Bat Exclusion Methods—How to get rid of bats?

Bat Exclusion Methods—How to get rid of bats? Bats are federally protected animals, so to get rid of bats, you should call professionals. Bats are endangered, so getting rid of them safely is of our utmost priority. To start, NO chemicals should ever be used to try and get rid of bats from your home. Chemicals can kill bats, which is illegal! Never try to seal your house up to keep the bats from getting back in—they’re in there all the time, day and night.

If you try to seal up their exits, you will not get rid of the bats. Instead, the bats will begin searching for a new exit. Finally, don’t go and find your trusty tennis racket when you have a bat loose in your home. Start by opening windows and doors to help the bat find its way out.  Keep in mind one of those options will completely get rid of bats; the only way is to call professionals.

Do I Have Bats?

Have you ever heard a scratching sound coming from the walls or ceiling? Was it accompanied by a high pitch screech sound? Perhaps you hear shuffling in the walls during the night? If you hear any of these sounds, there may be a bat colony is living inside. Getting rid of bats is not an overnight job. It takes time to get rid of bats, and it can be a pricey home maintenance project.

If bat proofing-bat removal is a service that you are going to be investing in, do your research and make sure you are choosing the best company. There has been an increase in scam companies that charge dirt cheap prices. They offer those low prices because they provide no warranty, have no experience, and will end up doing the job incorrectly, or they do nothing at all. The only safe way to get rid of bats is to call professionals who will locate and seal entry points and provide an exit for the bats to use to leave the structure that prevents them from re-entering. It sounds complicated, but we will explain it below.

Get Rid of Bats the Right Way

Finding out you have a bat colony living in your home can be quite the whirlwind of a situation. From knowing nothing about bats to googling, “How to get rid of bats?” “Do bats attack humans?” “How to get rid of bats in my house?” Reading page after page of new information, scouring the internet for any information that may calm your mind. It can be overwhelming! Choosing the right bat removal company can be a challenge, as well.

We can give you some tips on how to choose the right company for you. We’re going to simplify the bat exclusion method we use while also talking about other methods that other companies try. When dealing with bat removal, there is the right way to do it, or there is the wrong way. After ten years of removing bats, we think we have perfected how to get rid of bats safely.

Step-by-Step Bat Exclusion Methods—How to get rid of bats

1. Make the Call–Contact a professional bat removal company.
2. Schedule your appointment—Set up a bat exclusion appointment.
3. Arrival of Technician–Greeting/Introduction
4. Exterior Survey–After the technician arrives and introduces him/herself, the technician will begin by surveying the exterior of the home for visible signs of bat entry points.
5. Interior Survey–Following the exterior survey, the technician will also survey the interior attic area. The technicians survey the attic area to confirm there is evidence of a bat colony living inside the structure as well as to see the amount of damage the bats have caused.
6. Attic Restoration Information–As the technician is in the attic, he/she will inspect the extent of the damage the bats have caused. (We do NOT include restoration or cleanup of guano in our bat exclusion service.)
   1. Because the extent of damage from bats can vary significantly from home to home, the technician quotes the attic restoration/clean up as he is completing the interior survey. We cannot quote Attic Restorations over the phone.
7. Sealing the Property—After confirming there is a bat colony living inside the house, the technician proceeds with sealing the house. Sealing a home is tedious and time-consuming work. Since bats can enter through areas as small as a dime, the technician must locate and seal all those areas. A professionally trained technician will identify and seal all primary and secondary bat entry points. Some of the areas a technician will specifically look at are dormers, venting of any kind, rooflines, soffits, siding, chimney, and fascia. Technicians should use 100% Grade A Clear Silicone Caulk, so there are no discrepancies on the exterior of the house. Other companies may use spray foam, which can drastically alter the appearance of the home.
8. Custom Exclusion Devices--The technicians also custom make exclusion devices. Each device is custom made to fit into specific locations that the bats use to exit and enter the home. The custom-made exclusion devices are made of galvanized steel mesh and are much smaller than other devices offered. The larger white cones that you can purchase offline are bulky and do not fit well into the locations that need a device. The one-way exclusion devices are what the bats will use to leave home, and they will not be able to re-enter the house through the device.
9. Removal Process—After the technician has completed sealing the home and installing the exclusion devices, everything is in place for the bats to use. When the bats wake up at night to feed, they will make their way to the exit point. We install an exclusion device in that location, so when the bats crawl out, they can no longer re-enter the house. The exclusion devices are a one-way valve system that allows the bats to leave home, but they are not able to get back inside. The bats safely re-enter the environment and are free to keep contributing to the environment!
10. Warranty—After getting rid of the bats, the bat removal company should guarantee their work with a warranty. If a bat removal company does not have a warranty, save your money and make another call. Companies that do not warranty their work are not confident the job was done correctly. The most common warranties offered are one year, three years, or five years. The most extended warranty currently offered is a 10-year warranty. Always ask how long the company has been in business to make sure they can back up the guarantee.

The Wrong Way to Bat Proof

Now that we’ve talked about the proper bat exclusion methods—how to get rid of bats, let’s talk about the wrong ways. One bat exclusion method that has been attempted is waiting for all the bats to leave at night and sealing shut the areas the bats have flown out of. The reason this method is wrong is because all it does is trap bats inside the house. The primary entry points are now sealed, and the bats that are still inside the structure are stuck inside.

Sealing the bats inside results in the bats searching for a new exit and finding their way into the living quarters! Attempting any natural bat exclusion methods will be ineffective and potentially dangerous. Mothballs (illegal to use on bats), peppermint oil, mint, cinnamon, or dryer sheets will not cause a bat colony to evacuate the house. However, it does make quite a mess! The last bat exclusion method that has been attempted that is a wrong way is a homeowner trying a Do It Yourself bat removal. Bat exclusion is something that should be left for only the trained professionals.