Bats can be helpful for those of us with hordes of insects in our yards, but when too many take up residence on our properties, it can become a health hazard. Bat droppings in your house can damage your floors and carry various viruses and diseases.
If you’re looking to learn how to get rid of bats in your home in Florida, read on. We’ve compiled some information and advice from our bat exclusion and removal experts at Florida Pest Control!
What Attracts Bats to Your Property?
Much to the dismay of many Florida homeowners, bats are all too common in residential areas. While they do bring us some benefits by eating pesky insects, having too many around can be unsettling and even dangerous. These are the three main reasons why bats may inhabit your home:
- Food: If there is a constant food supply on your property, bats will stick around. This could mean insects like mosquitoes, moths, and beetles or fruit such as bananas, mangoes, and dates.
- Shelter: Bats like to nest in shelters that resemble caves. This is why we often find them under our eaves, or in our attics or sheds.
- Hiding places: Local predators like raccoons, owls, and hawks can all cause bats to hide out in our homes.
What Issues Do Bats Create?
Even though most bats aren’t aggressive, problems start when they feel cornered or scared. That’s when the chances of them coming into unwanted contact with you or your family go up. Bats might swoop or flap around if startled, leading to panic and, in rare cases, bites. If you are bitten or scratched by a bat, always seek medical advice right away.
The bigger issue is what they leave behind. Bat droppings not only smell bad, they’re unhygienic and can carry harmful fungi. Guano can release spores into the air, leading to respiratory conditions like histoplasmosis. A buildup of bat droppings can also weaken insulation, wood, and other materials in your attic or walls.
If you notice signs of bats in your home, don’t hesitate to seek professional advice on best practices. Understanding how to get rid of bats in the attic or around your property is the first step to limiting the health risks and structural damage.
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Methods To Prevent Bats
Bat removal is all very well, but prevention is equally important for long-term protection. Here are some tips on how to reduce the chance of bats choosing your home as their next roost:
- Seal up entry points: Look for gaps in roof tiles, vents, chimneys, or eaves. Bats can squeeze into openings as small as half an inch. Use mesh, caulk, or other bat-proof materials. Check for loose siding or gaps in window frames as additional entry points.
- Clean up clutter: Piles of debris or open trash can attract insects, which in turn attract bats. Keep your yard tidy and clear of leftover food or waste.
- Trim your trees: Overgrown shrubs and tree branches close to the roofline provide easy access for bats. Keep them pruned and away from the house.
- Install bat houses: Install bat houses in trees or on poles away from your property to give bats an alternative place to go.Â
These steps won’t guarantee that bats won’t stop by, but they can certainly lower the chance of an infestation. And if you do have a problem? You might need to speak to someone who knows precisely how to deal with bats.
Can You Naturally Get Rid of Bats?
If bats nest in your home, it’s smart to take swift action. Hosting them for too long can lead to contamination, health risks, and disruption of your local ecosystem. Here are some common ways to get rid of bats on your own:
- Essential oils: Using essential oils is a popular natural method for DIY bat control. You can spray diluted peppermint oil or eucalyptus oil near a bat nest to irritate the colony.
- Mothballs: Tie a piece of cloth holding mothballs near to bat entry points in your home or shed. This will work not only against bats but also against certain insects, which attracts the bats in the first place!
- Light: Bats need a dark place to hide during the day. Using a floodlight, mirrors, or aluminum foil to reflect sunlight into their hiding place can quickly strip their shelter of one of its main benefits.
If all else fails, call your local bat exclusion service. Our experts at Florida Pest Control take a humane approach to bat removal and are here to help from April through August.
Professional Bat Control Services in Florida
Sometimes, DIY solutions simply don’t have what it takes to get rid of bats. For expert help with bat control in Florida, reach out to our team at Florida Pest Control. We will conduct an inspection, execute removal techniques, and leave you with tips to help you prevent further bat infestations. Contact our bat exterminators today for a free quote!
Frequently Asked Questions
The timeline depends on how many bats are present and where they’re roosting. A professional technician will start the process on this first visit, but total removal can take several days. This is especially true when bat colonies are raising their young.
In most cases, no. The bat removal process is designed to be minimally disruptive. If the technician needs to enter certain parts of your home, like the attic or crawl spaces, they will give you clear instructions. However, if health hazards like large amounts of guano are found, you may be asked to avoid certain areas until cleanup is complete.
Bats are protected in Florida because they are crucial to the local ecosystem. They help control insect populations, and some species are considered threatened or endangered. That means there are laws around how and when bats can be removed. For example, it’s illegal to disturb a roost with flightless pups during maternity season. This is another reason to use professionals who know the laws and permitted removal practices.