How to get rid of bats in the attic
Bats in the attic and bats flying around the outside of the house is a common call I get and one of the first questions I get is how do I get rid of them. The answer is you get rid of them by installing a one way door. This can be a cone or a sheet of plastic or even a bit of screen. As you will see there are many methods and all of them can work. The following shows the usual method and the second is a much easier method.It is important to note the time of year, as you do not want to hurt the bats. Bats can only produce on average 1 pup (or "baby") if they do reproduce so even though you do not want to share your home with them - and I understand that - you must do it in a way that will ensure their survival.
I actually employ methods like this for most of the critters I handle. Often, bats get into a structure simply because they can. The crack or crevice is already there, waiting for a bat to move in.
Google is such a great resource but because there is some conflicting information out there you may want to do a bit of research before you settle on just how you will do it. The bottom line is seal off all potential re-entry points and then where the bats are - you setup this "one way door" or hang the netting as per images you may find.
This image is pretty good
You will notice that in the second image the bat removal device is very simple with no soft fabric or sock like appendage - it is just a tube. Bats exit just fine and cannot get back in.
While this setup is very simple and it may look easy - I highly recommend a professional take a look at your situation. Getting this part wrong could pose a serious health threat or even devalue your home! I am not trying to scare anyone but the facts are the facts and it is important to get this right.
I can point you in several directions. Number one, is a DIY Bat Removal Handbook, it is for sale on Amazon for like 2.99 but you can get it for free HERE and free bat removal advice is awesome right?
Second bit of advice is to hire a pro - and you can find a professional Bat Removal Expert in the following places.
Top 5 Resources for Bat Removal
- NWCOPRO - This is a nuisance wildlife control software program - but it has a link to professionals that handle wildlife control issues. (may be in development)
- NWCOA - This is the National Wildlife Control Operators Association, it is a non-profit that maintains a list of individuals who are proficient at wildlife control and it even has created a set of Bat Standards that require a basic level of competency.
- Professional Bat Cones can be purchased here, they are very easy to install and work like a charm. This is a secret of the pros- look around you will not see this advice very often! But it is what REALLY works. Bat removal can be simple with good tools - but again experience is a must!
- Finally if you do decide that you want to tackle this yourself - do yourself a favor and call at least one company to come out and look at it. You will be surprised at how important experience is when it comes to bats in the attic.
- Last but not least is a link to my own personal website: Parker Wildlife Control I must say I do a lot of bat removal, I enjoy it and I have taught it to many others.
If you would like me to list your website (provided you do bat removal as a professional business) let me know, or simply comment. Its free, and who knows this may lead to you solving a bat problem for someone else. Also if you know of someone who might want to be listed, or who wants to comment to include their company name and website feel free to share and pass along a link to this post!
