Your Cape Cod home is most likely your sanctuary, providing you with shelter, comfort, and a sense of security. However, nature sometimes finds its way indoors, with birds and bats being frequent visitors. While they may seem harmless at first, these winged creatures can cause serious damage to your home and be a challenge to remove.
Bats and Birds impose different types of damage on your home based on each species' unique behaviors. Below outlines the different damages bats and birds can each cause to your home.
Damage Birds Can Cause:
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Structural Damages:
Birds often seek shelter in the small nooks and crannies around your home. They can make nests in vents, ducts, eaves, and more. While their nesting activities may seem innocent, they can lead to clogged gutters, downspouts, and ventilation systems. Clogged gutters and downspouts can cause drainage issues on your roof and home resulting in expensive water damage repairs. Clogged ventilation systems can be costly and dangerous if not noticed early. It is important to regularly check your home for bird nesting signs and any damages.
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Aesthetic Damages:
One of the most common damages to homes is the result of bird droppings. Bird droppings can accumulate over time and cause staining and corrosion on roofs, siding, and paintwork, ruining the aesthetics of your home.
Certain bird species, such as woodpeckers, can also cause significant damage to homes through their pecking actions. Woodpeckers will often peck at home sidings, window frames, and eaves, in search of insects or to establish their territories. Their constant pecking can create holes in the exterior of your home, and can even compromise the integrity, resulting in significant structural damage.
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Noise & Disturbance Damages:
While certain sounds of chirping birds can be relaxing and calming, constant or excessive noise can quickly become bothersome. Especially when nesting sites are located close to bedrooms or living areas. In some cases, birds may even peck on windows or attack their reflection, causing distress and damaging glass panes.
The major difference between bat and bird damage to homes is that bats tend to do more damage to the interiors of homes, whereas bird damages are typically on the exterior.
Here are common damages bats can cause:
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Attic Damages:
There are many reasons bats are attracted to your home, but one of the most common places they choose to inhabit is your attic. Bats find your attic ideal because of its perfect living environment. It is dark, usually undisturbed, and easy to access. However, if a bat finds its way into your attic it can cause serious structural damage. Bats will create roosts in your attic or walls. Once they take over these spaces, they will ruin the wood and insulation causing homeowners to have to replace and restore these areas.
Bats are also notorious for leaving behind their droppings, also known as guano. Bat guano can stain walls, ceilings, and insulation. It also can emit a strong odor that is very unpleasant and difficult to remove.
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Health & Physical Damages:
Bats are known carriers of diseases like rabies and histoplasmosis, which can put you, your family, and your pet’s health at risk if contact with them or their droppings are made. It is important to never handle or remove bats yourself because of these serious health risks and to take the correct safety measures of disinfecting and cleaning up after a bat infestation in your home.
Along with all wildlife, birds and bats, have the potential to cause serious damage to your Cape Cod home and should be handled at the first sign of infestation. Removing bats and birds can be a challenging process, it’s best to leave it to the professionals at Critter Control of Cape Cod. Our experts specialize in wildlife removal, pest control cleanup and repairs, attic services, and more!
Don’t wait til it’s too late— call for an inspection today!