How to Detect a Bat Infestation in Your House

Posted on September 20, 2022 by virginia

If you notice any signs of bats in the house, be sure to contact a licensed Richmond bat removal and control company as soon as possible. Not sure how to detect bats in the attic or bats in the walls? Continue reading to learn the common signs of a bat infestation.

Get Rid of Bats in House Richmond VA 804-729-9097

Guide to Locating Bats in the House

There are many problems associated with having bats in the house. Not only do bats carry infectious diseases that can potentially be transmitted to humans and pets, but their droppings also pose several health risks, including a serious upper respiratory disease known as Histoplasmosis.

If you have bats in the house, you will need them extracted from your home, safely and humanely. Once extracted, they will be relocated to a faraway habitat where they can live out their significant lives in peace. As for your home, the job does not stop with bat removal. After bats are extracted, you will need further remediation to eliminate the mess, destruction, and health risks left behind.

If you suspect that you might have a bat infestation on your hands, there are some things you need to know right away. First, bats are not solitary mammals. They live in large colonies; so, where there’s one or two bats, there are likely many more. And since bats are nocturnal, they sleep quietly for most of the day. This means that they can go undetected by homeowners for a long time. The longer bats roost in your house, the more damage they cause, which ends up costing you money, time, and frustration that could have been avoided with proper nuisance wildlife prevention.

Fortunately, most Virginia bat removal companies also provide full-service decontamination and restoration work for bat damages. This includes disinfecting, sanitizing, and fumigating the area to eliminate waste and pests like bat mites and lice. It also includes replacing or renovating damaged areas like attic insulation, drywall, floorboards, siding, roof shingles, and more. Lastly, you will need your trusted Richmond bat removal and control company to implement the proper measures of wildlife proofing and prevention to stop future bat infestations.

Here are the Common Signs of Bats in the House:

Bats flying around your property at dusk and dawn.

Chirping, scratching, or screeching sounds in the walls or ceilings.

Inexplicable stains on walls and ceilings.

Foul odors lingering in the living quarters of the home.

Flutter noises in the attic or walls.

Bat droppings around doors and windowsills.

Greasy spots or stains on siding, doors, walls, or roofs.

Ready to schedule a professional a bat infestation inspection? Contact Virginia Bat Pros at 804-729-9097 for licensed and insured Virginia bat removal and control you can afford. We use safe and humane methods to deliver effective professional bat control for residential and commercial properties throughout Virginia.

A Homeowner’s Guide to Installing Bat Houses

Posted on July 14, 2021 by virginia

Bats are very important to us, even if they can also be a nuisance at times. Not only do bats serve an ecological role in our surrounding environment, but they also contribute to the promise of our local economies, and more. There are many ways you can support local bat populations, without ever putting yourself or your property at risk. First, you can be sure to never harm, trap, or kill wild bats. Furthermore, you can install bat houses to give bats a place to rest their tired wings during the day!

Constructing, installing, and maintaining bat houses is a serious hobby since you do not want to hurt bats or put them in a hazardous situation. Also, many bats are protected by the state, or even federally, making it inhumane and illegal to put them in harms’ way. For this reason, you need to be sure you use the proper methods if you want bat houses on your property.

Continue reading to learn what you need to know before getting started on your bat house initiative!

Buying or Building Bat Houses

First, you need a bat house. You can choose to build your own, or you can simply purchase a pre-constructed bat house online or at your local home improvement store. If you choose to craft your own bat house, it is critical that you know how to operate and apply the necessary tool and materials for the project and follow all state laws and best practices for building bat houses. If you decide to build your own, here are some free bat house plans we recommend.

Bat House Installation Tips

Bat houses must be installed in certain areas, and in certain ways, to keep everyone safe, including the bats themselves. Usually, it is recommended to install bat houses on the edge of a property, away from the home, but close to a body of water or small group of trees. When it comes time to mount them, designate a wooden pole or pivot pole. Do not mount bat houses on trees because they will not get enough light, which creates interior warmth. Furthermore, mounting them on trees will make it more difficult for bats to enter and take flight, and makes them more vulnerable to predators.

How to Install a Bat House

Mount your bat house in an area that gets 6 to 8 hours of sun light. This means it should face South or East.

Install your bat house 12 to 20 feet off the ground or above the highest vegetation beneath it.

Keep bat houses at least 20 to 30 feet away from tree branches and other obstructions that can interfere with their flight.

Mount your bat house near a major water source, such as a year-round stream, creek, pond, river, or lake.

Are you having problems with nuisance bats around your house? Contact Virginia Bat Pros at 804-729-9097 for comprehensive bat removal and control services in Richmond and all surrounding Virginia areas. We serve all of Virginia, including Richmond, Petersburg, Short Pump, Lynchburg, Charlottesville, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Newport News, Virginia Beach, and all of their surrounding districts.

You Might Also Read:

The Ecological Importance of Bats
How to Properly Maintain Bat Houses
The Top Three Signs that You Have Bats in the House

Virginia Bat Removal and Control 804-729-9097

How to Tell if You Have a Bat Roost in Your House

Posted on March 19, 2021 by virginia

Bats are mammals that fly, and they use their gift of flight to assist in their search for better shelter from predators and inclement weather conditions. Although bats are quite beneficial to our Eco-system, the same cannot be said for their influences on our homes, barns, sheds, structures, and more. That’s right; bats are highly destructive, especially if they choose to roost in your attic or wall voids.

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The Damages Bats Will Cause

Once bats find shelter in your property, their natural behaviors of feeding, breeding, nesting, and other activity affects the value and construction of the property. Their droppings and urine can soil insulation in attics and crawl spaces. It can also seep into ceilings and walls, creating foul and unexplained odors. Sheet rock, ceilings, dry wall, insulation, roof shingles, siding, and more can all be damaged by bat infestations and nesting.

Why Time is Your Enemy When You Have a Bat Infestation

For these reasons and more, if you suspect you may have a colony of roosting bats living inside your property or some other structure on your property, such as a barn, shed, or pool house, it is important to act fast. The longer bats dwell within these spaces, the more damage will accumulate over time. Once there is even the slightest suspicion that you may have a case of bats nesting in or around your property, something must be done.

Top Signs of Roosting Bats

Here are some clues to help decipher whether or not you have bats living within or around your building. Be sure to never attempt to trap a bat on your own because it can be dangerous and risk more damages to your building. Read the telltale signs below, and if any clue describes your situation, then you could definitely have bats on your property and will need to contact a professional bat control company for assistance.

► Mysterious Stains on Walls and Ceilings: If bats are in the attic areas of a building, their droppings and urine have nowhere else to go but down. Down the ceilings and walls it flows, attracting insects and others pests, resulting in more of an infestation problem. This situation causes discolored stains and foul odors which is a common sign of bat invasion.

► Bat Guano: If anyone spots or smells bat droppings, you have bats near your building. Bat guano also has a very distinct odor which easily sets it apart and distinguishes it from other animal droppings. Bat guano is often found near bat entrances and is another sure sign that there are bats living on your property.

► Flying Bats: If anyone sees even one bat flying around your property or building, it could mean that they are lost from the colony and searching for them. The colony could be inside the building and the bat is unable to find the entrance again, or it could mean that the colony is close enough to your property that stray bats on wandering close by.

► Scratching and Squeaking Noises: If noises that sound like squeaks and scratching are heard more than a few times inside walls and other areas of the building, this could mean bats. By taking a closer look, you can figure out if bats have found their way inside the walls leading to the attic and crawl spaces, or if you just have mice. Both are problems.

Are you now sure that you have bats in the attic, or a bat in the house? Contact Virginia Bat Pros at 804-729-9097 for prompt and professional bat removal and control services at the right price. We serve all of Virginia, including Roanoke, Midlothian, Fredericksburg, Glen Allen, and more.

You Might Also Like:

A List of Household Spices to Keep Bats Away
4 Reasons Why You Should Never Ignore a Nuisance Bat Problem
3 Transmissible Bat Diseases That Can Affect People and Pets

Top 3 Signs That Suggest You Have Bats in Your House

Posted on September 17, 2020 by virginia

You should never settle for living with bats in the house. Bats are highly destructive, and can also pose a wide range of health and safety risks. For these reasons and more, it is vital to act fast and contact a trusted Virginia bat removal company if you suspect bats are living with you. Continue reading to learn the top three signs that suggest you might have bats in the house.

Places Bat Tend to Hide in a House

The first thing you need to know before looking for signs of bats in the house is where they are likely to roost. “Roost” is a term to describe the place where bats settle or gather for rest or sleep. Typically, attics are the most common place to find a bat infestation; however, other common areas include sheds, garages, wall voids, underneath roof shingles, inside chimney flashings, and more. The main problem with a bat infestation is that bats are not solitary mammals; they congregate and live in colonies, which often times, are quite large. As soon as you see the signs of bat activity, it is crucial to take immediate action by calling a licensed bat abatement company for professional and safe assistance.

Here is What to Look For:

❶ Real Bats

The most common sign of bats in the house is the most obvious sign: plainly seeing bats with your own eyes. If you see bats flying around your house at dusk hours or later in the evening, you can safely assume that your home could be a potential target for bat damages. Keep an eye out on where the bats are flying to and from, and take notice of them perching on areas of your home, like door frames and gutters. These are common places to see bats hanging out while on the hunt for insects. Taking these observations can also help point your licensed bat removal specialist in the right direction to locate their entry and exit points in your house.

❷ Bat Droppings (Guano)

The second most common and apparent sign of localized bat activity around your house is bat guano. Bat guano is bat droppings, namely, their feces. However, the indications that appear as a result of bat guano can also be attributed to their urine. If you see piles of bat guano around window ledges, door frames, attic areas, or anywhere else in or around your home, it is a sure indication that bats are living with you. Although often confused with mouse droppings, you can tell guano apart because it will contain tiny pieces of undigested insect parts, and it is softer and larger. You may not see the actual bat guano, but there are signs that will indicate it may be present, such as yellow or black stained walls and ceilings, musty odors, and pest infestations.

❸ Entry/Exit Holes or Crevices

The third most common sign that bats are in your house are visible entry and exit points. Do not worry if you cannot locate these yourself. Professional bat removal and control specialists retain the proper training, experience, and technologies to accurately locate and identify bat entry and exit points. Trust them for a comprehensive property inspection to confirm where bats are entering your house. They will seal these openings up so that bats can no longer re-enter once they leave to hunt insects for the night.

A Trusted Virginia Bat Removal Company That Gets Rid of Bats in the House

Call Virginia Bat Pros at 804-729-9097 for safe and humane Virginian 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 to Use One-Way Screening to Get Rid of Bats

Posted on January 10, 2020 by virginia

Sometimes, bats like to use your stuff as their own, namely for a place to live. This time of year, it is common for bats to roost inside jungle gyms, play sets, tree houses, bird houses, siding, soffits, roofing, attics, and more. If you are noticing bats flying in and out of a certain area of your property night after night, there is a simple and humane technique that might keep them out for good. It involves using one-way screening, which is inexpensive and easy to come by. Continue reading to learn where to get it, how to use it, and what to do if the bats still stick around.

One-Way Mesh Screening

One-way screening is simply metal mesh material that is highly pliable. It is available in rolls or sheets at most home improvement stores. You can expect to pay between $4 and $11 for your materials, depending on how much you need and the retailor you choose. A couple great features of one-way screening is its light weight and flexibility, both of which makes it easy to handle and apply. Furthermore, it comes in bulk quantities, allowing you to custom cut the size you need to cover the space the bats are entering though.

How to Use One-Way Screening

One-way screening will allow bats to exit the area they continue to occupy each night, but it will not allow them to re-enter. So, the key is to install your mesh screening while bats are inside. This way, when they wake for the evening to hunt, they will squeeze through and leave, but they will not be able to squeeze back through the other way.

You see, all you have to do is cut a piece of your wire mesh screen to size. You need just enough material to cover the bottom and top of the entry point, including the sides. When you install the screening, you will need to leave a “lip” of screen handing off of the bottom. This is where the bats will squeeze through to get out, but they won’t be able to get back in this way.

Add Some Bat Houses

After you have excluded the bats with your one-way screening technique, it is encouraged to hang a bat house nearby to continue supporting the local bat populations. Furthermore, this will divert their focus on roosting in the bat house, rather than you own house! See our blog, “Tips for Adding Bat Houses to Your Property” to learn what you need to know about bat house installation and management.

How to Follow Up

Once you divert the bats away from their hang-out, it is important that you follow up by having your home inspected for bats. If you have one bat in or around your house, you likely have more. This is especially true when bats are found inside a home or building. To protect your home from future bat infestations, contact a local Virginia bat removal and control company for bat-proofing and abatement service.

Where to Get Safe, Non-Lethal Bat Control Service

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 with 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 at 804-729-9097 to request a free estimate, anytime.

The Most Common Signs of Bats in the Attic

Posted on September 12, 2019 by virginia

Here in Virginia, there are several species of bat native to our state; as much as 15, in fact. Of these various species, some are known to live in closer range to urban and metropolitan areas, such as the big brown bat and the little brown bat. As a result, these bat species are often found roosting in residential attics, and therefore, categorized as nuisance pests. Although our local bat populations serve a vital ecological purpose that provides our societies with both environmental and economic benefits, it is not a good situation to have them living inside or around your home.

If you suspect that you might have a bat infestation, continue reading to learn which signs to look for that might prove your suspicions to be true, as well as, how to get rid of bats in the attic.

Bats in the Attic

By understanding which signs point to bat activity, you can better stay on top of home protection and maintenance. As soon as you see any signs that suggest you have bats around the house, or worse, inside, it is important to act fast and resolve the problem before it can turn into a large, costly nightmare.

You see, bats create big messes with their droppings and urine, destroying attic insulation and floorboards, which can lead to ceiling stains and indoor odors. Furthermore, rotted bat droppings (guano) can develop harmful fungal spores that can travel through air ducts and impact the health of both people and pets inside a home.

Here are the most common signs that you have bats in the attic:

☑ Ceiling and Wall Stains
☑ Lingering Odors in Certain Rooms
☑ Strange Noises or Fluttering Sounds in Walls
☑ Dark Greasy Stains Around Attic Windows and Vents
☑ Bat Droppings on Roof or Window Ledges
☑ Seeing Bats Fly Around at Dusk and Dawn Near Your House

Special Note: If you see a bat or two hanging from the eaves of your roof or porch, you might not have to worry; this is common bat behavior at dusk. They are simply resting in between hunting sessions. However, if you see any of the signs listed above, there could be reason for concern. Contact a local and licensed bat removal and control company for humane bat extraction and exclusion services.

Safe and Humane Bat Control Service in Virginia

Call Virginia Bat Pros at 804-729-9097 when you need prompt and professional Virginia bat removal and control you can afford. We use safe and humane methods to deliver effective 24 hour bat control for residential and commercial properties throughout Virginia. We serve all of Virginia, including Richmond, Petersburg, Short Pump, Lynchburg, Charlottesville, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Newport News, Virginia Beach, and all of their surrounding areas.

How to Remove a Flying Bat in the House

Posted on August 16, 2019 by virginia

Bats are quite sneaky and skilled when it comes to finding ways inside our homes. Most bats in the Virginia areas can squeeze through an opening as small as 3/8ths of an inch! Of course, sometimes they simply fly in through an open window or door. Regardless of how a bat got inside your house, you have one flying around now, which means that you must deal with the situation immediately.

Continue reading to learn a step by step guide on how to safely remove a fluttering, flying bat from inside your home.

Get Rid of a Bat in the House

The most important thing you need to know about removing a bat in the house is that, under no circumstances, should you ever attempt to touch, trap, harm, or kill a bat. Not only are bats protected under state and federal law, they are also common carriers of infectious diseases. Furthermore, bats are highly beneficial to our local ecosystems and economies, which means they should be protected and preserved at all costs.

So, in order to get rid of a bat flying around your home, use these steps:

The first step to removing a bat in the house is to protect your home’s occupants, including any exposed pets, such as dogs, cats, birds, and other pets that are not enclosed in cages. Do this by separating people and pets from the area where the bat is occupying.

Next, isolate the bat by closing all other windows and doors inside the home. Leave one window or door wide open in the vicinity of the bat. This will encourage the bat to fly out on its own. If the bat lands and refuses to move, or fails to fly out on its own, you can use the broom-stick strategy.

Grab a broom, or something else that is lightweight and long, and gently tap the wall or swoop the airspace next to the. Be very careful to not be too aggressive, or to touch the bat. Continue to gently tap or swish near the bat to encourage it to move toward the exit.

If the bat still refuses to move, or continues to fly around, your next step is to contact an emergency bat removal service. These certified professionals should respond within the hour and are fully equipped to safely extract the bat and relocate it to a safe and faraway habitat.

Need Emergency Bat Removal in Virginia?