

Exotic pets have been popular since the domestication of Eurasian gray wolves 15,000 years ago. In fact, animals like sugar gliders, tarantulas, chinchillas, blue lobsters, and even sharks, are common inventory at many local pet stores these days. Although hamsters and parakeets are still available for sale, more and more pet lovers are leaning toward animals that are rare or rarely domesticated.

However, one such animal that you will not find at a local pet store is a bat; but this doesn’t stop certain individuals from still wanting one as a pet. If you have found a stray baby bat, or have been tossing the idea of acquiring a pet bat, it is wise to learn some important information before making any final decisions.

Continue reading to review some frequently asked questions about keeping a bat as a pet.

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Is it Legal to Have a Pet Bat?

In most states, a person cannot keep a bat as a pet. That is because bats are protected by law on several levels. Not only is the confiscation of bats from the environment highly regulated by the state and federal government, the transferring of bats is also closely governed. For anyone to lawfully handle bats, they require specialized USDA permits and state licenses.

Where Can I Buy a Pet Bat?

You cannot buy a pet bat on the market, legally. If you wanted to purchase a pet bat, you would have to deal with criminals who are breaking the law by selling and distributing state and federally-protected wildlife without the proper permits and permissions.

What Will Happen if I Take a Bat as a Pet?

Not only is it likely that the bat will not survive, you can also be subject to heft fines for breaking state and federal laws. The bat can also pose several health issues, including Rabies, Histoplasmosis, bat mites, lice, and more. A person or pet can contract these diseases and more from contact with a bat or bat droppings.

Can I Trap a Bat for a Pet?

As mentioned, bats are a protected species of wildlife. This means it is unlawful to trap, touch, harm, or kill a bat under any circumstances. If a bat bites you or your pet, your next step is to seek immediate medical treatment; and your second step is to contact a Louisville bat removal company to handle the bat.

What Should I Do if I Find a Stray Bat?

If you have found a lone bat on the ground, your job is to assess the risk it poses to its surroundings. A bat is a safety risk whether it is sick or not; so if you find one that seems stuck or stranded, it is important that the bat is removed as soon as possible by a licensed bat removal specialist. Not only can it potentially harm another person or pet, it can attract other species of wildlife, which can impose additional safety concerns and hazards. If a bat is in nature away from people, you can just leave it alone and trust nature to take its course.

Where Can I Get Professional Bat Removal in Louisville?

Louisville Bat Removal 502-553-7622

What Happens to Bats After Bat Removal Service?

Posted on December 14, 2017 by admin

When bats get inside, it is necessary to get them out as soon as possible. Professional wildlife specialists implement a systematic, non-lethal procedure to locate, remove, and exclude bats; and then follow up with comprehensive decontamination services and structural damage repairs. This 100% safe and humane system is in adherence to industry-accepted standards and best practices, as well as, all local, state, and federal laws that govern wildlife. With this information, you may wonder what happens to bats in the case that they are live captured by professional wildlife technicians during the extraction and exclusion process. Continue reading to learn where bats are taken and what happens to them after they are removed from a residence or building.

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Bat Preservation

Bats are incredibly important parts of our surrounding eco-system. They are very fascinating because they are the only mammals that can truly fly. Furthermore, they consume more than 1000 insects in just one night, which means you can enjoy your outdoor activities without going to bed with a dozen bug bites. And although we do not want them in our homes and buildings, we do want them to stick around. It is important to protect the well-being of bats in order to preserve their colonies and habitats. For these reasons and more, professional bat abatement companies use safe and humane strategies for capturing and releasing nuisance bats.

Not only do professional bat abatement technicians use non-lethal, non-toxic products and techniques, they also use live bat traps. These devices to not harm or kill bats, and instead, are bedded and keeps them safe until they are retrieved by the bat control technician. For bats that are not caught using a trap, specialized non-harmful equipment is used to handle them, including gloves, extendable pole and cloths for picking and wrapping them up. They also use 1cc syringes loaded with sodium lactate solution to keep bats hydrated after capture.

Once captured in a live trap, bats are safely and gently transported to a specialized rehabilitation facility where they undergo Rabies screenings. If bats are in a sleepy or cold state, they are given time to warm up and awaken before testing to ease their comfort. If they are Rabies-free, they are thoroughly inspected for injuries, which are properly treated upon discovery.

After screening, captured bats are cared for with meal worms, water, and puppy formula (for babies) until they are transported to a faraway location where they will be reintroduced into the wild. These locations have been designated as approved wildlife habitats for bats, and are far enough away that the bats will not be a burden to municipal and residential areas ever again.

Got Bats?

Louisville Bat Removal 502-553-7622

Get Rid of Bats in the Chimney

Posted on June 12, 2017 by admin

Louisville Bat Removal 502-553-7622

If you have bats in your fireplace and chimney, and no other area of your home, consider yourself lucky. When bats are confined to a small area such as a chimney, they are easier to manage and exclude. If you believe you have a bat, or bats, in the chimney and fireplace, be sure to educate yourself on the best methods to removing them. If you suspect you have bats in there, you must wait to use it until they are gone. For this reason, you are wise to jump on the issue right away, and take the necessary measures to get rid of bats in the fireplace.

Continue reading to learn some easy and safe tips for getting started!

Bats in the Chimney

Most likely, if you have bats in the fireplace, they are coming and entering from the chimney. Bats like to roost and nest inside chimneys because of their obvious warmth, but also for adequate protection against predators and inclement weather. Signs that you may have bats inside your fireplace or chimney include strange, high-pitched noises at night, scuffling sounds, bat feces (guano) in the fireplace, and foul smells coming from inside the fireplace. There are two vital steps to take right away if you suspect there are bats in the chimney or fireplace. Do not hesitate even for a second on these two important tasks if you think you might have a bat infestation.

Here’s what to do:

❶ Close the Damper! If the damper is left open, you can risk letting bats enter your home. And having flying bats inside your house is a bigger issue of safety and structural damage! Closing the damper also ensures that all the bats within the colony are accurately and properly excluded at the time of service.

❷ Do Not Make a Fire! It is inhumane (and illegal) to kill bats, which happen to be highly beneficial parts of our surrounding eco-systems. Starting a fire will not only kill bats, it can cause other issues as well. To start a fire you must open the damper, which as we already discussed, will allow bats to enter into your home and lead to a whole other level of concerns.

The Final Step

After you are well-aware of these first two steps to getting rid of bats in the fireplace, you are ready to take the third and final step: calling a licensed bat removal and control company. They retain the proper tools, training, and resources to safely remove bats and prevent their return, all within a convenient time frame.

It is strongly encouraged to contact a licensed and experienced wildlife control company that provides bat removal and exclusion services. Be sure they only use safe and non-lethal methods of animal removal, and have at least ten years of experience working with bats. A company with these credentials are much more likely to be trusted for quality workmanship and fair prices.

Bat Removal in Louisville Kentucky

Louisville Bat Removal 502-553-7622

Call 502-553-7622 for safe and humane bat removal in Louisville, Kentucky or its surrounding counties. We are DNR licensed bat removal and control contractors with decades of experience providing residential and commercial work. We also provide bat cleanup services, bat proofing, preventative maintenance, and even minor attic restorations and repairs. Call 502-553-7622 to request a free estimate or information, today.

How Do Bats See?

Posted on May 15, 2017 by admin

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Many people incorrectly assume that bats are blind. The truth is, no species of bat is naturally blind. In fact, most bats have pretty good vision. However, some bats rely on other senses more than they do their eyesight to navigate during flight. If you just learned something new about bats, you will be interested in what comes next.

Continue reading to learn more about bats and how they see!

Bats are Nocturnal

Both primary categories of bats, Megachiroptera and Microchiroptera, are nocturnal. This means they are active between dusk and dawn, and rest between dawn and dusk. Although it is dark outside when they are active, both bats can still see. They can even see well during the day. They are sensitive to daylight changes, however, which is how they sense it is time to start or stop their day.

Echolocation and Other Senses

Because bats are active at night, many people wrongly assume that bats can’t see at night, so they only use echolocation (a natural sonar practice using series of tongue clicks) to navigate around. Although Microchiroptera use echolocation, it is not their only means of vision. They use echolocation to hunt for prey and navigate during flight, but they can also see quite well. In fact, they rely more on their vision to see long distances since these distances are beyond the range of echolocation. Megachiroptera bats, on the other hand, do not use sonar at all, and only rely on their eyesight, hearing, and smell to get around.

Bats are Not Blind!

So in conclusion, bats are not blind after all. Microchiroptera bats have sufficiently-developed photo-receptor cells in their retinas (cones and rods), which allow them to see well during the day and the night. Also, Megachiroptera bats have large eyes and well-pronounced visual centers that allow them to see well. Both species of bat use all their senses to navigate around, just like humans. But some species rely on senses more than others.

Louisville Bat Removal and Control

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. Call 502-553-7622 to request a free estimate, today.

FAQS About Electronic Bat Repelling Devices

Posted on April 10, 2017 by admin

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Ultrasonic pest repelling devices are non-lethal, humane solutions for keeping bats off your property. They use variable scanning technology that emits ultrasonic sound waves in various pitches, frequencies, and intensities. These are silent to humans, but highly irritating to bats. So they keep their distance from them! There are several make and model devices to choose from on the market, so it is important to do your research before making any final purchasing decisions.

If you have severe bat control problems on your property, you will likely not benefit from an electronic bat repelling device alone. You will also require professional bat exclusion service to solve the bat problem at its source. If you are considering an easy and non-invasive alternative to bat control, an ultrasonic pest repelling device may be the perfect solution for you.

Continue reading to review some common questions about these devices, and who to call for trusted bat removal and control service near you.

Can Electronic Bat Repellents Be Installed Outside?

Yes, so long as they are covered and protected from the weather. Wind and rain can affect the performance of the device. They must also be installed in a spot that is close to a power source. They are not battery-powered, and instead, run off of electricity.

Will These Devices Work Through Walls?

Unfortunately, ultrasonic sound waves do not penetrate solid objects, including walls. For this reason, these machines must be installed near the area of bat activity. If you have bats in your walls, the device will not get rid of them either. Although the sound waves will be very displeasing to them, it is more likely that they will remain in the walls roosting until they are manually extracted.

Will the Machine Make the Bats Leave the Attic and Enter the Living Areas of My Home?

It is unlikely that an electronic bat machine will make bats leave their attic roost and venture into other areas of your home. It is more likely that bats will exit the attic from the entry and exit points they created themselves. It is important to seal bats off in the attic before placing the machine inside to ensure this happens.

Will an Ultrasonic Bat Repelling Device Bother My Pets?

Dogs and cats will not be affected by the ultrasonic sound waves created by your bat repelling machine. On the other hand, any rodent-like pets will, including hamsters, gerbils, chinchillas, and more.

How Many Electronic Sound Machines Will I Need?

The number of devices you’ll need depends on the number of affected areas on your property. If you are trying to keep bats away from your porch and out of the barn, you would need one in each place. If you just have bats in the attic, one machine is all you need.

Louisville Bat Control

Louisville Bat Removal 502-553-7622

Call 502-553-7622 for professional bat control service in Louisville, Kentucky. We will protect your home and property from bat damages, and we even provide minor restorations for bat damages. We also provide commercial and residential bat removal, regardless of size or scope of infestation. Call 502-553-7622 to request a free estimate for Louisville bat removal and control, today.

Let Louisville Bat Removal Protect Your Home From Winter Bat Damage!

Posted on November 7, 2016 by admin

Fall is here, which means that winter is just around the corner. Now is the time to start prepping for winter weather, and of course, the pests that come with it! Pests like bats are looking for a good, cozy spot to roost for the upcoming season; so it is imperative to outsource the proper services to ensure your home is perfectly sealed and bat-proof.

And Louisville Bat Removal is just the service you need for winter bat control and prevention!

Get Rid of Bats in the Attic!

If you already have bats in the attic, you are facing a dire situation that requires immediate attention. Louisville Bat Removal is a licensed, bonded, and insured company that has over 30 years of experience in the wildlife rescue and control industry. Whether you have bats in the attic or somewhere else in or around your property, our highly trained and experienced back control contractors can deliver safe and humane bat extraction in a convenient time frame. We never harmed or killed bats! Our methods are carefully selected to ensure bats are handled with the utmost care and respect. Should bats are relocated to a faraway and safe habitat where they will be happy and no longer nuisance to you or anyone else.

Bat Prevention

Louisville Bat Removal 502-553-7622

Before the winter is here, it is important to get your home sealed up so that bats can’t find their way inside. Bats are very tiny, so they can fit into even the smallest little crevice. For this reason, our bat control specialists will comprehensively inspect the exterior of your home to ensure there are no openings or gaps where bats can get in. If any holes are found, we seal them up right away! Aside from closing up exterior possibilities, we also give you accurate advice on how to prevent bats coming around your property, including installing automatic sound machines and outdoor lights, and getting rid of any food and water sources they might be attracted to.

Louisville Bat Removal and Control

Call 502-553-7622 to request a free estimate for Louisville bat removal and control, today. We offer a wide range of bat removal and control services for both residential and commercial properties, at the most competitive prices in town. That means you can get affordable bat removal and control you can trust. It was over 30 years of experience under our belts, you can feel confident in our results. Call 502-23-7622 to speak with a licensed contractor about bat removal in Louisville, Kentucky.

Are Bats Rodents?

Posted on June 22, 2016 by admin

At first glance, you may think a bat looks like a rat with wings, which might lead you to believe that bats could be rodents. But if you were to take a closer look, you’ll find that a bat is nothing like a mouse or rat at all! In fact, bats are mammals, just like humans, dogs, cats, primates, whales, and more! This means they are warm-blooded, and give birth to live offspring. Continue reading to learn more attributes that set bats and rodents far apart from one another.

Why Bats are Mammals

Bats are not rodents, they are mammals. And just like humans, they are a warm-blooded species that carry and give birth to live young. One of the most interesting facts about bats being mammals is that they are the only mammals capable of true flight! While other mammals may leap, soar, float, or hover, bats are the only mammal that an actually fly like a bird.

Also, bats are the only mammal in the animal kingdom known to consume blood for food. This species of bat is called the Vampire bat, but its scientific name is Desmodus rotundus. And contrary to popular stories and myths, they do not “drink” blood, but rather make a small bite and slurp the flowing blood from the wound. Cattle and livestock are popular targets for Vampire bats, but don’t worry, never humans!

Another primary characteristic that makes bats mammal is their reproductive and gestation process. Female bats generally produce a single pup, one to three times each year. They nurse their pup with milk until they are old enough to provide for themselves. This is very characteristic of most species of mammals.

Bat Problems

If you are a property owner that is experiencing bat problems in or around your home, contact a local bat control company for safe and non-lethal bat exclusion. They retain the proper permits, training, and resources to safely and humanely get rid of bats, clean up their mess, and prevent their return. Be sure to choose a licensed and experienced company, like Bat Removal Louisville!

Bat Removal Louisville

Louisville Bat Removal 502-553-7622

Call 502-553-7622 for prompt and professional bat removal services in Louisville, Kentucky and its surrounding counties. We are DNR licensed and insured with more than 30 years of experience! That means we can efficiently and effectively solve your bat problems, regardless of size and scope. We offer residential and commercial bat control services at the most competitive prices in town. Whether you need to get rid of bats in the attic, or require bat cleanup and restoration services, we are the professionals to trust for quality service at an affordable price. Call 502-553-7622 to request a free estimate for Louisville bat removal, today.

How to Hire a Reputable Bat Removal Company

Posted on February 8, 2016 by admin

As soon as you are aware of a bat infestation problem in your home, you should immediately begin looking for a solution. The first place to start would be hiring a professional to remove bats from your home and prevent them from coming back. How do you know which company to trust? Read on to learn what to expect from a reliable bat exclusion company, and signs to avoid when interviewing each business.

Bat Control Contractors

There are certain qualities and services to expect from a reputable bat control company. These services and qualities will speak for the integrity of the business. First, a dependable and trustworthy bat exclusion company should be listed as an accredited member of the BBB, which stands for the Better Business Bureau. This marks them as a reliable and recognized company.

The next quality to look for is experience. Be sure to inquire about their business’s longevity and specialties. What do they specialize in? How long have they been in business? You don’t want to hire a pest control company that doesn’t particularly specialize in bat exclusion. The company of your choice should specialize in bat control and retain the proper equipment and industry knowledge to remove bats and prevent them from coming back. Exterminators that claim they can “remove anything” often use improper equipment and harmful chemicals to kill or catch bats. This is not the right, or safe, approach to bat removal; and bats should never be exterminated because they are assets to our environment and amazing mammals. They just don’t belong in our homes!

Never be afraid to ask about a company’s equipment and practices they use to carry out their services. It is important to know what kind of machines and tools will be used inside your home, as well as, how equipped they are to even do the job correctly. Inquire about their methods and theories on bat removal, if they use a bat trap (which should never be the case), and how they inspect for bat colonies and infestations. This is information you have every right to know before giving your money away.

A great quality to explore in a bat exclusion company is references. Any professional company should have multiple references, testimonials, fan pages, or other sources of customer reviews to prove their merit. Be sure to investigate all these avenues before deciding on a company to trust.

Bat Removal and Control in Kentucky

Call 502-553-7622 for prompt and professional bat removal and control in Louisville, Kentucky. Our wildlife rescue contractors use the latest technologies and state-of-the-art equipment to safely remove bats and facilitate effective bat prevention. We never harm or kill bats, and have been a fully insured company, as well as, A+ Accredited BBB members, for more than 20 years. If you suspect you have a bat problem in your home or office, call us right away at 502-553-7622 for Louisville bat removal and control you can trust.

Northern Long-Eared Bats are on the U.S. Threatened Species List

Posted on December 9, 2015 by admin

Under the endangered species act, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service added the Northern Long-Eared Bat to the list of threatened species in our country. The ruling when into effect in May of this year.

The difference between “threatened” and “endangered” is significant. A threatened species is predicted to become endangered in the foreseeable future; whereas an endangered species is soon to be extinct.

Although not yet facing extinction, this is a sad year for this incredible species, and we should take some time to learn more about Northern Long-Eared bats and why their populations are facing endangerment.

Northern Myotis

The Northern Long-Eared bat, formally known as Myotis Keenii, is commonly referred to as Northern Myotis or Myotis septentrionalis. It is a small bat native to North America, averaging sizes no more than 3 to 5 inches and weighing no more than an ounce or two. They are primarily found in the Mid to Eastern parts of the country, starting in states like Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee, down through the Carolinas and even Alabama, and all the way up to Main and Canada.

Northern Long-Eared bats dwell in caves and wooded forests, roosting in trees during the day and searching for food at night. Being nocturnal, they are mostly active during the dusk, evening, and early morning hours, and then rest during the daytime. After a few days, they switch roosting areas, so they are often in search of new shelter at night as well.

As microbats do, they eat a wide variety of small insects, like moths, mosquitos, beetles, flies, gnats, and more. In the fall they migrate to caves and other similar locations to hibernate for the winter in populations of 100 bats or more. Emerging in March or April, Northern Long-Eared bats then breed and raise their young though the spring and summer.

White-Nose Syndrome is to Blame

One of the conclusions scientists and researchers have come to regarding the downfall of the Northern Long-Eared bat is that disease is the threat. White-Nose Syndrome (WNS) is a common disease that spreads easily and quickly among bat populations, and most all bats are at risk of contracting the illness. This disease seems to be the reason why this species of bat have now become a threatened one.

White-Nose Syndrome is a fungal disease that attacks the bat’s skin. It is caused by the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans and can be detected by a visible white fungal growth around the wings, snouts, and muzzles of bats; hence the moniker. Assumed to come from Europe, this disease is now wide-spread throughout North America and has wiped out over 5 million bats in just the past four years. White-Nose Syndrome can kill up to 98% of a bat population at a time. It is a serious threat to all species of bat, and mammal as well.

Protect Bats and Your Home

It is important to never harm, kill, catch, or trap bats under any circumstances. Not only are they an imperative part of our natural surrounding Eco-system, it is often against the law to do so anyway. If you have a bat in the attic, or bats around your house, it is best to call a professional wildlife removal company for safe and legal assistance. They use non-lethal methods to exclude bats, prevent future bat problems, and relocate bats to a faraway habitat.

Bat Removal Louisville

Call 502-553-7622 for prompt and professional bat removal in Louisville, Kentucky. We are DNR licensed and experienced wildlife rescue and control specialists that only use safe and humane methods of bat exclusion. We offer a wide range of services for residential and commercial properties, including minor structural damage repairs, bat removal and control, bat cleanup, bat proofing, and more. Call 502-553-7622 to learn how to protect bats and your home from bats in Louisville, KY and its surrounding counties.