Bat Exclusion

A bat infestation is a possibility in an attic, barn, or garage, so long as there is a way for the bats to get in. When it happens, it will require the services of a professional to remove the animals from their roosting site. The problem arises when a home or building owner doesn’t do anything to keep them from returning. The professional may be able to remove them but if a home or building owner doesn’t keep them from getting in again, it will be for nothing.

The Exclusion Process

Observe where how they are getting in and out. A homeowner needs to take the time to figure out the areas of the home or building where the bats are going in and out. It may require a few nights or early mornings of observation to make sure that all points are discovered. This observation is going to let the building owner know where they need to focus their exclusion efforts. Bats are fast flyers so the person making the observations will need to situate themselves in such a way that allows them to see the entire structure without turning their head.

There are certain areas that are going to be the most likely areas where they are getting in and coming out. Areas like corners, loose or damaged ridge caps, damaged screens, loose fascia boards, eaves, or loose siding and shingles are areas that are going to be the most likely areas. An owner will also be able to observe signs of their presence such as guano and grease around the opening where they are getting in.

Installation of One-Way Doors

One-way doors are an important part of the exclusion process. These are plastic screens that are placed over the points of entry and exit that were observed. They are secured over the holes and about 2 feet below them. They are placed there so they are loose enough to let the bats out and tight enough that they are unable to get back in. These screens should be left in place for about a week to ensure that all the bats have made their way out.

Another installation idea is bat houses. These are boxes that can be installed on the property to give the bats a place to roost, so they do not go in the building itself. This allows the owner to support a bat population on their property to combat insects. These boxes can be placed near the areas where they are going in or around the property.

Bat Proofing

Once the owner is sure that the bats have made their way out, all of the access points can be sealed. The proper materials should be used to make sure that they are plugged up in a way that will last and that is of quality so that other pests will not be able to get in either.

One of the things that need to be considered is the timing of this process. Exclusion should not be done between June 1^st and the middle of August because the females may have babies in the roosting areas. If the exclusion process is done during this time, the mothers will be cut off from their pups and they will die. This will lead to having dead animals to deal with and frantic mothers trying to get to their babies.