Do Bats Have Lice?

Posted on January 31, 2020 by virginia

When it comes to finding a bat infestation within your home or building, one of your first concerns, aside from structural damage, is health. Are bats diseased? Do they spread contagious illnesses or parasites? The answers to these questions are very important, mostly because they are true. Fortunately, there are safe and effective remedies for cleaning up after a bat infestation, so long as you choose the right provider for the job.

Continue reading to learn which diseases and health threats bat infestations can pose to humans and pets, as well as, how to resolve one as soon as possible.

Virginia Bat Removal and Control 804-729-9097

Bat Diseases

By far, the most stigmatized disease surrounding bats is Rabies. Although bats are known carriers of the deadly virus, it does not mean that all bats are actually infected. If they are infected, bats can spread the virus to both humans and other animals through blood, mucus, or saliva. Because the virus attacks the central nervous system, there is no cure, making it 100% fatal. For this reason, it is vital to keep pets properly vaccinated. If you find a dead, injured, or abandoned bat on your property, see our blog, “What To Do If You Find a Bat” for proper instructions.

Aside from the Rabies virus, bats can spread a wide range of parasites, such as lice, ticks, fleas, and mites. Although not fatal, these outbreaks can be quite uncomfortable, unhygienic, and difficult to eliminate. Parasites like these are very common, and they grow at incredibly fast rates. If such outbreaks are not managed efficiently, it can take a lot of time, money, and construction to resolve. Practically all bat infestations cause some kind of parasitic outbreak, most often, bat mites. See our blog, “Is a Bat Mite the Same Thing as a Bed Bug?” to learn how to distinguish bat mites from similar pests.

Histoplasmosis

Histoplasmosis is a not an illness that is spread by infected bats, but rather, a result of an on-going bat infestation. Histoplasmosis is a serious lung infection that is caused by over-exposure to fungal spores that grow on bat droppings (guano). These Histoplasma capsulatum fungal spores develop on bat guano, and then become airborne. Upon inhalation, pets and people can become infected. Some people may experience more severe complications if it spreads to other parts of the body, known as Disseminated Histoplasmosis. It is especially serious for those with suppressed immune systems, such as babies and elderly folk.

Virginia Bat Removal and Cleanup Services

Call Virginia Bat Pros at 804-729-9097 if you have bats in the attic or other area of your home. Our licensed and insured bat removal and control professionals offer full-service bat extraction and exclusion, as well as, comprehensive cleanup and restoration for bat damages. We serve all of Richmond, Virginia and its surrounding counties. Request a free estimate or advice, today!

What You Want to Know About Bats and Rabies

Posted on January 21, 2020 by virginia

If your home or commercial building is located near woods, forests, or a large body of water, such as a pond, river, or lake, you can safely bet that there are local bat populations surrounding the property. For this reason, bat infestations are quite common among properties located in such areas. As a result of a bat infestation, properties usually experience extensive structural damages. However, bats also pose several health and safety risks. One of the most common is the Rabies Virus.

If you are unsure about the facts you know regarding bats and rabies, continue reading to clear up the confusion and learn exactly what you want to know.

Virginia Bat Removal and Control 804-729-9097

Facts About the Rabies Virus

The fact is, only a small percentage of bats catch rabies. Researchers at Indiana State University conducted a nearly 40 year-long study, testing more than 5,500 big brown bats in the mid-west. Of those numbers, only 3.1% tested positive for rabies. From this study, researchers also concluded that October seems to be the time of year when rabies rates peak.

When contracted, the rabies virus is virtually 100% fatal. That is why rabies vaccines for pets are so vital, especially if they are outdoor pets. When a bat is sick with the rabies virus, they will often segregate themselves from their colonies, which is why so many are found on the ground. If you find a bat on the ground, please beware that it could be infected of rabies or other types of transmissible disease. See our blog, “What To Do if You Find a Bat” to learn some safety tips for managing such a situation.

How Rabies is Contracted

Rabies is contracted when the virus enters the bloodstream through bodily fluids, such as blood, saliva, or mucous membranes in the eyes, nose, and throat. Although the virus enters the bloodstream, it actually travels through the host’s central nervous system, which means it reaches the brain at incredible rates, usually within weeks. The most common way those become infected is being bitten or scratched by an infected animal. You cannot get rabies by simply petting a rabid animal, nor touching their blood or droppings. Contracting the rabies virus any other way is very uncommon. Inhaling airborne rabies virus is a possibility, but typically only laboratory workers are at risk of this types of non-bite exposure.

As soon you believe a person or pet has been exposed to the virus, it is important to seek medical treatment immediately to prevent death. If you awaken in your bedroom and find a bat on the wall, you must still get medical care instantly because you may not know if you’ve been exposed. It is important to stay away from wild animals, and simply admired them from afar, to prevent being exposed to deadly or transmissible diseases such as Rabies. If you are concerned about bats around your house, contact a local Virginia bat removal and control company for inspections and bat-proofing services.

Virginia Bat Removal and Control Services

Call Virginia Bat Pros at 804-729-9097 for safe and humane bat removal and control assistance in Old Dominion. We serve all of Virginia, including Richmond, Petersburg, Short Pump, Lynchburg, Charlottesville, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Newport News, Virginia Beach, and all of their surrounding areas, with 24 hour bat removal, as well as, numerous residential and commercial bat exclusion services, such as bat cleanup and restorations for bat damages. We even provide insurance work! Contact us at 804-729-9097 to request a free estimate, anytime.

How to Use One-Way Screening to Get Rid of Bats

Posted on January 10, 2020 by virginia

Sometimes, bats like to use your stuff as their own, namely for a place to live. This time of year, it is common for bats to roost inside jungle gyms, play sets, tree houses, bird houses, siding, soffits, roofing, attics, and more. If you are noticing bats flying in and out of a certain area of your property night after night, there is a simple and humane technique that might keep them out for good. It involves using one-way screening, which is inexpensive and easy to come by. Continue reading to learn where to get it, how to use it, and what to do if the bats still stick around.

One-Way Mesh Screening

One-way screening is simply metal mesh material that is highly pliable. It is available in rolls or sheets at most home improvement stores. You can expect to pay between $4 and $11 for your materials, depending on how much you need and the retailor you choose. A couple great features of one-way screening is its light weight and flexibility, both of which makes it easy to handle and apply. Furthermore, it comes in bulk quantities, allowing you to custom cut the size you need to cover the space the bats are entering though.

How to Use One-Way Screening

One-way screening will allow bats to exit the area they continue to occupy each night, but it will not allow them to re-enter. So, the key is to install your mesh screening while bats are inside. This way, when they wake for the evening to hunt, they will squeeze through and leave, but they will not be able to squeeze back through the other way.

You see, all you have to do is cut a piece of your wire mesh screen to size. You need just enough material to cover the bottom and top of the entry point, including the sides. When you install the screening, you will need to leave a “lip” of screen handing off of the bottom. This is where the bats will squeeze through to get out, but they won’t be able to get back in this way.

Add Some Bat Houses

After you have excluded the bats with your one-way screening technique, it is encouraged to hang a bat house nearby to continue supporting the local bat populations. Furthermore, this will divert their focus on roosting in the bat house, rather than you own house! See our blog, “Tips for Adding Bat Houses to Your Property” to learn what you need to know about bat house installation and management.

How to Follow Up

Once you divert the bats away from their hang-out, it is important that you follow up by having your home inspected for bats. If you have one bat in or around your house, you likely have more. This is especially true when bats are found inside a home or building. To protect your home from future bat infestations, contact a local Virginia bat removal and control company for bat-proofing and abatement service.

Where to Get Safe, Non-Lethal Bat Control Service

Call Virginia Bat Pros at 804-729-9097 for safe and humane bat removal and control assistance in Old Dominion. We serve all of Virginia with 24 hour bat removal, as well as, numerous residential and commercial bat exclusion services, such as bat cleanup and restorations for bat damages. We even provide insurance work! Contact us at 804-729-9097 to request a free estimate, anytime.

Make a New Year Resolution to Get Rid of Bats For Good

Posted on December 31, 2019 by virginia

If nuisance bats have been a problem in or around your property all year, now is the time to put a stop to all the animal damages. Take a stance against nuisance bat activity and damage by implementing a New Year’s resolution to get rid of bats once and for all. Continue reading to learn exactly what you need to do to accomplish your 2020 goal and keep your home protected from destructive wildlife.

How to Get Rid of Bats

The first place to think about for bat prevention is the exterior of the property. Roof shingles, windows, doors, siding, overhangs, awnings, porches, and more should all be inspected for openings and vulnerabilities. A licensed contractor should be hired to provide professional sealing and repair services to ensure this step is done properly. Once you know your property is adequately sealed from the outside, you can move onto the next phase of bat control and prevention.

There are several products available on the market for nuisance bat control. You can consider trying out some of these devices to see if they can work for you. If they do not seem to add any value, simply return them for a refund. One such device available is an ultrasonic wave machine that use high-pitched sonar emissions to keep bats away. You can also consider a sound machine that emits the sounds of certain predators that bats fear.

Aside from home repairs and electronic devices, you can also install automatic lights outside of your property to keep bats from entering your territory. Bats like the dark, so they will stay clear of bright, lit-up areas. By having them set on motion sensors, you can save energy and keep additional nuisance wildlife away.

If you live in the country or rural area, try compromising with the local bat population by setting out bat houses far from your home. These are just like bird houses except the opening is at the bottom, allowing bats to fly in and hang from the top. This will not only keep them occupied and away from your living quarters, it can also give licensed exclusionists an advantage when relocating them to a safer habitat.

Hire a Professional Bat Removal Company

If you notice or find evidence of a bat infestation in or around your property, it is important to understand that bat removal is not a do-it-yourself job. Never attempt to touch, trap, harm, or kill a bat under any circumstances. Not only can this be dangerous to you and the bat, it can be against the law if the bat is a threatened or federally-protected species. Here in Virginia, our very own state bat, the Virginia Big-Eared Bat (Corynorhinus Townsendii Virginianus), is endangered.

Always use professional bat removal services to get rid of bats, or inspect your home if you suspect bats are inside. They retain the proper licensing and training to LEGALLY and safely remove bats and prevent their return. Never try to catch, harm, or kill a wild bat. Call a bat removal service instead! They use safe and non-lethal methods to remove bats and relocate them to a faraway habitat.

Non-Lethal Bat Removal and Control in Virginia

Contact Virginia Bat Pros at 804-729-9097 for safe and humane bat removal and control at a fair price. Regardless of the size or scope of your bat abatement and cleanup needs, we have the experience and resources necessary to remedy your bat problem in no time at all. Our professionals are focused on safe and effective results, but more importantly, our client’s complete satisfaction. Contact us anytime for free estimates, advice, and assistance.

Where Do Bats Go in the Winter?

Posted on December 16, 2019 by virginia

Now that the snow is here, all the local Virginia wildlife are carrying out their winter plans; bats included. Many people assume that all bats migrate just as birds do, but this is not entirely true. Some bats may migrate to warmer climates, but several others will remain right here in Old Dominion. Continue reading to learn more about bat habitats in winter, and what to do if your house winds up being one of them.

Bats and Migration

In the winter, Virginia insects diminish in accessibility, making it difficult for bats to thrive through the season. For this reason, many bat species migrate to warmer climates, sometimes thousands of miles away. Here in Virginia, there are around 15 different species of bat, including the Gray bat, Indiana Bat, Rafinesque’s Big-Eared bat (also known as the Southeastern Big-eared bat), Eastern Small-footed bat, Northern Long-eared bat, Eastern Pipistrelle bat, Silver-Haired bat, Eastern Red bat, Hoary bat, Seminole bat, American Long-Eared bat, Lump-Nosed bat, Ozark Big-Eared bat, Townsend’s Big-Eared bat, Northern Myotis, and of course our state bat, the Virginia Big-Eared bat.

Of these species, the ones that migrate in the fall are Eastern Red bats, Silver-Haired bats, and Hoary bats. These migrating species take shelter in trees, which go bare in the winter, making them quite undesirable. So as a solution, they take flight to Southern regions, like Mexico and the Caribbean. Some stop as near as Arizona and Texas.

Bats That Do Not Migrate

As for the species of bat that do not migrate, well they just find some adequate shelter to keep them warm and protect them from predators, and then slip right into torpor for the remainder of the season. Winter bat roosts often wind up being hollowed trees, abandoned mines, caves, and of course, our very own houses and buildings. Here, bats will enter into hibernation, also known as hibernacula or torpor. This period generally begins around mid-October, but can sometimes be delayed until the temperatures begin to remain under 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Once in hibernacula, bats remain in a torpor-like state until spring emerges with warmer weather.

Bats in the Attic

As a result of land over-development and additional environmental impacts, many local bat populations have been forced to seek shelter in our very own buildings, homes, and structures. It is quite common to find roosting bats in attics, roofs, gutters, downspouts, garages, crawl spaces, wall voids, sheds, barns, pool houses, and even children’s tree houses.

How to Get Rid of Bats on Your Property

Although bats are vital parts of the surrounding ecosystem and highly beneficial to our local economies, we do not want to find them in our house or building. When this happens, trust a licensed and insured Virginia bat removal company for safe and humane bat abatement service at an affordable price. Wish to help the local bat populations through the winter season but don’t want to put your property at risk of damage? See our blog, “How to Safely Support Local Bat Colonies” to learn your options.

Safe and Humane Bat Control Service in Virginia

Call Virginia Bat Pros at 804-729-9097 when you need prompt and professional Virginia bat removal and control you can afford. We use safe and humane methods to deliver effective 24 hour bat control for residential and commercial properties throughout Virginia. We serve all of Virginia, including Richmond, Petersburg, Short Pump, Lynchburg, Charlottesville, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Newport News, Virginia Beach, and all of their surrounding areas.

Should I Buy an Ultrasonic Bat Repellent Machine?

Posted on December 6, 2019 by virginia

Got nuisance bat problems that won’t seem to go away no matter what you do? If so, you may have come across some devices on the market known as ultra-sonic bat repellents. These can be highly useful, but only if applied in the right circumstances and conditions. Continue reading to learn what you need to know about using such devices for bat control, as well as, what you can do to protect your home from nuisance bat interference and damage.

Ultrasonic Bat Repellent Devices

If you have a high amount of bat activity on or around your property, they might become a nuisance, sooner than later. One way you can safely and humanely abate nuisance bat activity is to utilize certain types of innovative technologies available on the market for pest control and environmental modification. One such advancement are ultrasonic bat repeller devices, however, many consumers are unsure whether or not these devices are the real deal.

How They Work

Ultrasonic bat repellent devices do work effectively to abate nuisance bat activity around a property. They are safe and eco-friendly, and do not harm wildlife or the surrounding environment. Best of all, they do more than reduce bat activity; they also defend your property against a wide variety of other usual pests, like spiders and rodents.

If you want a safe and easy way to decrease the level of bat activity around your home or office, and ultrasonic bat repellent is a great place to start. However, in order to get the best results with an ultrasonic bat repellent, you must choose quality devices, as well as, have them installed by a professional Virginia Bat Control Company that knows the best strategies for abatement.

Ultrasonic Bat Repellents on the Market

Ultrasonic bat repellers come in various options and brands, all ranging in quality, application, features, and price. The device you choose will largely depend on the intended application of use and your overall budget. Some bat repeller devices thwart more than just bats. Many are designed to also fend off other pests, like insects, rodents, spiders, and more. Also, bat repeller devices are generally easy to install and easy to use. Most models simply require you to plug it in and leave it be.

In additional to ultrasonic technology, some have optimal deworming and electromagnetic features, too. Other admired features and applications of ultrasonic bat repellers include long range and the ability to penetrate walls. Also, many come with warranties or lifetime guarantees. A recommended retailer for ultrasonic bat repellers is Amazon.com, which offers a wide range of options for home and commercial use. Consider the Hoontä Powerful Solar Battery Powered Ultrasonic Outdoor Pest and Animal Repeller, which is motion-activated and highly-rated.

Get Safe and Humane Virginia Bat Control Service

How to Help a Bat on the Ground

Posted on November 29, 2019 by virginia

Not only are bats nocturnal in nature, they are generally very scared of humans. So, if you come across to bat on the ground, especially in the middle of the day, it is a blatant sign that something is wrong with the bat. For this reason, there are several safety precautions that you must take if you are considering helping the bat.

Continue reading to learn exactly what you should do if you ever find a grounded bat around your property.

Causes for Grounded Bats

There are many reasons why bat might be alone on the ground. One of the most common reasons has to do with illness. Bats are common carriers of the rabies virus, and one of the telltale signs of being infected with rabies is a backwards biological circadian clock. Basically, when a nocturnal animal is out during the day, it could be a sign that they are rabid or at least infected with rabies.

Another common cause of grounded bats is injury. A bat might’ve injured its wing and therefore, incapable of achieving flight. In other cases, a grounded bat is simply the result of a baby being abandoned or lost from its mother. In most cases, the mother comes back for the baby bat because they only have one per season. However, it is also common for mothers to entirely abandon their pup in the case that it is ill. Sometimes, I bat is simply tired and need to just take a rest.

What To Do For a Grounded Bat

The most important consideration you need to keep in mind when helping a grounded bat is personal safety. Under no circumstances should you ever attempt to attach or harm a bat. For this reason, it is important that you don yourself with the proper protective gear including thick work utility gloves that come up to the elbows, as well as a facemask. You also need a shoe box or some other type of similar container, as well as a soft cloth. You will not need to lead, but you will need some sort of sturdy stationary card.

First and foremost, give the bat a few hours to see if it’s just resting. It might take off and fly away soon. If it is still there after 6 to 8 hours, you can proceed with the following steps.

Start by segregating all other people and pets from the bat. Lock up your dogs and cats inside the house and tell your children to stay inside with them.

Next, put all of your protective gear on and slowly approached about holding your shoebox and lid. Slowly place the box on top of the bat and then using your stationary card, gently slide the bat inside the box.

Place a soft cloth inside of the box in the corner for the bat to feel safe and comfortable. Take the box with the bat to a faraway, safe habitat, such as a woodland area near a body of water.

Place the box on top of something high and leave the bat there. Eventually it should crawl out or take off. If it is sick, nature will simply take its course and the bat will become one with the ecosystem once again.

Or You Can Opt for Professional Bat Removal

Call Virginia Bat Pros at 804-729-9097 for safe and humane bat removal and control assistance in Old Dominion. We serve all of Virginia and its surrounding areas. We offer 24 hour bat removal, as well as, numerous residential and commercial bat exclusion services, such as bat cleanup and restorations for bat damages. We even provide insurance work! Contact us today for a free estimate.

How Did Bats Get in the Attic?

Posted on November 22, 2019 by virginia

Have you recently discovered a roosting colony of bats in your attic? If so, there are many steps you must take to have the bats removed safely, and then reverse all of the mess and damages. But first, you might be asking yourself how bats got into your house in the first place? Continue reading to learn the possible entry points of your home that bats could have used to gain access to your attic, and what you need to do to get the process of bat removal started as soon as possible.

Bats in the Attic? Call 804-729-9097 Now!

Bats are Very Small

The species of bats native to Virginia are very small. In fact, they are so small, they can fit through an opening as tiny as 3/8ths of an inch! That is basically the thickness of a nickel. Their small stature aids them in finding access to our homes. Anything from missing roof shingles to crumbling mortar can give bats a perfectly good entrance into the interior spaces of your house.

Common Bat Entry Points:

✦ Crumbling Mortar or Wall Plaster
✦ Missing or Loose Roof Shingles
✦ Torn Window Screens
✦ Cracks or Holes in Siding
✦ Rotted Window Seals
✦ Broken Door Frames
✦ Missing or Cracked Soffits
✦ Chimneys
✦ Attic and Roof Vents
✦ Broken Gutters or Downspouts

If your home has any vulnerable spots such as the ones listed above, it could be the entrance bats used to get inside your attic. Fortunately, all of these vulnerabilities can be resolved with proper bat exclusion services. A bat removal and control company will implement technological methods and strategies to seal up all openings and defects of your home’s exterior to prevent further animal intrusion. They can also use various other strategies, such as environmental modifications and biological applications, to add to your home’s security against nuisance wildlife.

Attic Damages Caused by Bats

Bats leave behind a large mess of bat droppings, urine saturation, property damages, and even bat bugs. There are many common damages bats are known to cause; and the larger the colony, the more mess you will be faced with following extraction. Not only are damages something to worry about, bats and bat droppings can present several serious health risks to both humans and pets. This makes cleanup and repair just as vital as the process of bat removal. A licensed and insured Indianapolis bat control company can provide the proper decontamination, sterilization, deodorization, and restoration your attic needs to recover from a bat infestation.

Safe and Humane Bat Removal in Virginia

FAQS About Endangered Bats

Posted on November 11, 2019 by virginia

Bats are incredible mammals. Not only are they the only mammalian species capable of true, authentic flight, they play a vital role in our surrounding Eco-systems. And although bats have a stigma to them, and a poor reputation for being a nuisance to home and building owners, they are protected under state and federal law. This is especially true for endangered bat species. Sadly, species all across the globe are still becoming endangered and close to extinction. We have to work harder as a society to support animal protection and initiatives in order to keep our beloved animal kingdom sustainable and strong.

Continue reading to review some common questions about endangered bats, including which species are endangered, why some bats are becoming extinct, and much more.

How Many Bats are Endangered?

Endangered bats are also referred to as “threatened” species. There are multiple levels of endangerment. Bat species may fall under “Critically-Endangered” or “Endangered” depending on the severity of threat. According to the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) Red List of Threatened Species, there are 26 critically endangered species, 51 endangered species, and 954 additional species that are considered vulnerable to endangerment. However, these numbers are always changing and difficult to keep up with.

Is There a Difference Between Endangered and Extinct?

Extinct species have all died out and are no longer in existence anywhere on the planet. The term extinct is though to come from the Latin term, extinctus, which translates to the modern, extinguish. Endangered species face an imminent risk of extinction. Some examples of extinct animals include the Dodo, Great Auk, Steller’s Sea Cow, and the Tasmanian Tiger.

Why Do Bats Become Extinct?

There are several reasons that have contributed to the demise of certain bat species. Such factors include land over-development, diseases like White Nose Syndrome, and habitat destruction. In fact, the biggest contributing factors are loss of habitat, like caves, forests, and nesting areas. When bats lose their homes, they search for new homes, like our attics and crawl spaces! It is not their fault, which is why bats should never be regarded as a bad animal. They are innocent creatures that have suffered substantial habitat loss.

Which Bats are Endangered in the United States?

According to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, there are 13 endangered bat species in the United States. Under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, there are 5 species and sub-species that are identified as Endangered. They are as follows:

Bonneted Bat – Eumops floridanus
Gray Bat – Myotis grisescens
Hoary Bat – Lasiurus cinereus semotus
Indiana Bat – Myotis sodalis
Lesser Long-Nosed Bat – Leptonycteris curasoae yerbabuenae
Little Mariana Fruit Bat – Pteropus tokudae
Mariana Flying Fox – Pteropus mariannus mariannus
Mexican Long-Nosed Bat – Leptonycteris nivalis
Northern Long-Eared Bat – Myotis septentrionalis
Ozark Big-Eared Bat – Corynorhinus townsendii ingens
Pacific Sheath-Tailed Bat – Emballonura semicaudata rotensis
Samoan Pacific Sheath-Tailed Bat – Emballonura semicaudata semicaudata

And Sadly………
The Virginia Big-Eared Bat
(Corynorhinus Townsendii Virginianus)

Got Nuisance Bat Problems in Virginia?

Why are Bats a Part of the Halloween Theme?

Posted on October 30, 2019 by virginia

So you have your costumes laid out, a big bag of goodies to pass out, and a party in store. But don’t forget; no Halloween would be complete without all the fun and spooky décor!

When you think about Halloween decorations, the first images that pop into your head are pumpkins, witches, spider webs, dead trees, haunted houses, and of course, bats. Although it’s obvious why many of these things are creepy, why are bats considered so spooky? Why did they become such an ingrained part of our Halloween traditions?

Continue reading to find out some fun Halloween bat facts that you can share with your friends this week!

Halloween Bat Removal Virginia 804-729-9097

Bats and Halloween

The correlation between Halloween and bats might have started with their natural features and characteristics. You see, bats are nocturnal, have sharp pointy teeth, and webbed wings. All of these qualities and features can be considered a bit on the eerie side. However, there might be more to the history of bats and Halloween.

Vampire Bats

Then you have the Vampire Bat, which was likely another large influence on the incorporation of bats on All Hallows’ Eve. Vampire bats are one of the only species of mammal that consume the blood of their prey. This, combined with their name and nocturnal nature, can easily be seen as scary and spooky! Once this species was discovered in Central and South America, they were quickly dubbed “Vampires”, and word spread around. Soon after, Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1897) depicted vampires shapeshifting into bats, which cemented the spooky connection.

The truth is, Vampire bats do not attack humans or pets, and instead, mostly target livestock like cows, pigs, and horses. Furthermore, they do not kill their prey; it is more of a symbiotic relationship. They make a small incision in the flesh, lap up the pooling blood with their tongues, and then scurry off into the night. The wound seals up quickly and the animal is not harmed or bothered in anyway. See our blog, “Common Misunderstandings About Bats” to clear up some more rumors you’ve heard about bats.

The Actual Scary Part About Bats

Although bats are incredible mammals that play a large, beneficial role in our surrounding Eco-system and economies, they are not something you want inside your property. Bats are looking for winter shelter right now, which could mean your attic, roof, wall voids, and similar dark, cozy spots. If you have seen bats flying in your neighborhood before, they are a possible threat in terms of property damage and infestation. Bats are so small, they can fit through an opening as tiny as 3/8ths of an inch, which means you could have vulnerabilities you don’t even know about. Read our blog, “The Top Three Signs that You Have Bats in the House” to learn how to spot the clues.

Another common bat threat is disease. Bats are known carriers of several infectious and contagious diseases and parasites, such as Rabies, Histoplasmosis, bat mites, lice, and more. It is vital that you never attempt to touch, trap, harm, or kill a bat under any circumstances. Furthermore, always make sure your pet’s vaccinations are up to date. Read our blog, “3 Transmissible Bat Diseases That Can Affect People and Pets” to learn more about bat diseases.

Preventing Nuisance Bat Problems

Contact a local Virginia bat control professional for help protecting your home against potential bat damages before they can happen. If you suspect you have bats in the attic, or bats in your house, contact them for emergency bat removal services as soon as possible. The longer bats are in your house, the more damages add up. So to prevent costly damages and invasive repairs, be sure to act fast and schedule an inspection.

Virginia Bat Removal and Control You Can Trust

Contact Virginia Bat Pros at 804-729-9097 for safe and humane bat removal and control services you can trust. We use safe and humane methods to deliver effective 24 hour bat control for residential and commercial properties throughout Virginia. We serve all of Virginia, including Richmond, Petersburg, Short Pump, Lynchburg, Charlottesville, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Newport News, Virginia Beach, and all of their surrounding areas.