Rather than being dangerous animals, the bat species that are found in Warminster are beneficial. This is because they eat enormous volumes of insects throughout the spring, summer and fall. Accordingly, having bats around makes it easier for people to enjoy the outdoors and also makes it easier to grow a successful garden.
In general, it is unwise for people and bats to be in close proximity. When bats roost in caves or trees, they can perform useful pest control services while not exposing people to sickness. However, bats do roost within or on man-made structures. This is bad news both for the building and the people who occupy it.
Bat infestations are responsible for considerable damage. Moreover, bats and their waste products can make people sick. This means that it is critical for people to take action as soon as they suspect that bats have invaded.
Nonetheless, dealing with bat infestations can be less straightforward than controlling other pests. Unlike other pests, bats are helpful species, and many of their populations are threatened. Various government entities have taken steps to protect bat numbers across the U.S. These laws and regulations dictate how bat infestations may be handled.
Killing bats generally is against the law, so pest management professionals have devised alternative methods for dealing with infestations. Typically, these methods involve the use of bat exclusion equipment that does not hurt bats but does prevent them from returning to roosts that are located in man-made structures.
Pest control technicians provide related services such as cleaning up bat waste products and repairing damage that was caused by the infestation.
WHAT DO BATS LOOK LIKE?
Little brown bats are a common species in the area. Their wingspans may be as broad as eleven inches, but full-grown specimens have bodies that are only three to five inches long. Covered in dark, glossy fur, the little brown bat also has black or dark brown wing membranes. Short ears and tiny, extremely sharp teeth are other characteristics.
Big brown bats are contrasted with little brown bats thanks to their body length, which normally is at least five inches. They have broader noses and fleshier lips than their cousins, but their fur is a similar color.
Northern long-eared bats are minuscule at body lengths of about three inches, though their wingspans may stretch to ten inches. Their fur color is similar to that of other bats in the region, but this species has notably oversized ears.
WHAT DO BATS EAT?
Gardeners and others who enjoy outdoor recreation appreciate the presence of bats in Warminster. This is because the animals consume incredible amounts of insects, the vast majority of which are considered troublesome pests. Mosquitoes, gnats, flies, wasps, lacewings and moths all are among the favorite foods of local bat species. Many of the insects that bats like to eat have aquatic or semi-aquatic habitats. This means that properties that have water leaks or water features may be more prone to large populations of bats.
WHERE DO BATS LIVE?
Most of the bat species that are found locally have similar requirements for roosting habitat. In the winter, they hibernate because food supplies are scarce. Caves and abandoned mines tend to be ideal places for this season because their temperatures remain constant and they admit little wind.
Roosts tend to be more varied during the rest of the year, though the bats still may make use of caves and mines as long as plenty of food can be found in the area. Some of the bat species utilize more than one roost at a time when they are active. Daytime and nighttime roosts are common, and either of these could be located within a man-made structure. More appropriate roosting spots include trees and piles of rocks or wood. However, bats are drawn to roosting in buildings because of their protected nature.
Given the small size of the local bats, it is not difficult for them to get indoors. Cracks and gaps that look impossibly small to people seem like wide-open doors to bats. Common indoor roosting places include attics, chimneys, fireplaces and wall voids.
DAMAGE CAUSED BY BATS
Caves and mines are acceptable roosts for bats because damage to these places does not need to be repaired. Commercial and residential structures that become infested with bats will need extensive cleaning and repair after the bats have been excluded from the building.
Damage to structures occurs in a number of ways during a bat infestation in Warminster. The entrances that the bats use to get in and out of the building will become increasingly damaged and stained with prolonged use, but the most severe damage occurs inside the roosting area.
This is where the majority of bat waste products will be deposited. Both the urine and the feces have extraordinarily high concentrations of uric acid. This makes them caustic and destructive, capable of eating through wood, masonry and many of the other materials that are ordinarily found in attics and other indoor spaces.
The waste products will continue to cause damage for as long as they are allowed to remain. Consequently, pest management professionals will work to remove all traces of these contaminants once the animals have been excluded from the building.
ARE BATS AGGRESSIVE?
Intent on foraging for food, bats have no interest in attacking people. They try to keep their distance, but they may bite or scratch during accidental encounters. Such wounds are brought about more by fear than aggression.
DO BATS CARRY DISEASE?
When people and bats do have physical encounters or when they share indoor spaces, it is very easy for people to get sick. Illnesses may be passed through physical contact, bites, scratches or inhaling aerosolized bat waste products.
Rabies is a frequent fear that is associated with bats. Anyone who had an up-close confrontation with a bat will need medical testing to determine if they were exposed to rabies. Because bat teeth and claws are so tiny and excessively sharp, it is possible for people to be bitten or scratched without being aware of it.
Histoplasmosis, a serious disease of the lungs, is a more common illness that is associated with bat infestations. It is spread through exposure to bat waste products, which is just one more reason why it is essential to thoroughly clean up any infested rooms.
HOW TO DETECT BATS
Signs of a bat infestation include:
• Cracks and other openings in the building's exterior are stained • Windows may show whitish stains from bat waste • People detect strange odors indoors • People may hear sounds like scratching or squeaking behind walls
HOW TO PREVENT BATS
HOW TO PREVENT BATS
To help prevent bat issues the following steps should be taken:
• Schedule regular appointments with a pest control company • Block possible access points before they are discovered • Place bat boxes in the landscaping • Fix issues with water leaks and standing water
HOW TO TREAT FOR BATS
Bat control can be complicated and potentially dangerous involving many procedures that are governed by state law. A licensed pest management professional should always be consulted to ensure safe and proper bat removal, decontamination, and prevention.
