How to Help a Bat on the Ground

Posted on November 29, 2019 by virginia

Not only are bats nocturnal in nature, they are generally very scared of humans. So, if you come across to bat on the ground, especially in the middle of the day, it is a blatant sign that something is wrong with the bat. For this reason, there are several safety precautions that you must take if you are considering helping the bat.

Continue reading to learn exactly what you should do if you ever find a grounded bat around your property.

Virginia Bat Removal and Control 804-729-9097

Causes for Grounded Bats

There are many reasons why bat might be alone on the ground. One of the most common reasons has to do with illness. Bats are common carriers of the rabies virus, and one of the telltale signs of being infected with rabies is a backwards biological circadian clock. Basically, when a nocturnal animal is out during the day, it could be a sign that they are rabid or at least infected with rabies.

Another common cause of grounded bats is injury. A bat might’ve injured its wing and therefore, incapable of achieving flight. In other cases, a grounded bat is simply the result of a baby being abandoned or lost from its mother. In most cases, the mother comes back for the baby bat because they only have one per season. However, it is also common for mothers to entirely abandon their pup in the case that it is ill. Sometimes, I bat is simply tired and need to just take a rest.

What To Do For a Grounded Bat

The most important consideration you need to keep in mind when helping a grounded bat is personal safety. Under no circumstances should you ever attempt to attach or harm a bat. For this reason, it is important that you don yourself with the proper protective gear including thick work utility gloves that come up to the elbows, as well as a facemask. You also need a shoe box or some other type of similar container, as well as a soft cloth. You will not need to lead, but you will need some sort of sturdy stationary card.

First and foremost, give the bat a few hours to see if it’s just resting. It might take off and fly away soon. If it is still there after 6 to 8 hours, you can proceed with the following steps.

Start by segregating all other people and pets from the bat. Lock up your dogs and cats inside the house and tell your children to stay inside with them.

Next, put all of your protective gear on and slowly approached about holding your shoebox and lid. Slowly place the box on top of the bat and then using your stationary card, gently slide the bat inside the box.

Place a soft cloth inside of the box in the corner for the bat to feel safe and comfortable. Take the box with the bat to a faraway, safe habitat, such as a woodland area near a body of water.

Place the box on top of something high and leave the bat there. Eventually it should crawl out or take off. If it is sick, nature will simply take its course and the bat will become one with the ecosystem once again.

Or You Can Opt for Professional Bat Removal

Call Virginia Bat Pros at 804-729-9097 for safe and humane bat removal and control assistance in Old Dominion. We serve all of Virginia and its surrounding areas. We offer 24 hour bat removal, as well as, numerous residential and commercial bat exclusion services, such as bat cleanup and restorations for bat damages. We even provide insurance work! Contact us today for a free estimate.

How Did Bats Get in the Attic?

Posted on November 22, 2019 by virginia

Have you recently discovered a roosting colony of bats in your attic? If so, there are many steps you must take to have the bats removed safely, and then reverse all of the mess and damages. But first, you might be asking yourself how bats got into your house in the first place? Continue reading to learn the possible entry points of your home that bats could have used to gain access to your attic, and what you need to do to get the process of bat removal started as soon as possible.

Bats in the Attic? Call 804-729-9097 Now!

Bats are Very Small

The species of bats native to Virginia are very small. In fact, they are so small, they can fit through an opening as tiny as 3/8ths of an inch! That is basically the thickness of a nickel. Their small stature aids them in finding access to our homes. Anything from missing roof shingles to crumbling mortar can give bats a perfectly good entrance into the interior spaces of your house.

Common Bat Entry Points:

✦ Crumbling Mortar or Wall Plaster
✦ Missing or Loose Roof Shingles
✦ Torn Window Screens
✦ Cracks or Holes in Siding
✦ Rotted Window Seals
✦ Broken Door Frames
✦ Missing or Cracked Soffits
✦ Chimneys
✦ Attic and Roof Vents
✦ Broken Gutters or Downspouts

If your home has any vulnerable spots such as the ones listed above, it could be the entrance bats used to get inside your attic. Fortunately, all of these vulnerabilities can be resolved with proper bat exclusion services. A bat removal and control company will implement technological methods and strategies to seal up all openings and defects of your home’s exterior to prevent further animal intrusion. They can also use various other strategies, such as environmental modifications and biological applications, to add to your home’s security against nuisance wildlife.

Attic Damages Caused by Bats

Bats leave behind a large mess of bat droppings, urine saturation, property damages, and even bat bugs. There are many common damages bats are known to cause; and the larger the colony, the more mess you will be faced with following extraction. Not only are damages something to worry about, bats and bat droppings can present several serious health risks to both humans and pets. This makes cleanup and repair just as vital as the process of bat removal. A licensed and insured Indianapolis bat control company can provide the proper decontamination, sterilization, deodorization, and restoration your attic needs to recover from a bat infestation.

Safe and Humane Bat Removal in Virginia

FAQS About Endangered Bats

Posted on November 11, 2019 by virginia

Bats are incredible mammals. Not only are they the only mammalian species capable of true, authentic flight, they play a vital role in our surrounding Eco-systems. And although bats have a stigma to them, and a poor reputation for being a nuisance to home and building owners, they are protected under state and federal law. This is especially true for endangered bat species. Sadly, species all across the globe are still becoming endangered and close to extinction. We have to work harder as a society to support animal protection and initiatives in order to keep our beloved animal kingdom sustainable and strong.

Continue reading to review some common questions about endangered bats, including which species are endangered, why some bats are becoming extinct, and much more.

How Many Bats are Endangered?

Endangered bats are also referred to as “threatened” species. There are multiple levels of endangerment. Bat species may fall under “Critically-Endangered” or “Endangered” depending on the severity of threat. According to the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) Red List of Threatened Species, there are 26 critically endangered species, 51 endangered species, and 954 additional species that are considered vulnerable to endangerment. However, these numbers are always changing and difficult to keep up with.

Is There a Difference Between Endangered and Extinct?

Extinct species have all died out and are no longer in existence anywhere on the planet. The term extinct is though to come from the Latin term, extinctus, which translates to the modern, extinguish. Endangered species face an imminent risk of extinction. Some examples of extinct animals include the Dodo, Great Auk, Steller’s Sea Cow, and the Tasmanian Tiger.

Why Do Bats Become Extinct?

There are several reasons that have contributed to the demise of certain bat species. Such factors include land over-development, diseases like White Nose Syndrome, and habitat destruction. In fact, the biggest contributing factors are loss of habitat, like caves, forests, and nesting areas. When bats lose their homes, they search for new homes, like our attics and crawl spaces! It is not their fault, which is why bats should never be regarded as a bad animal. They are innocent creatures that have suffered substantial habitat loss.

Which Bats are Endangered in the United States?

According to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, there are 13 endangered bat species in the United States. Under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, there are 5 species and sub-species that are identified as Endangered. They are as follows:

Bonneted Bat – Eumops floridanus
Gray Bat – Myotis grisescens
Hoary Bat – Lasiurus cinereus semotus
Indiana Bat – Myotis sodalis
Lesser Long-Nosed Bat – Leptonycteris curasoae yerbabuenae
Little Mariana Fruit Bat – Pteropus tokudae
Mariana Flying Fox – Pteropus mariannus mariannus
Mexican Long-Nosed Bat – Leptonycteris nivalis
Northern Long-Eared Bat – Myotis septentrionalis
Ozark Big-Eared Bat – Corynorhinus townsendii ingens
Pacific Sheath-Tailed Bat – Emballonura semicaudata rotensis
Samoan Pacific Sheath-Tailed Bat – Emballonura semicaudata semicaudata

And Sadly………
The Virginia Big-Eared Bat
(Corynorhinus Townsendii Virginianus)

Got Nuisance Bat Problems in Virginia?

Contact Virginia Bat Pros at 804-729-9097 for safe and humane bat removal and control at a fair price. Regardless of the size or scope of your bat abatement and cleanup needs, we have the experience and resources necessary to remedy your bat problem in no time at all. Our professionals are focused on safe and effective results, but more importantly, our client’s complete satisfaction. Contact us anytime for free estimates, advice, and assistance.