What Do Bat Droppings Look Like and How Dangerous are They?

Posted on November 28, 2022 by virginia

There are all sorts of things in this world that we don’t know about, and bat droppings are one of them. Most people have never seen bat droppings and, until now, you probably weren’t even aware that they existed. But believe it or not, bats do indeed produce droppings, and as it turns out, they can be pretty dangerous.

Continue reading to learn what you need to know about bat guano, plus how to get rid of nuisance bats with responsible bat control strategies.

Call 804-729-9097 For Bat Guano Cleanup in Richmond, Virginia.

Bat Droppings are Hazardous Waste

Guano is the droppings of bats or other animals. It is often found in caves or on ledges where the animals roost. Guano is composed of urine, feces, and other organic matter. The appearance of guano can vary depending on the species of bat. It may be light or dark brown, black, or greenish. It is usually moist and has a strong ammonia odor.

To identify guano, look for the distinctive odor of ammonia and signs of staining near a roosting site. Look for small piles of droppings or larger accumulations on cave walls or ledges. If you see bats near these areas, there is a greater chance that guano is present. It is also important to remember to wear protective gear when entering an area with bat droppings, such as a face mask and gloves.

By being able to identify guano, people can take the proper precautions necessary to protect themselves from potential health risks. Guano can be dangerous if it is disturbed. The ammonia in the droppings can cause respiratory problems and skin irritation. It can also contain bacteria and parasites that could spread disease. Therefore, it is important to identify guano before entering an area with bat droppings.

Ecological Importance of Bats

Though guano can be dangerous, it is also a valuable source of fertilizer and other nutrients in certain parts of the world. Bats also play a vital role in pollination and seed dispersal, and they are important predators of insects. In fact, some bats can eat up to 1,000 mosquitoes in a single night! By controlling insect populations, bats help to protect crops and reduce the spread of disease. In addition, bats play an important role in cave ecosystems, serving as a food source for other animals such as snakes and bats. Consequently, bats play a vital role in maintaining global ecosystem health.

Bat Control in Virginia

As you can see, bats are an important part of our ecosystem, and they should be protected. However, when bats start living in close proximity to humans or businesses, it can become a nuisance. Bat guano can damage property and create health hazards, and the noise bats make can be disruptive. Thankfully, there are professional wildlife abatement services that can safely control bat populations using humane strategies.

If you’re experiencing a problem with bats, don’t hesitate to call on the experts for help. Contact Virginia Bat Pros at 804-729-9097 for safe and humane bat removal and control in Richmond, Virginia and its surrounding counties. We serve both residential and commercial clients.

Why You Need a Professional to Get Rid of Bats

Posted on June 16, 2022 by virginia

Nuisance bats can cause quite a disturbance. Not only are they capable of producing a massive amount of damage and destruction to homes and buildings, but they can also pose several health and safety risks to both people and pets. There are hundreds of reasons why bat extraction is reserved for trained professionals only, but the top three reasons involve risk, damage, and the law.

Continue reading to learn more about these top three reasons why bat removal is not something you can do yourself, and where to start when you need to get rid of bats.

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Licensing

The primary reason why it is important to hire a professional to provide wildlife extraction and abatement services has to do with the law. Most states make it illegal to possess, injure or kill a bat. Furthermore, bat habitats are also protected under Federal and State laws. A person must retain specialized state permits and licenses to work with wildlife, including trapping, transferring, and relocating.

It is important to choose certified professionals who adhere to all industry-accepted standards and best practices, as well as operate within all local, state, and federal laws that govern wildlife. They are trained to avoid non-target animals, and never use poisons, repellents, fatal devices, nor environmentally-damaging or toxic products.

Safety and Health

Bats are known carriers of several infectious diseases, viruses, and parasites. All of these contagions are transmissible to both humans and pets and can pose several safety risks. Professional bat abatement specialists retain the proper training, equipment, and resources to work with nuisance bats without harming themselves, the bat, nor your property. They can also identify signs of residual hazardous left over by bats, and suggest or implement solutions for decontamination, which brings us to the 3rd reasons why you should always trust a professional for bat removal.

Cleanup and Restoration

Bat infestations are not easy to clean up after. Not only can leave behind a large amount of structural damage, but they also create an unsanitary mess with their droppings. In fact, bat guano is known to produce mold spores that can cause a harmful respiratory illness in humans. Mold spores become airborne and get inhaled by occupants of the home or building, thus leading to respiratory complications, possibly an illness known as Histoplasmosis.

Dogs and cats are also susceptible. Bat damages render a property structurally unsafe and highly unhygienic, which is why they require professional intervention to replace and repair insulation, floorboards, roofing, shingles, siding, electrical wiring, and more. A licensed Virginia bat removal company generally offers cleanup and restoration service, and might even be able to provide homeowners’ insurance claim work.

Go With a Pro to Get Rid of Bats

For these reasons and more, it is vital to get rid of bats as soon as you are aware they are a problem, and even more important to entrust the job to a licensed professional. Choose a bat removal company in Virginia that has the credentials to prove they are dependable and skilled. Look for licenses, experience, and past work.

Do you think you have a nuisance bat problem in or around your house? Contact Virginia Bat Pros at 804-729-9097 for comprehensive bat removal and control services in Richmond and all surrounding Virginia areas, including Fairfax County, Norfolk, and Manassas. We serve residential and commercial clients.

You Have Bats in the Attic if You Check Yes to Any of These Questions

Posted on March 28, 2022 by virginia

We have been checking yes or no our whole lives it seems, from grade school love letters and SAT questionnaires to county census forms, insurance applications, dating apps, and much more. Perhaps this is due to the fact that a yes-or-no survey platform is proven to work well when it comes to obtaining straightforward answers. When it comes to getting to the bottom of a possible bat infestation, the same type of approach can help you figure it out fast.

Continue reading to review a checklist of tell-tale signs of bats in the attic. If you check yes to even one, contact a licensed bat removal and control company in Virginia right away!

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Checklist of Common Signs of Bats in the Attic

You will need to look for signs of a bat infestation in the attic from the inside, out. This means you will need to perform an outdoor inspection and an indoor one. Start outside, as most signs of intruding bats start there. Then make your way indoors to look for more common signs of bats in the attic or walls.

EXTERIOR CHECKLIST:

Oily Spots and Grease Stains ↔ Y▢ N▢

Do you see oily spots or dark, grease-like stains on your siding? This is a giveaway for intruding bats. Bat fur is a bit oily and dirty, and when they squeeze through openings in the roof or siding, it can leave behind a stain around the entry point, overtime.

Bat Guano Piles ↔ Y▢ N▢

Bats produce excrement just like all other living organisms. And like most animals being sought out or hunted, their droppings tend to be a dead giveaway of their presence. As for the outside of your home or business, start by looking around windowsills, door frames, and roof ledges. Bat guano usually piles up in these areas because it is where they like to perch during dawn and dusk hours.

Flying Bats ↔ Y▢ N▢

If you see flying bats outside of your property during sunset or just before sunrise, you can safely assume you have a nuisance bat threat. Whether or not you have bats in the attic would depend on if they targeted your place and gained entry. If you check yes to this after suspecting that you have bats in the attic, you likely do.

Dead Bats ↔ Y▢ N▢

Same with flying bats, if you find a dead bat on your property, you likely have a local bat population nearby, which increases the likelihood of having a bat infestation in your attic. Do not touch or tamper with a dead bat unless it poses a safety risk to people and pets. Let nature take its course or use a shoe box lid to move it to a safer location.

INTERIOR CHECKLIST:

Chirping Sounds ↔ Y▢ N▢

One of the first signs of having bats in the attic detected by homeowners is hearing chirping, squeaking, and fluttering from within their walls or ceiling spaces. Bats make noise like most animals, and you can hear their noises the most during sunset and sunrise hours.

Bat Guano in Attic ↔ Y▢ N▢

Just like outside, bat guano will accumulate inside if you have a presence of bats. Look inside your attic, if you feel safe doing so, and see if you can spot guano. If you do see bat guano, you can safely assume you have bats in there too. It is not recommended to check your attic if you suspect bats to be in there. Contact a licensed wildlife control professional for an attic inspection.

Stains on Walls and Ceilings ↔ Y▢ N▢

The stains that present themselves on the inside of your house are not caused by the same circumstances of the black or brown oily stains on your siding. Instead, bat urine and droppings will cause brownish, yellowish stains to appear on ceilings and walls. If you see these stains, you might have bats in the attic.

Ammonia Odors ↔ Y▢ N▢

Along with bat urine and droppings come odor. Lingering odors in the living quarters of the residence is a tell-tale sign of an animal infestation. For bats in the attic, their odors are generally described as having an ammonia aroma. Putrid and sour smells can also indicate a long-time bat infestation in the attic.

So, how many did you check yes to? Contact Virginia Bat Pros at 804-729-9097 for bat removal and control in Richmond, Virginia. We serve both residential and commercial clients in all surrounding counties and locations.

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There Might Be a Bat Infestation in Your House if You See These Signs

Posted on February 8, 2022 by virginia

There are many problems associated with having bats in the house. Not only do bats carry infectious diseases that can potentially be transmitted to humans and pets, but their droppings also pose several health risks, including a serious upper respiratory disease known as Histoplasmosis. If you suspect that you might have a bat infestation on your hands, there are some things you need to know right away.

First, bats are not solitary mammals. They live in large colonies, so where there’s one or two bats, there are likely many more. And since bats are nocturnal, they sleep quietly for most of the day, so they can go undetected for a long time. Second, the signs of a bat infestation are visible or apparent, you just have to know what to look for.

Continue reading to learn the common signs of a bat infestation and what to do if you find one in your house.

Bat Infestation Damages and Risks

The longer bats roost in your house, the more damage they cause, which ends up costing you money, time, and frustration that could have been avoided with proper nuisance wildlife prevention. Furthermore, bats are known carriers of several diseases that can be transmitted to people and pets, like Rabies, mites, lice, ticks, and other parasites. Needless to say, it is not safe to have bats in the attic or other area of your home.

Fortunately, most Richmond VA bat removal professionals also provide full-service decontamination and restoration work for bat damages. This includes disinfecting, sanitizing, and fumigating the area to eliminate waste and pests like bat mites and lice. It also includes replacing or renovating damaged areas like attic insulation, drywall, floorboards, siding, roof shingles, and more.

Lastly, you will need your trusted Virginia bat removal and control company to implement the proper measures of wildlife proofing and prevention to stop future bat infestations.

Here are the Common Signs of Bats in the House:

Bats flying around your property at dusk and dawn.

▷ Chirping, scratching, or screeching sounds in the walls or ceilings.▷ Unexplained stains on walls and ceilings.

▷ Foul odors lingering in the living quarters of the home.

▷ Flutter noises in the attic or walls.

▷ Bat droppings around doors and window sills.

▷ Greasy spots or stains on siding, doors, walls, or roofs.

Contact an Emergency Bat Removal Service

If you notice any of these signs in your home, be sure to contact a professional Richmond bat removal service as soon as possible. You will need the bats extracted from your home, safely and humanely. Once extracted, they will be relocated to a faraway habitat where they can live out their significant lives in peace. As for your home, the job does not stop with bat removal. After bats are extracted, you will need further remediation to eliminate the mess, destruction, and health risks left behind.

Do you suspect that bats are living somewhere in or around your house or business? Contact Virginia Bat Pros at 804-729-9097 for affordable and prompt bat removal services in Virginia, including Richmond, Virginia Beach, Glen Allen, and all surrounding areas. We serve residential and commercial clients.

Is Bat Urine Harmful?

Posted on December 31, 2021 by virginia

When it comes to discussing the consequences of bat infestations in attics and similar structural areas of a house or building, guano is often the topic most touched upon. Solid bat waste, known as guano, can cause an extensive amount of damage to a surrounding space, whether it comes into physical contact with a structure or not. Insulation, walls, floorboards, ceilings, ductwork, electrical wiring, and much more can be destroyed by guano accumulations. But guano is not the only bat excrement to worry about if you suspect you have bats in the attic. You mustn’t overlook the harm of bat urine.

Continue reading to learn how bat urine can be harmful, how to clean up after a bat infestation, and how to protect your home from bat intrusions, year-round.

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The Dangers of Bat Urine

There are many reasons why bat urine can pose several health and safety risks, as well as structural hazards around your home or business. First, let’s discuss the contents of bat urine. Bat urine is primarily composed of uric acid, which is an insoluble compound strong enough to corrode metal. It is also found in the urine of reptiles, birds, and even some insects.

Bat Urine Damages

After learning the power of uric acid, you can imagine how easily high concentrations of bat urine left untouched over time can cause an extensive amount of structural damage to anything it has saturated. Not just metal but wood and plastic, too. The usual suspects damaged by bat urine include HVAC units, electrical wiring, floorboards, wall beams, ceiling beams, insulation, ceilings, drywall, window frames, gutters, roofing, and even mortar.

Bat Diseases

Aside from structural damages, which can lead to costly and invasive renovations and repairs, bat urine can also pose several health and safety risks. As for safety hazards, bat urine can damage structures over time, causing them to weaken and warp. This can lead to slip and fall accidents, blunt force impacts, collapsing, sink holes, and other dangerous accidents and injuries. Additionally, bat urine can be a source of a potentially deadly bacterial disease known as Leptospirosis. It is transmitted through broken skin, or the eyes, nose, or mouth.

You must also keep in mind that, where there’s bat urine there’s likely bats, and bats are known carriers of several infectious and transmissible diseases that can affect both people and pets, including the Rabies virus.

Common Signs of Bat Urine:

▷ Lingering Odors
▷ Bubbling Or Peeling Wall Paint
▷ Wall And Ceiling Stains
▷ Wet Walls That Never Dry
▷ Damp Drywall
▷ Mold on Wall Frames

Cleaning Up After a Bat Infestation

If you suspect that you have bats in the house or somewhere infested within your property, it is important to contact a local Virginia back control company for that removal service. They can inspect your property and determine the best strategies for extraction and prevention. The first step to cleaning up after about infestation is bat exclusion, which is implement by modifying the property in a strategic way to prevent bats from accessing high interest areas.

Once the home or building is animal proved, decontamination and sanitation phase can commence. This may include pest mitigation, which is sometimes necessary to get rid of lingering lice, gnats, ticks, fleas, rodents, or bat mites. You can find trusted bat cleanup and restoration services for affordable price, as they are often covered under homeowners’ insurance.

Are you now sure that you have bats in the attic, or a bat in the house? Contact Virginia Bat Pros at 804-729-9097 for prompt and professional bat removal and control services at the right price. We serve all of Virginia, including Roanoke, Midlothian, Fredericksburg, Glen Allen, and more.

Why Landlords Should Never Ignore a Bat Infestation

Posted on December 7, 2021 by virginia

Landlords have a lot of responsibility, from property and tenant management to facility maintenance, building code compliancy, insurance coverage, business expenses, record keeping, tax planning and preparation, and more. So, it is not a surprise that many landlords tend to fall short when it comes to critter control. A few animals scurrying around here and there can be harmless, but when an infestation occurs, it’s a whole other ballgame. As a landlord, it is important to fully understand the consequences you can suffer if you neglect to resolve a critter infestation, especially if that infestation is bats.

Continue below to learn why landlords should never ignore a bat infestation or nuisance bat problem, plus where property owners can get reliable critter control and animal-proofing services in Richmond, Virginia.

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Landlord Liability and Bat Infestations

Landlords and property managers have a legal responsibility to make sure their premises are safe from reasonably-foreseeable dangers and hazards. This legal responsibility is known as duty of care, and the law takes this duty very seriously. There are many consequences you can face as a landlord or property manager if you fail to address a bat infestation anywhere on your commercial premises. Top consequences include premises liability lawsuits, building damages, and expensive repair work.

Premises Liability Lawsuits

If a landlord fails to take care of a bat infestation within a reasonable timeline, and as a result a tenant is seriously injured and suffers damages and losses, that tenant can take legal action against the landlord. Such claims, which can turn into lawsuits if no settlement can be negotiated, are known as premises liability lawsuits, and they tend to cost landlords tens of thousands of dollars. Not only will legal fees add up and potentially devastate the business but losing a premises liability lawsuit can lead to a large settlement payout. Keep in mind that bats are carriers of the Rabies virus, and if a tenant or pet is exposed from a bat bite, it could quickly lead to a lawsuit.

Building Damages

Bats are not great housemates. They are highly destructive in a short amount of time. Bat droppings accumulate at a massive rate, plus pose several health and safety hazards. Everything from roofing and siding to electrical wiring, insulation, window screens, vents, floorboards, ceilings, and walls will be damaged by a long-term bat infestation. If the bat infestation remains for too long, a building can suffer severe structural damages, possibly even leading to it being condemned until renovations are completed and approved by the city.

Renovation Expenses

Resolving a bat infestation does not stop at removing the bats. There will be a lot of cleanup and repairs needed to bring the environment back to a healthy condition that is up to code. Bat infestations that are neglected over a long period of time tend to require the most invasive renovation work, and therefore, very expensive. And in many cases, insurance policies will not cover repairs that are required as a result of facility negligence. After all structural repairs are made, animal-proofing strategies must be incorporated, which adds to the overall cost. The last step is hygienic cleanup, which sanitizes the area and mitigates any lingering pest infestation, like lice, ticks, fleas, bat mites, and similar parasites.

Do you want to make sure your business and tenants are protected against bat intrusions? Contact Virginia Bat Pros at 804-729-9097 for comprehensive bat removal and control services in Richmond and all surrounding Virginia counties. We serve commercial and residential clients.

Frequently Asked Questions About Bat Infestations

Posted on November 8, 2021 by virginia

Nuisance bats are not something you want loitering around your home. Bats are known to cause extensive amounts of damage to both interior and exterior areas of a home or building. Since local bats are tiny, they can squeeze through an opening as small as 3/8ths of an inch! That means the smallest gap, crack, or opening is a wide open door for bats. They are best at gaining entry into attics but can also be found infesting areas like crawl spaces, garages, roofs, sheds, and more.

If you suspect that you have bats in the attic or a bat infestation problem on your property, review these frequently asked questions about bat infestations and bat damages to learn your options for remediation.

Richmond Virginia Remove Bats in the Attic 804-729-9097

Bat Infestation FAQS

What Kinds of Damage Do Bats Cause?

Bats cause a lot of damage, mostly with their droppings. Wherever they reside or roost, bats will leave behind urine, feces, and food debris. Floorboards, ceilings, walls, insulation, electrical wiring, and more will become saturated and stained overtime. They may also gnaw on electrical wiring, drywall, insulation, and more. On the exterior of a home, bats will leave behind an oily residue around their entry points. This oil comes from their fur and leaves behind black-ish brown stains that are indicative of a bat infestation. Bats can also damage roof shingles, siding, and gutters.

Where Do Bats Like to Hide Out?

The most common areas for bats to roost is hollowed trees, roofs, attics, crawl spaces, under porches, in garages, and in sheds. They prefer quiet, dark, and warm spaces. If they can find access to any of these areas, they will roost there for as long as they can.

How Many Bats Do I Have in the Attic?

The only way to know how many bats you have in your attic is to hire a professional critter control company in Virginia to diagnose the problem. However, it is helpful to understand that bats are not solitary mammals. So, where there is one or two bats, there are likely many more. Furthermore, you are likely to find bats in the attic over any other part of your house.

Is Bat Guano Dangerous?

Guano, or bat stool, can be a highly useful resource under the right circumstances. However, the accumulation of guano in your home can pose some serious health risks, making it quite dangerous indeed. Guano can grow fungal spores called Histoplasma capsulatum, which can cause a serious lung disease called Histoplasmosis.

Histoplasmosis is also known as “Cave disease”, “Darling’s disease”, “Ohio valley disease”, and “spelunker’s lung.” Histoplasma capsulatum fungal spores can become airborne and then inhaled by both people and pets. Guano can also develop and transmit viruses, bacteria, and parasites, which become airborne too.

How Can I Repair Bat Damages?

The only way to properly renovate damages caused by bats in the attic or other area of your house is to hire a professional Virginia bat removal and control company that provides wild animal damage cleanup and restoration services. In many cases, homeowners’ insurance policies cover bat damages to some extent, and many wildlife control companies accept and perform insurance claim work. They will cleanup, decontaminate, sanitize, fumigate, and repair the mess left behind.

Are you looking for safe and affordable bat infestation removal and attic cleaning service near you? Contact Virginia Bat Pros at 804-729-9097 for affordable bat damage cleanup and restoration in Richmond, VA and its surrounding counties. We serve residential and commercial properties.

The Facts About Structural Damage Restorations for Attic Bat Infestations

Posted on August 31, 2021 by virginia

When a home or property has been invaded by bats, the degree of damage that accrues depends on the length of time the animals spent living within the said area. Bats are fascinating creatures but can unfortunately cause a considerable amount of structural damage and discomfort in a small amount of time. Attics, sheds, garages, porches, decks, crawl spaces, basements, roofs, and even outdoor jungle gyms for children can be desirable nesting spots for wild bats.

Continue reading to learn about the common home restoration solutions for bat damages; and to prevent bats from coming back in the future.

Richmond Virginia Bats in the Attic 804-729-9097

Common Damages Caused by Bats in the Attic

When bats invade an indoor area, such as attics and crawl spaces, the damages become much more evident. Bats enter our residential and commercial properties in order to seek shelter from harsh or cold weather. In these particular spaces, bats breed, feed, and nest for the entire season, unless they are discovered and eliminated sooner.

Bat roosting activity can cause quite a mess and extensive structural damages within a property. For example, urine and bat guano accumulation can saturate particle board, leaving unsightly yellow and brown stains on the ceilings and walls within the residence. This also causes lingering odors, which we will discuss further in this blog.

Not only will urine and dropping buildup weaken the flooring, soil insulation, and ultimately jeopardize the overall stability and foundation of your attic’s structure, but eventually, the smell of this accumulation will also begin to make its way through the property. These damages are repaired by removing the saturated floorboards and replacing them with strong sturdy ones. Then this area and the home will require odor removal.

Lingering Odors From a Bat Infestation

Odor and foul smells are another issue with bat infestations. Not only can these animals cause physical damages to wood, flooring, walls, and ceilings; they can be the root of a nasty smell that lingers within the property or home. Once an area such as an attic or crawl space is soaked through with bat droppings and other undesirable bat excrement, the smell will eventually take over and surpass the saturated area. This can also attract other pests like flies, gnats, fleas, lice, mites, and more.

This is one way home and property owners recognize a bat problem to begin with. It requires professional bat control services and equipment to securely remove these odors and mess. Typically, these same companies will offer restoration services as well. This way, you can remove a bat problem, clean up the mess, and repair the damages all through one company.

Additional Damages Caused by Bat Infestations:

✔ Ripped Attic Insulation
✔ Chewed Electrical Wiring
✔ Saturated Concrete and Particle Board
✔ Sheet Rock Damage
✔ Wall and Ceiling Stains
✔ Dry Wall Damages
✔ Lice, Ticks, and Flea Infestations
✔ Bat Diseases
✔ Roof Shingle Damages
✔ Garages
✔ Sheds
✔ Porches
✔ And More

How to Get Rid of Bats and Clean Up the Mess They Leave Behind

Do you suspect that you have bats in the attic of your Virginia home or business? If so, you need to act fast before the damages can worsen.

Contact Virginia Bat Pros at 804-729-9097 for comprehensive bat removal and control services in Richmond and all surrounding areas, including Richmond, Petersburg, Chesapeake, Newport News, Virginia Beach, and all of their surrounding districts.

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