Bat Removal

Humane Bat Removal

It’s quite common to discover unwanted wildlife on your property. In our years serving the Northern Alabama area, we’ve come across countless nuisance wildlife situations, and many of them involved bats on human properties. Here, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about bat removal, exclusion, and prevention. We’ll share with you tips and tricks we’ve picked up over the years, as well as advice on what you can do if your property is bothered by bats, or if you live in a high bat risk area.

Bats and the law – why are bats protected?

Did you know that in many parts of the United States, bats are considered a beneficial species for the environment (since they eat up various pest insects), and so, are protected by the Endangered Species Act?

This is why we generally don’t recommend that when you discover a bat, or a colony of bats, living on your property, that you don’t attempt to remove or exterminate them on your own. Since this can bring about harm to either the mother bat, or the baby bats (since a lot of female bats use human homes to bring up their young), it could cause legal trouble, such as a fine, for you, or the homeowner, so we really don’t recommend that you try that.

In Northern Alabama, three species of bats are currently protected or are being considered for legal protection under the Endangered Species Act. Since bat identification can be rather tricky, we recommend that you call a professional wildlife removal service, rather than attempt the process yourself. We are more knowledgeable on the current legal status of bats in your area, so better prepared to safely and legally remove them. 

If you’re dealing with a colony of bats, Nuisance Wildlife Control will do its best to safely remove all the bats from your property, without causing you (or them) any harm. However, if there are baby bats involved, you may be legally obligated to leave the bats alone until the babies are self-sufficient.

The good news here is that most bats will leave on their own, once this initial nursing phase is over.

How do we remove bats from your property?

Bat removal can be a particularly tricky process, since it’s quite common, as mentioned, for female bats to be using your home as a nesting area, to bring up their baby bats. This makes exclusion or entrapment a little trickier, since removing the mother bat from the equation can leave the baby bats without protection or nourishment, and that can get you into legal trouble.

This is why our team of wildlife removal professionals is well-trained in the appropriate bat removal techniques that are safe both for you, as well as for the bats involved. We will begin by inspecting your property, looking for the bat’s entry point. The type and number of bats present will allow us to determine the best way to proceed, in our removal process.

With bats, the best choice is usually exclusion, rather than trapping the bat, since it’s quite likely that the bat will leave the home again, in order to look for food, at night. So it’s quite likely that our experts will install an exclusion device on the previously identified entry point. 

What is an exclusion device?

Think of the exclusion device as a one-way door. Exclusion devices come in multiple forms, usually depending on the type of animal you need to remove, and the number. The exclusion device is mounted on the exterior of the hole and does not in any way prevent the bat from exiting the house. However, due to the particular shape of the exclusion device, the bat is then no longer able to come back into the house. 

See, this is why removing the mother bat is tricky, since the baby bats may not be old enough to leave yet.

Alternatively, if the wildlife removal pro decides it’s better, they may use a bat live trap. As this name suggests, this is similar to a normal trap. It often catches the bat(s) inside, thus allowing you or the removal company to safely transport it to a new location, where it won’t be able to bother you or your family anymore.

Obviously, to learn what removal option is best in your particular case, you’re going to want to call a professional wildlife removal service as soon as possible. At Nuisance Wildlife Control, you can reach us at (256) 636-1168, or through our website.

What happens after the bat has been removed?

It’s important to promptly seal the entry point, which can often be inside a wall and take the form of a fairly small, and unobservable gap or cracks. We encourage you to use sturdy material, such as foam, wire mesh, or other such materials that will prevent other bats (or other types of wildlife) from finding their way in. It’s important that you take these preventive measures quickly, otherwise, you’re most likely looking at a new wildlife invasion in the coming weeks.

The main issue with bats is their feces, also known as guano, which can expose you and your family to serious bacteria. Some common diseases associated with bats include histoplasmosis, and of course, rabies.

Another problem caused by bat droppings is that they have a highly acidic, highly corrosive nature. This means, basically, that the longer the bat droppings are left on your furniture, or even on your floors or home structures, the more damage they will cause. Enough accumulated bat droppings can cause serious structural damage, or even force you to throw some furniture or personal belongings out for good. So the sooner you begin the cleaning process, the better. This is also why you want to keep vigilant and remove intrusive bats from the home, as soon as you learn of their presence. If you are unable to remove the nuisance bats, we recommend that you take measures to protect your floors, and your belongings situated in the room from the bats.

Can you get rid of bats on your own?

As we’ve seen, bat removal attempts on your own can be tricky due to legal restrictions, and we wouldn’t advise it. However, if you feel you are well-suited for the job, you can study the various entrapment and exclusion devices available at local specialty stores, and attempt the bat exclusion and removal yourself.

You can also invest in bat deterrents. These are usually special devices that are motion-activated, and that will emit a strong noise, or light, to deter bats, as well as other types of wildlife from approaching your property.

However, we must warn you that DIY bat removal is usually only moderately successful at best, and takes up a lot of time, money, and energy. This is why we generally advise that you reach out to a qualified wildlife removal professional, rather than do it yourself.

Bat Prevention – here’s what you should be doing

Once the bat has been safely removed from the premises, and the cleaning has been completed, you will probably want to focus on prevention. If your area is particularly bat-heavy, or if this isn’t your first bat issue, you should start looking at what’s attracting the bats into your home.

Often, bats will be drawn to attics, basements, sheds, or other such unused storage areas, that they can safely nest in without being bothered. This is why we recommend that you clean out your storage areas on a regular basis, and minimize clutter, to deter bats, as well as any other wild animal, from singling it out as an ideal nesting space.

Other than that, your wildlife removal professional will be able to advise you on cleanliness, and other areas, where there might be an issue that’s attracting the wind animals to your home.

So you’ve got a bat problem on your property that you just can’t seem to shake? Not to worry. Reach out today for a free estimate, and to get some information on our bat removal and exclusion techniques at Nuisance Wildlife Control.

Who are we?

At Nuisance Wildlife Control, we have over thirty years of experience in the removal and exclusion of unwanted pests, such as raccoons, squirrels, birds, skunks, and indeed, bats.

Thanks to our years of experience, we’ve picked up a lot of tricks and ways to do this. We are a locally-owned business and currently serve the entire Northern Alabama region, with locations in Decatur, Huntsville, and Madison, AL. 

Our team of qualified professionals offers FREE estimates, to give you a better idea of how much the removal process should cost. In order to schedule an estimate, simply call us or contact us through our website. We’re open 24/7, every day of the working week because you shouldn’t have to put up with unwanted wildlife any more than you absolutely have to.