Have you heard fluttering or squeaking in your attic? It could be bats. These dark and mysterious animals are not uncommon in Cape Cod. Bats will seek refuge in your home with any chance they are given. They are capable of entering through the smallest size holes and can cause serious damage or health risks.
So, why do bats love your home?
It is not uncommon to hear about bats living in a Cape Cod home. There are several reasons these mammals choose to make their nests in your home or attic.
1. Comfort
Bats look for warm and dry places to roost. A wall or attic’s warm insulation offers the perfect blanket during colder months. A roof over their heads keeps them dry and out of the rain during warmer months. With all these comforts easily accessible, bats may choose to wander into your living space during spring, summer, fall or winter.
2. Space for the whole family
Your home can seem like the perfect place to raise a family to a mother bat. A mother bat will give birth to one pup each year, however sometimes twins are born, and a few rare species may give birth to more than one a year. This can result in large bat colonies forming in your home. It is not uncommon that by the time most people see a bat inside their home, the bats have been roosting there for a few years. A bat colony can have anywhere from 20 to a few hundred bats.
Bats like to be up high, which is why attics and chimneys tend to be the most popular bat nesting areas in homes. However, large bat colonies may outgrow these small spaces and find ways inside wall cavities and get access to lower areas of your home. A bat may lose direction and accidentally end up in weird places, like the first floor of a two-story house or in the basement. If you find bats in these strange places, it could be an indication that the colony infesting your home is quite large.
3. Protection From Predators
Besides homes being dark and temperature-controlled, they are also safe from predators. Bats are able to rest in the dark, safe from predators. This is something they can’t always find outside in trees or caves — other common bat living spaces.
4. Food and Water Sources
Bats are attracted to places with suitable and accessible food sources. No, I already know what you’re thinking, they won’t eat the food out of your pantry. But they will eat the mosquitos, moths, beetles, and other insects in or surrounding your house. Since Cape Cod is surrounded by water it creates the perfect breeding ground for bugs and in result the perfect free food station for bats. If bats can easily go in and out of your home to get food or water, then they will come and go whenever they please.
It is important to regularly check your home for cracks or eaves along your home walls, eaves, or chimneys. Bats can carry dangerous diseases and cause expensive and serious damage to your home. The best way to keep bats out of your Cape Cod home is to call the experts at Critter Control of Cape Cod. Our professionals will quickly and humanely remove bats following state regulations, while also repairing any damages or cleaning up any messes left behind. Our professionals can also put preventative measures into place to ensure these repeat visitors don’t come back.
I have bats, how do I get them out?
Leave it to the professionals.
Bat removal can be a dangerous task to take on by yourself. You can put yourself at risk of getting bit and infecting yourself with rabies. You could also injure yourself or the bats. Many of the bats found in Cape Cod are on the threatened or endangered list and are protected when removing them from your property.
It’s best if you leave it to our highly experienced technicians that know the laws of dealing with bat problems. Our technicians are trained specifically for bat removal and are ready to help you, call Critter Control of Cape Cod at 508.690.0076 today!
Excluding bats from your home yourself requires careful planning and implementation, if you choose this option, avoid these common mistakes when excluding bats from your Cape Cod home:
1. Excluding Bats During Maternity Season
All bat species found in Massachusetts are protected by state law and can only be evicted after hibernation in May or between August 1st and October 15th. These times are outside their hibernation and maternity season. If bats are disrupted from their colony during hibernation and maternity season it can cause serious harm or death to them or their offspring.
2. Failing to Identify and Seal All Entry Points
Bats are repeat visitors to spaces they inhabit. It is important that during bat exclusion you accurately assess your property for all possible entry points and seal them correctly. Bats are able to fit through tiny gaps and openings. You don’t want to have to exclude bats twice, so it’s better to do it right the first time.
3. Using Ineffective or Harmful Exclusion Methods
It is important during bat exclusion to prioritize humane and non-lethal removal methods. Harmful techniques such as fumigation, use of pesticides, or trapping violate Massachusetts State regulations and cause significant harm to bats. We suggest using one-way valves or tubes, that allow bats to leave but prevent them from reentering.
4. Failing to Provide Alternative Roosting Options
As you exclude bats from your home it is important that they have an alternative roosting option nearby. This helps maintain the local bat population while ensuring they no longer occupy your home and living space. Some possible alternative roosting options are placing bat houses or boxes in your yard or on nearby trees.
DIY Bat Removal vs. Professional
Finding bats in your home is a serious problem that requires professional removal services. It may be easy to think you can do it yourself, however, the legal and physical risks involved in the process can be complex and dangerous. It is important to know the differences between DIY bat removal and professional removal when deciding what approach to take:
DIY Bat Removal
When deciding if DIY Bat removal is the right process for you there are many factors to weigh including cost, safety, effectiveness, and legal considerations.
Cost
Although DIY methods may seem more cost-effective initially, they can involve much higher additional costs down the line if they aren’t properly done. Improper techniques can cause serious damage to your home, serious risks to you and your family’s health, and even legal issues.
Safety
DIY bat removal can be dangerous for your health if bats are handled incorrectly. Bats can carry diseases like rabies that can be transferred through contact, bites, or exposure to their droppings.
Effectiveness
DIY bat removal techniques vary in their success. Some simple techniques, like using bat repellents or devices, may only provide temporary relief, causing bats to return once the repellent wears off or is removed. Bats are habitual creatures and will continue to return to their roosting locations year after year, if not properly sealed.
Legal Considerations
All bat species found in Southeastern Massachusetts are protected by the law. It is illegal to disturb, harm, or remove bats during specific seasons and without the proper permits. To prevent facing legal consequences, individuals choosing to take on DIY Bat removal must have a complete understanding of all the bat protection laws in the state and all the correct permitting files completed.
Professional Bat Removal
There are major advantages to using professional bat removal services like professionals’ expertise, safety, legal compliance, and the long-term solutions they can provide.
Expertise
Professional wildlife removal experts are trained professionals with years of experience and knowledge in handling bats. They know how to remove bats safely, effectively, and legally from spaces. They are also able to provide solutions to prevent bats from returning and cleanup services.
Safety
Professionals are equipped with the necessary protective gear and protocols to safely remove bats without any health risks.
Legal Compliance
Professional wildlife companies know all legal regulations surrounding bat removal and are often granted special permits specifically for bat removal. Professionals are able to ensure the removal process is conducted legally and ethically.
Long-Term Solutions
Professional wildlife removal companies like Critter Control of Cape Cod focus on providing long-term solutions that cause the root of the bat infestation. This includes looking for and sealing entry points, providing habitat modifications, and educating homeowners on prevention.
Overall, bat removal is a dangerous undertaking and is best left to the professionals. Click here to learn the other dangers associated with DIY wildlife removal.
Leave the hassle of bat exclusion to our experts at Critter Control of Cape Cod. Call for an inspection today!