Local Milwaukee Story - Bats Behind Shutters

Having bats in your attic is a real problem, but what happens when you can't figure out where they're hiding? Many people have found evidence of these flying mammals around their home and often see them fluttering around at dusk. With no visible points of entry or noises coming from the upper floors, their presence can be puzzling. At Skedaddle, we've seen a lot when performing Milwaukee wildlife control, and have a good idea of where bats can be hiding.  Here's what happened when one of our technicians figured out where a client's bat problem was lurking.

Vanishing Bats

The homeowners had been dealing with bat issues for years. While working on improvement projects, they would continually find bat droppings, or guano, around their residence, especially near windows. Even after cleaning up the mess, it would return soon after, yet there were no holes in the gambles or broken windows that would allow them to roost somewhere in the house. It wasn't until the homeowners were cleaning their shutters that the source of their droppings dilemma was discovered. Once disturbed, a flurry of motion showed exactly where the bats were hiding. Unbeknownst to the homeowners, the bats were sleeping away the daylight hours hiding in the dark security behind the houses shutters!

Seasonal Sightings

Bats, like birds, travel seasonally, finding different places to rest during summer and winter. When looking for signs of roosting, homeowners may only find evidence during warmer months. For most infestations, Milwaukee wildlife control specialists find bats roosting in the eaves of attics, barns and bridges. Having a few winged mammals living as unwanted tenants is bad enough, but if conditions are right, an entire colony can form. It's not just the inside of houses that are attractive to bats. Any space that offers shelter from wind and rain, as well as relative darkness during the daytime hours, may be the perfect place to take a rest. Household shutters, which have recently become decorative accents instead of usable features, remain stationary throughout the year, making them prime real estate for bats to sneak in and stake a claim.

Unusual Cases

As strange as it may be, our experts at Skedaddle have run into their fair share of shutter surprises. Removing a colony that has taken root in such a way is easier than attempting to get them out of a chimney or attic space. Even so, wildlife may act unpredictably, so calling in a professional to handle the job is always a homeowner's best choice. In addition, animal safety is always our first concern, and technicians are trained to remove animals in a humane manner. When the homeowners contacted Skedaddle, they came out to assess the bat removal situation. It was quickly determined to be a colony, but thanks to regular maintenance, there was no indication they had made their way into the main structure. That left only the shutters, which our team opened to the daylight, letting the bats loose with only the shock of daylight as motivation!

Sealing the Deal

Removing the bats from behind the shutters was only the beginning. The next step is to ensure the bats don't return. Cleanup was the first concern as the team removed the guano and scrubbed down the infested areas to remove smells and other detritus. Like most wildlife, bats are drawn back to certain areas by scent, so for successful removal, decontaminating the area is a must. By cleaning the areas thoroughly, bats won't be tempted to follow a scent trail and re-inhabit the area. Sealing around the shutters helps to ensure no crawling critters will make it between the shutters and the exterior walls.  [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sU4AZVkmKw0[/embed]   When faced with a Milwaukee wildlife control issue, such as bat guano mysteriously appearing underneath house shutters, don't hesitate to contact Skedaddle or visit us online. We are ready to help solve your mammal mysteries in the most humane way possible!