Bats

Bat Removal

Since time immemorial, bats have gotten a reputation as cringe-worthy blood-sucking monsters. But regardless of what may spook us about bats, they are one of the most important species on the planet because of the role they play in the ecosystem.

Some bat species help to control the insect population, while others help with the pollination of several plants and fruits that we love. Little wonder bats are a protected species in the United States. 

But when you have a bat colony in your attic, chimney, or any other part of your building, it’s hard to think about their environmental benefits when all you can see is the destruction they cause. Most notably, bats leave lots of droppings also called guano. 

Bat guano is acidic, and as it accumulates, it can degrade the structure of your home by causing corrosion, stains, and wood decay. What’s more, it contains a fungal spore that can result in histoplasmosis ( a severe lung infection) when inhaled. 

Hence, getting rid of them as soon as possible is a must. But bat removal is a complex job that requires an adequate understanding of bat behavior. That’s why you can never go wrong by working with professionals like A Team Services. We specialize in bat removal in Los Angeles County and Orange County, California. 

Bat Removal Process

As noted earlier, bat removal is a complex job that requires professional knowledge and even patience. But in general, here’s how the process works:

• Investigation

Before you begin the removal process, you must first confirm the presence of bats on your property. Some of the common signs of infestation to look out for include:

1. The presence of small elongated droppings around the perimeter of your home.
2. You hear noises from your wall, attic, or ceiling.
3. You notice the discoloration of your soffit, drywall, or fascia boards.
4. Physical sightings. 

But that’s not all. You also need to answer other important questions: Where are the bats residing in my property/building? What type of bat species am I dealing with? What is their birthing season? 

Knowing the birthing season of the bat species you’re dealing with is very important. Why? Because the last thing you want is to exclude the mothers while their pups remain stuck in your house. If that happens, the pups will die, and you’ll have a bigger problem at hand.

• Inspection

Unlike rodents, bats do not chew their way into buildings. So, if you have bats inside your building, then it must have gotten in through some entry holes. This could be a space in the vent or ridge cap—holes caused by missing boards or bricks or roof tiles. 

Inspection is important because it allows you to figure out exactly how bats are coming in and out. That way, you know what to seal off. 

• Exclusion

Exclusion is the best method for handling a bat infestation problem because it is humane. And since bats are a protected species, bat exclusion helps you avoid legal troubles. 

Now that you’ve figured out the entry holes, it’s time to seal them up, leaving only the main entrance open. You can use winding screening or hardware cloth to seal large holes. Expanding foam or caulk can be used to seal small holes. 

In the main entrance, install an exclusion device, whether netting, funnels, or cones. In general, exclusion devices allow bats to fly out of your home, but it prevents them from flying back in. The best time to install an exclusion device is at night when the bats are out to feed. 

Within three to seven days, all the bats should have left your building. Once you confirm that is the case, you can remove the exclusion device and seal up the main entrance. 

Without expert knowledge, it’s difficult to perform exclusion correctly. But not to worry, A-Team Services can take that burden off your shoulders. 

• Clean Up and Repairs

Depending on the size of the bat colony, bat guano can quickly accumulate and contaminate the infected space. That’s why you need a thorough clean-up, sanitation, and decontamination. Ensure that you put on protective clothing, hand gloves, and a respirator before entering the infected area. 

Scrape off the droppings. And more importantly, disinfect the entire area with an enzyme-based cleaner to kill fungal spores and other pathogens. 

Since bat guano also leads to the deterioration of home structures, you also need to fix all the damages done by the bat colony. This may include replacing the insulation or wood, among many other possibilities. 

A Team Services is Here for You

Bat removal should never be done as a DIY project. This is because of the complexity of the job, as well as the health risk posed by bats and their droppings. But thankfully, A-Team Services can provide effective and affordable bat removal for your Los Angeles or Orange County property. Promptly contact us today.

How to Get Bats Out of The Attic

Although bats are one of the unsung heroes of the environment, they’re definitely not a hero in your attic. With the potential to get you sick, burn through the structures of your house, and make an absolute mess, it’s crucial to get bats out of an attic as soon as they’re in. However, it’s not the easiest thing to do, which is why bats are often left to do what they please. So, here’s how to get bats out of the attic.

Investigate

Of course, the first thing to do is investigate your attic. Unfortunately, even if you know there are bats in your attic, that doesn’t do much to inform you of the situation. If you can, observe bats coming in and out of your attic to see where and how many bats there are as they leave.

This should give you a general concept of how many bats there are and where they fly, although it’ll likely take more to get you help. As bats are nocturnal animals, there should be a chance to investigate further by quietly sneaking into the attic during the middle of the day. Bats should be asleep by then, and you should be able to enter and look around (dressed safely).

Once you’re in your attic, it’s vital to look for signs of entrances and exits, which should be visible in the daylight. While they’re frequently tiny holes, these entrances could also be broken areas, open pipes, or more than the bats could be going to and from. If you need help with this process, call local animal control or a company like A Team Services, who can guide you through everything.

After looking for entrances, get a glance at how many bats there are and the condition of your attic. After all, it’s important to cover everything up and stop them from coming back once they’re gone.

Excluding and Preventing Re-Entry

While it might seem obvious to set up a cage for bats to go into while leaving your attic, that could be unsafe, dangerous, and could land you in legal trouble. 

Bats are protected animals in many areas, meaning that trapping them could be breaking local regulations. That’s why we recommend you instead focus on using your knowledge of entrances and exits in your attic to then plan an exclusion process.

Fortunately, the exclusion isn’t very hard. When the bats are all gone or all asleep, you can sneak into your attic (again, with the right equipment), caulking open holes, entrances and leaving all but one exit covered. This one exit will force the bats to go this way, allowing you to seal off the rest of the attic.

If every bat is gone, and we mean every bat is gone, then you can seal up the entire attic, and both the bats and other animals won’t be able to enter. However, that’s only after ensuring no baby bats or adults are left behind, as they will die not too long after. When this happens, you could face deteriorating conditions, potential disease, and much more.

That’s why you must be confident in this process — if you’re not, then, again, call us at A Team Services, our job is literally to help people like you through this whole thing. At the least, you’ll be able to get help from an experienced person who can guide you through the ways to ensure you have all the entrances to your attic sealed and protected.