In most cases, if a wild animal gets into your home, you can have it removed right away. However, if the animal is a bat, things get a bit more complicated. For example, baby bats in Milwaukee may get stranded in your house if their mothers are removed before the babies can fly and find their own food. Call Skedaddle about bat removal as soon as you discover the problem. We’ll make a plan for their removal, but you may have to wait before we can put the plan into action.
Why Can’t You Disturb Bats at Certain Times of the Year?
Bats are a keystone species, meaning that if they were wiped out, the entire ecosystem would suffer. Bats support the ecosystem by pollinating plants and spreading seeds through their feces. They keep the population of harmful insect pests under control, which is also beneficial to agriculture. Without bats, humans wouldn’t have as much to eat.
Unfortunately, the populations of certain bat species have been declining alarmingly. There are many factors that contribute to this, including habitat loss and disease. To save bats and thus support the ecosystem, there are laws in place that make it illegal to harm bats or to disturb them when they are most vulnerable.
When Is It Illegal To Disturb Bats?
In the winter, many bat species hibernate. They slow down their metabolism and live off the fat stores that they built up when food was plentiful and become inactive until the temperature outside warms up. North American bats feed on either insects or fruit, neither of which are in great supply during winter. Disturbing bats during the winter and removing them outside to fend for themselves is essentially a death sentence.
Female bats give birth to offspring in late spring or early summer. At birth, the babies can’t fly and are totally dependent on their mothers. The mothers can carry the babies with them for a while, but when the babies get too big, the mothers have to leave them behind when they go to find food. It is several months before the babies will be able to fly and feed themselves. Bat removal involves installing one-way doors over entry points so they can get out but can’t get back in again. Baby bats stranded inside will die without their mothers.
It is illegal to remove bats in winter when they are hibernating and in summer when they are raising babies. There is a window of opportunity in spring, after the bats come out of hibernation but before they give birth, when removal can take place. There’s another window in fall, after the babies have grown but before hibernation begins again.
People who ignore the laws protecting bats can face hefty fines.
How Can You Deter Bats From Your Home?
You can prevent bats from getting into your home by sealing off potential entry points. Remember that bats can squeeze through a hole three-eighths of an inch wide, so don’t underestimate their ability to get in. Make sure your window screens fit tightly with no tears and keep your windows and doors closed. Put wire mesh or chimney caps over outside exterior vents. Avoid attracting bats to your home by swapping white exterior light bulbs for yellow ones. White bulbs attract flying insects, which are the favorite food of many bat species.
Why Should You Call Skedaddle for Bat Removal?
After years of experience and training, we know how to get rid of bats in Milwaukee without harming them. We are also familiar with the laws that protect bats and know how to comply. For example, we can determine whether there are any baby bats present. If so, we have to wait to remove them until they are grown. Our team will take all the necessary steps to keep your home and family safe from bacteria and disease during the cleaning process that follows removal.. Learn more about bat removal in Milwaukee.
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