3 Signs That Bats Are Roosting in Your Attic This Winter

Although bats are not dangerous to humans, you probably don't want to have them in your home.  Unlike rodents, bats don't damage houses, but they can spread contagious diseases through droppings and bites. Staying away from bats minimizes the risk of contracting a disease, but sometimes you accidentally come in contact with one of these nocturnal mammals. Keeping bats out of your attic is best for both you and the animals, so here are three signs that you have bats in your house and what you can do to get rid of them.

1. Seeing Guano

Bats are nocturnal, so chances are slim that you'll see them leaving or entering your home in Ajax. You must rely on other signs to tell you that there are bats living in your house. One of the most common signs of bats is the presence of guano, which is the name for bat droppings. You will likely see stains or piles of guano in your attic if you have a bat living in the space, and the entire room may have a strong ammonia odour from urine.

2. Squeaking Noises

Bats are quiet creatures, so they don't make a lot of noise. You may, however, notice small squeaking noises coming from your attic. It's the sound of bats communicating with each other, so the noises are much more obvious during the night. Baby bats are more likely to make a lot of noise than their adult counterparts, but you'll have to listen closely to notice the squeaking.

3. Brown Stains Around Entry Points

Bats enter homes through small holes in the exterior. If you find any openings in the exterior of your house, there is a chance bats live inside. If you see brown stains around these holes, you almost certainly have a bat inside. These brown stains are caused by urine. Patching up these holes is the only way to keep bats from returning to your home because they are notorious for using the same shelters to roost from year to year. Just make sure that a bat is not asleep inside your attic when you patch the holes so that you do not trap any creatures inside.

When Bats Are Most Likely To Be in Your House

Bats don't thrive in cold weather, so each species either hibernates or migrates to warmer climates. For species that hibernate, warm spaces with shelter from the elements are perfect. Attics aren't spaces that are frequently used by humans, so they become an ideal shelter for hibernating bats. It's important to know that while bats sleep during the winter months, they can be woken up if you stumble across them accidentally. This is when bites occur most often. Bats are typically shy creatures and avoid human contact, but they will bite if they feel threatened. For this reason, it's important to get rid of bats as soon as you realize that they are in your home, even if you suspect that they are in the middle of hibernation. You need certain tools to catch and remove bats without harming them, so you should never attempt bat removal yourself. Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control has a team of experts who are knowledgeable about bat habits and can help get rid of the creatures without causing them harm.

Contact a Professional for Bat Removal

You run the risk of being bitten if you try to remove bats from your attic yourself, so it is best to leave bat removal to a professional. Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control is ready to help you get rid of bats in a safe and humane fashion. If you need wildlife control in Ajax, contact us today to schedule an appointment.