Bat infestations are not merely an annoyance, they can also be dangerous…
Dangers Of Bat Infestations
While many people think that the most prevalent danger of a bat infestation is a bite, which is indeed very serious, there are a couple other more common dangers.
As bats find their way into your home, they usually find their new habitat in basements, wall voids or attics. While they inhabit these areas, they produce a large amount of feces, called guano, which builds up throughout the time they live in this area. As the guano continues to build up, the dangers for the home’s residents also increases.
Common issues associated with accumulations of bat guano include damage to your home or business’ structure along with various potential health risks. One of the most common health risks associated with exposure to the bat droppings is a respiratory disease called Histoplasmosis which is caused by the inhalation of H. capsulatum spores which grow on bat guano.
Other infectious agents and health risks would include Cryptococcus neoformans and Chlamydia psittaci fungi which can be found in guano accumulations and also lead to infection if inhaled. For more information, visit our disinfection page.
Along with these health risks, bat guano can also cause structural damage due to its corrosive nature. If left unaddressed, guano will cause rotting of insulation, sheetrock, wood and many other materials which make up your attic area. In addition to guano breaking down structural components of your attic, the smell can also stain its surroundings and enter into your home living area, presenting a health risk.
Getting Rid Of Bats In Your Home
The first step in addressing these risks is to get rid of bats by contacting a professional bat removal company for an inspection. These companies operate based on their many years of gathering knowledge along with performing specific training in order to remove bats and guano in the safest manner possible.
A thorough inspection of the attic, home exterior, roofline, and any other affected areas will be conducted to locate all active and potential future entry points on the structure. A technician will identify if a colony is present and what safety concerns there may be. If a bat has been reported in the living area, it will be collected and submitted for rabies testing. A remediation plan will be proposed to address all concerns noted during the inspection.
Bat Remediation Service
A standard bat remediation program begins by performing the bat eviction, exclusion and repair work. To evict the bats, the bat professionals install one-way exit valves at all active bat entry locations. The one-way valves allow the bats to exit the structure at those preferred locations, but not re-enter. All other secondary or potential entry points must be sealed during the installation of the one-way exit valves. This process is called exclusion.
The exclusion of secondary and potential entry points is vital because the resident bats evicted from the one-way valves are acclimated to that site and will be actively seeking another way in. They can sense the drafts coming from these areas, and follow them back in. Should other access points remain open, the eviction process would not be successful. The one-way valves are left in place for a period of time to allow all bats to exit, then removed and those areas secured as the final step of the eviction and exclusion portion of the process.
Bat Guano Cleaning & Disinfection
The final step in the remediation plan is sanitation and disinfection of all accessible materials contaminated by the bats. It is important to fully address any health and safety dangers remaining after the colony has been evicted. Severe bat infestations with large accumulations of droppings and urine may require a full cleanout, disinfection and sanitation of the affected space.
While performing bat clean up services and attic disinfection, it’s important for bat disinfection professionals to equip themselves with full-body Tyvek suits and full-face respirators. As they enter the affected area, the disinfection experts will remove all affected insulation and guano with an industrial vacuum system. This system is operated from the exterior of the property and is completed by running the vacuum hose out of the existing roof vent(s) or at another attic penetration.
Negative pressure via an air scrubber with HEPA filtration would be deployed in the attic area at the time of cleanout and any attic access areas sealed off to reduce the risk of contaminants entering the living space. As the insulation, contaminants and guano are removed, the waste will be bagged and disposed of in an on-site dumpster for removal.
Once all contaminated materials in the affected area have been removed, the remaining accessible soiled areas in the attic would then be cleaned and decontaminated in order to refresh your attic area to its prior condition. The attic will then be ready for the installation of new attic insulation. This service will need to be contracted and completed with the help of a licensed insulation company.
Get Rid Of Bat Problems Right Away
While having a bat infestation may be a stressful situation, it’s best to address the problem sooner rather than later. The longer you wait to call a professional bat removal company to address the issue, the more damage you could experience, along with a greater chance of being exposed to harmful toxins in the air.
Settle your bat infestation today and call your local bat removal and exclusion professionals!
