BATS

Dave Schmidt, CWCP, ACP

ALL OUT Wildlife Control, LLC

The Low Down (or High Up)

• Bats are our only flying mammals. They are not rodents.

• They live in colonies that can number several hundred. All bats in this area feed entirely on night-flying insects. They find prey through echolocation—ultrasonic sounds that humans cannot hear.

• They are generally found roosting under the ridges of cedar shake roofs, inside soffits, behind fascia boards, inside cracks on walls, underneath side flashing, in chimneys and behind gutters.

Little Brown Bat

• One of Missouri’s most common bats

• They look fierce but are very beneficial, eating thousands of insects (including mosquitoes) every night. They will consume one-half their body weight every night.

• They weigh approximately ½ ounce.

• They are the most common bat found in buildings in the St. Louis area.

Bats in jeopardy

• White Nose Syndrome, a fungal disease, is affecting

bats in the Eastern part of the United States. It is steadily

moving west, decimating bat colonies and causing

concern to biologists. It has been found in Missouri but

doesn’t seem to be affecting populations—yet.

Why you don’t want… bats in your

belfry

• Rabies

• Droppings support insect/fungus

populations

• In substantial populations, odor/noises will

be present

• Exterior stains

How do you know a building has

bats?

• The most obvious sign is

guano, or bat droppings.

• Guano can be observed

in an attic or as smears

along the wood or brick

near the entry hole.

• In addition to being

unsightly, these

droppings can contain or

encourage insect

populations and fungus.

What building inspectors can look

for• Rodent and termite inspections are relatively

common, but not necessarily bats.

• Some inspectors do attic inspections, but not all.

• A chimney inspection will not reveal much—bats cannot fly up a chimney.

• Some municipal inspectors will check for any opening on the exterior that could allow anyanimal entry. Typically these must be sealed. However, it is the responsibility of the building owner to do this, and the owner may not know if any animal is still living in the building.

Building Inspectors cont.

• Some inspectors check the attic from the scuttle

hole and look for droppings, nesting material,

holes in sheathing, etc. that would indicate the

presence of any animal. It is important to know

what sign equals what infestation; i.e., bats do

not leave nesting material.

• Some inspectors may use a ladder to inspect the

attic from the roof.

Building inspectors cont.

• Keep in mind that bats can use any entry

hole that is 3/16‖ or smaller. This may

require the aid of binoculars or ladders,

since these holes can be difficult to see

with the naked eye.

• Walking around the attic with a headlamp

will likely reveal droppings if there have

been bats in the attic.

Visible signs building inspectors

can watch for

• Bat urine stains on

soffit

Guano close-up

An extreme build-up of guano

Bat entry

• Bat entry between

siding courses

Bat Entry

• The dark smudges

indicate a well-used

bat entry

Bat entry

DON’T TRY THIS AT HOME

(or anywhere else)

• Fumigation, repellents, traps and poisons

• ALL OUT Wildlife Control, LLC

STRONGLY advises our customers

against these poor methods of bat removal

or control

• They do not address the issue (small entry

holes that bats can use) and cause further

problems

• Human behavior, habitat loss and disease have reduced many bat populations

• Because of their importance to the ecosystem, some bats are federally protected. Others are listed as endangered

• A professional wildlife service will respect this and use the bats’ biology to exclude them from a building

When do bats mate and raise

young?

• Bat breeding season is in late fall, just before

they hibernate. Birthing occurs from early June

through Mid-August.

• ALL OUT will not do bat removal and

exclusion during these weeks. We must allow

the young to develop and be able to fly. This is

the industry standard, so be wary if a service

is offered during the peak summer months.

Many times people will beg us to do the work

during the ―blackout‖ period, but that would

only make a bad situation worse.

What if you find one?

• Don’t panic. Bats are not aggressive and

will avoid you if possible.

• However, be respectful of the potential

hazards, such as a bite to a human or pet.

• If the bat is in your home, try to isolate it in

one room and close the door.

• Put damp towels under the door so it

cannot escape through the cracks.

• Call a wildlife professional!

• Take the bat to the Health Department.

They may want to test it for rabies and/or

White Nose or other diseases.

• Call your WCO to determine if there are

more bats in the building.

This is the form they will likely have

you complete at the Health Dept.

How are bats removed?

• Removing one live bat from a home can sometimes be done with a net and other tools. Keep in mind that bats live in colonies and the one you see may be one of many.

• A professional WCO will install a one-way device that allows bats to leave the building but not return. (Think of a door that locks once you close it)

• This is a humane and safe way to remove bats. They will find another place to live.

• Once they are gone, your WCO will cover the entry holes so bats cannot use the holes to move back in.

What costs can you expect?

• The cost of bat removal and exclusion

depends on a number of factors:

– The number of entry holes

– The style of building and number of stories

– The type of roof

– The equipment and supplies we will need to

use

– Accessibility to all exterior areas; i.e., trees,

steep slopes

• ALL OUT typically does bat removal in two

phases. This is the accepted method of

bat control for wildlife professionals.

• Phase I involves the bat-proofing of most

of the building installation of the one-way

device.

• Once we are sure the bats have left the

building, Phase II is done. This is the

closing and sealing of entry holes.

Some buildings may require a lift

and/or a second technician.

• A bakery in a nearby

historic area had bats

living above its front

door.

What you should expect for your

money

• Custom-made one-way devices on eachbat entry

• Permanent, weather-tight, high-quality materials

• A warranty against bat re-entry at the sites that have been sealed

• The peace of mind of knowing that you did not harm the bats—but they won’t harm you either

Additional options

• We recommend

specially designed

bat houses to our

customers.

• This will allow the

bats to establish a

colony in a safe and

appropriate home.