Bat-Proof Your House This Summer In Easy Steps

When it comes to the most misunderstood animals in Milwaukee, bats rank pretty high. The truth is, they are important creatures that help control insects significantly throughout various ecosystems. They pose certain problems for homeowners at times as they invade homes in search of shelter and food. It may come as no surprise that many homeowners have had to call in professional bat pest control in Milwaukee in the past. Keep reading to learn how to bat-proof your home this summer.

How Does One Bat-Proof a Structure?

There are different ways to bat-proof a building, but the best long-term DIY solution involves a little effort. You will need to seal the bats’ entrance holes and then provide the colony with a bat box, or an alternate roost. Typically, bat-proofing doesn’t involve expensive materials or any professional skills. The process includes three stages:

• Identifying entry points
• Sealing the entrances to deny access
• Providing a bat box for the colony to occupy

[caption id="attachment_14464" align="alignnone" width="540"] Bats only need a very small gap or opening to find their way into your house.[/caption]

Identifying Entry Points

You will need to perform an inspection in order to locate the holes that bats use to enter and exit areas of your home like the attic. Look for common entry points where joined materials have pulled away from one another or warped. Examples of these places include areas where flashing has pulled away from the roof or siding, at the roof peak and even at vents with loose screening.

Sealing the Entrances to Deny Access

You will need to seal the openings you’ve discovered in the first step. For large cracks and gaps in the building, as well as for louvered vents, opt for hardware cloth or window screening. Caulking compound or expanding foam insulation will work well for smaller cracks as these materials can be trimmed or painted after hardening. Sealing existing holes will keep the bats out for good because they will not gnaw new holes in the building, unlike mice and other wildlife. Most local building supply and hardware stores will have all the materials you need.

Providing A Bat Box For The Colony To Occupy

A bat box, or alternative roost for the colony, solves two very important problems that exist with bat-proofing a home. One is that bats can be very persistent and may insist on finding other ways of re-entering their traditional roost. The other problem is that exclusion is very stressful for a colony and bats may simply move to a nearby structure when expelled. A displaced colony may leave the area entirely if it cannot find a new roost, which has an impact on the ecosystem as it removes a natural predator for various insects. On the other hand, a properly constructed bat box can serve as a suitable place for females to raise their young. It allows the bats to have a safe roosting site outside the home while homeowners can still benefit from natural insect control. [caption id="attachment_14465" align="alignnone" width="540"] Accumulations of bat droppings on window sills or the ground may indicate an entry point above.[/caption]

Need Help With a Bat Colony Problem? Contact the Professionals at Skedaddle

Dealing with a bat colony can be a very difficult challenge and it often requires professional assistance. If that’s the case with your home, there’s no better choice for expert bat pest control in Milwaukee than Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control. Skedaddle has been in the wildlife and pest removal industry for more than two decades, dealing with countless interventions in that time. More than 200,000 homeowners to date can testify to the skill and approach of Skedaddle technicians. Skedaddles three-step process involves exclusion, sanitization and future proofing your home against re-entry, complete with a lifetime guarantee on the materials used for the proofing. If you really want to solve your bat colony problem once and for all, get in touch with Skedaddle today.