The Top Three Signs that You Have Bats in the House

Posted on April 11, 2018 by virginia

Bat intrusion is a common situation faced by homeowners. Virginia bats are as little as 3/8th of an inch, which means they can easily squeeze into the tiniest gap or crevice in roofing, siding, drywall, and more. To make matters worse, bats are not usually solitary. This means that bat infestations typically come in the multiples. However, it is possible to find a lone bat in your house too. Regardless of quantity, there are three common signs that indicate you have a bat problem.

By knowing and looking for these particular signs, you can stop a bat intrusion problem before it gets too out of control. If a bat infestation is not properly resolved within a short amount of time, damages and biohazards will build up with every passing day. This results in costlier repairs and longer turnaround times.

Continue reading to review the top three signs that you have bats in the house, and who to call for trusted bat removal and control near you.

Bat Guano on a Roof

➀ You Can See a Bat in Your House

Although it seems obvious, or even a bit sarcastic, the truth is that the number one sign of a bat in the house is actually spotting one inside. Whether dead or alive, it is important to know exactly how to react to this type of situation. Read our article, “What To Do If You Find a Lone Bat in the House” for guidance on this subject. You can also contact one of our licensed Virginia bat removal specialists at 804-729-9097 for free advice or emergency 24 hour assistance, anytime. Common areas for bats to dwell inside include the attic, walls, and crawl space. Pay attention to these areas when inspecting your home for bat or wildlife activity.

➁ You Hear Strange Chattering Noises in the Wall

Bats are nocturnal; so if you have some in your house, it is common to hear their chitter-chatter during dusk and dawn hours. During these times, they are often coming and going from their roost. Typical sounds can be described as tweeting, squealing, chirping, chattering, and screeching. Because walls are thin and bats like to roost in them, you can often hear their sounds from outside of the wall if you have a bat infestation.

➂ You Find an Accumulation of Rodent-Like Droppings

Bat droppings, known as guano, looks like rodent droppings. If you have a bat intrusion, you will likely see an accumulation of bat guano around walls and window sills, as well as, roofs and gutters. Where ever the bats are entering and exiting your home, there will be a pile up of droppings as concrete evidence. Our professional Virginia bat removal and control company has the knowledge and experience to identify bat guano and offer workable solutions for your bat infestation and damage repair needs.

Virginia Bat Removal and Control

Virginia Bat Removal and Control 804-729-9097

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, including bat cleanup and restorations for bat damages, insurance work, and more. Request a free estimate, anytime.

Can I Keep a Stray Baby Bat as a Pet?

Posted on March 19, 2018 by virginia

Virginia Bat Removal and Control 804-729-9097

It is very possible to find a stray baby bat on the ground, especially if you are near forested areas and large bodies of water. Baby bats, known as “kits”, are sometimes deserted in nature for several reasons. Some common reasons include blue jay attacks and storms, but most often, kits are lost in the mix of being moved from one roost to another by their mothers. Other times, baby bats are deserted by their mothers if they are sick or injured. Injuries can occur from high falls, cats and other predators, and more. If a kit is infected with rabies or another transmissible disease, it is likely that they were left by their mothers to, like most rabid animals, find a secluded spot to die quietly.

Regardless of why a baby bat has become isolated and grounded, it is important that you leave it right where you found it, and keep moving. If you suspect that the bat could be rabid, immediately contact a local Virginia bat control company to report the bat and eliminate the hazard. You must understand that you are not qualified to rehabilitate an injured bat, nor raise and care for a wild bat as a pet.

Here’s why you should never keep a stray bat as a pet:

Bat Lifespan

There are many facts surrounding pet bats that should persuade you to never domesticate one. For example, bats can live up to 25 years or more in the wild. However, most bats only live an average of one year in domestication. This is cruel and unusual punishment for such a significant mammal in our ecosystem. Bats are meant to be out in the open, not enclosed in a controlled environment. In order to have a true quality of life, they need to be free from domestication.

Pet Bat Laws

There are also various laws that protect wildlife, including bats, from domestication, hunting, trapping, and more. This means that owning a pet bat is illegal on many levels. State and federal governments closely regulate the capturing and transportation of wild bats from nature. Furthermore, in order to be legally certified to work with bats in these regards, one would require USDA permits from the local Animal Health Inspection Service.

If You Find a Stray or Injured Bat

If you are in nature away from the general public, the best course of action to take upon finding a stray or injured bat is to keep on walking. Do not mind it any attention, and allow nature to take its course. However, if you are in a place where people often visit, such as your neighborhood or a local park, it is important to report the bat to the proper authorities to avoid any future injuries to the bat or other people. Contact a Virginia bat control company and tell them where the bat is located. They will safely and humanely retrieve and relocate the bat.

Virginia Bat Removal and Control

Virginia Bat Removal and Control 804-729-9097

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, including Richmond, Petersburg, Short Pump, Lynchburg, Charlottesville, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Newport News, Virginia Beach, and more. Request a free estimate, today.

3 Transmissible Bat Diseases That Can Affect People and Pets

Posted on March 9, 2018 by virginia

Although the actual risk of infection is low, bats, like most mammals, have the ability to carry and transmit several types of bacteria and viruses that can be harmful to both humans and pets. The most common bat diseases include Histoplasmosis, Rabies, and parasitic infestations like mites and lice.

Continue reading to learn some facts about each, and what you can do to protect your home from nuisance bat problems.

Virginia Bat Removal and Control 804-729-9097

❶ Histoplasmosis

Histoplasmosis is a serious lung infection that causes upper respiratory complications. Histoplasmosis is caused by Histoplasma capsulatum fungal spores that grow on animal droppings. The fungal spores become airborne, causing people and pets to contract the illness through inhalation. In mild cases, people infected with Histoplasmosis show no signs or symptoms, while others may show signs of a mild lung infection after 1 or 2 weeks.
Some people may experience more severe complications if it spreads to other parts of the body, known as Disseminated Histoplasmosis. Histoplasmosis is especially dangerous, and potentially fatal, for elderly citizens and those with suppressed immune systems. Most people do not require treatment for Histoplasmosis, however, the young, sick, and elderly will need treatment.

❷ Rabies

Bats are a common rabies vector in North America. But just because they are potential carriers does not mean they are infected. It is important to note that it is very rare for a bat to be rabid, and even rarer for a person to contract Rabies from a bat. However, pets are a higher risk of contracting rabies since they may stumble upon a rabid lone bat in the yard. If a person or animal does contract the Rabies virus, there is no treatment. Unfortunately, it attacks the nervous system, making it fatal in most cases. It is vital to have your pets vaccinated annually for Rabies and more.

❸ Bat Mites/Lice

Although parasitic outbreaks are not fatal, they are extremely aggravating and difficult to eliminate. Common infestations are bat mites, lice, and fleas. Not only are these highly contagious and transferrable, they can be spread by both humans and pets. Virtually all bat infestations will come with some sort of parasitic infestation, primarily bat mites. 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.

How to Get Rid of Bats in Virginia

Virginia Bat Removal and Control 804-729-9097

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. Aside from extensive experience and expert knowledge of the bat removal and control industry, we set ourselves apart from our competitors by offering superior client support and maintaining economy-based prices. Request a free estimate or advice, today.

Can I Get Rid of Bats Myself?

Posted on February 14, 2018 by virginia

Nuisance bat problems require serious solutions that can only be performed by an authorized professional. However, you can improve the strategies and services of a licensed bat removal company by implementing your own methods of bat control. Continue reading to learn why bat removal and control is not a do-it-yourself job, and what you can do to help keep bats away from your property.

Virginia Bat Removal and Control 804-729-9097

Bat Diseases

Bats are a wild animal, and although they have been studied and researched for hundreds of years, their wild nature makes them unpredictable. This is one of many reasons why bat removal is only a job for a professional exclusionists. Bats in Michigan are common carriers of deadly and infectious diseases, including Rabies. If provoked, stunned, or cornered, a bat might attack out of self-defense. This is equally likely if a bat is infected or ill. Not only are bat bites painful, they are the most common means of transmitting these dangerous diseases. This is why pet vaccinations are also so vital. Curious dogs and cats are known to pester a lone bat or two.

Legalities and Licenses

Another key reason why bat removal and control is a job for a professional company is the law. You must have the proper licensing and training to perform bat extraction and exclusion services. Furthermore, you must strictly adhere to all local and federal laws that govern wildlife, as well as, operate within all industry accepted best practice, which includes non-lethal methods of animal control. In addition to having the proper permits and licenses, bat removal and control requires professional equipment and resources. A professional bat removal company retains these specialized materials, and can implement safe and humane bat extraction and exclusion without killing or harming animals.

Bat Cleanup and Restoration

Once bats are removed and excluded from a property, there is still a lot more work to be done. That is because bats leave behind unhygienic messes and a load of structural damages. A professional company has the equipment, supplies, training, and resources to safely and responsibly decontaminate and sanitize the affected area, as well as, restore any structural damages caused by roosting. Also, many companies accept insurance claim work for structural damage repair caused by bats. This is another reason why bat removal is not a “DIY” job.

However, here are some things you can do yourself to help get rid of bats:

☑ Install motion lighting.

☑ Install ultrasonic sound machines.

☑ Sprinkle spices around areas with high bat activity (i.e. menthol, peppermint, cayenne pepper, cinnamon, etc.).

☑ Keep ammonia-soaked cotton balls in areas with high bat activity (i.e. attics, crawl spaces, under porches, etc.).

☑ Have your property’s siding, roofing, and foundations inspected for gaps or openings.

☑ Repair torn or broken window screens.

Contact a Virginia Bat Removal Company Today!

Virginia Bat Removal and Control 804-729-9097

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.

4 Reasons Why You Should Never Ignore a Nuisance Bat Problem

Posted on February 5, 2018 by virginia

Bats are incredibly important parts of our surrounding ecosystem. However, that does not mean they are welcome to cause trouble in and around our properties. Whether you have an interior or exterior nuisance bat problem on your hands, the one thing you must never do is ignore the issue and assume it will go away on its own. Continue reading to learn 4 reasons why you should never ignore a nuisance bat problem.

Virginia Bat Removal and Control 804-729-9097

❶ Bats Can Make You Sick

Bats can be carriers of several infectious diseases, such as Rabies. Also, their guano grows Histoplasmosis spores, which can spread through the property’s duct system and cause serious respiratory health issues for humans and pets. Bats are also known to spread lice, bat mites, and other types of parasites. These nasty parasites can be quite costly and tedious to get rid of, which is a process that can’t even begin until the bats are removed first.

❷ Bats Can Cause ALOT of Damage

Not only can bats squeeze into a crevice as tiny as 3/8th of an inch, once they are inside where they want to be, they are capable of causing extreme amounts of damage. For example, roof shingles and siding are stained or damaged, every square inch becomes saturated and covered in bat droppings, attic insulation is ripped and torn apart, electrical wiring is compromised, ceiling and wall stains can appear as a result of bat droppings, and more. Often times, bats roost inside homes and buildings for months, unnoticed; so it is common for all this damage to happen right underneath your nose, building up more and more overtime.

❸ Maternity Colonies Double in Size

As mentioned, it is common for bat infestations to go unnoticed for quite some time. This is especially true for larger homes and buildings, garages, sheds, and barns. The biggest problem with this is the amount of damage that can accrue over a long period of time. Bats can cause extensive damage in a short amount of time, so when they go unnoticed for extended periods, the damage only gets worse. And if that’s not disconcerting enough, bat maternity colonies double in size each year. So if you have a bat infestation that goes undiscovered for more than a year, the number of bats and the amount of damage they cause are doubled.

❹ You Can Not Get Rid of Bats Alone

Bats will not go away on their own. If they are there, they have no reason to leave until the environment is not conducive to their lifestyle anymore. And although there are several things you can do as a property owner to help thwart and prevent bat activity, an on-going nuisance bat problem requires the help of a professional. Bat removal and control is simply NOT a DIY job. For many reasons, it is a task that is reserved for licensed, insured, and trained professionals who have the proper equipment and resources to do so, safely and humanely. Bats should never be harmed, trapped, touched, or killed under any circumstances.

Virginia Bat Removal and Control

Virginia Bat Removal and Control 804-729-9097

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.

Do You Have Bats in the Attic?

Posted on January 11, 2018 by virginia

Got Bats in the Attic? Call 804-729-9097

Bat infestations are commonly discovered in residential attic spaces. And although it is an advantage to have a minimal amount of bat activity near your property, it is never a good situation to have them inside your home. Bats can cause an incredible amount of structural damage, and worse, pose several health and safety risks to both people and pets. If you find a bat colony living in your attic, the most important thing to do is act fast.

The longer you wait to have a bat infestation remedied, the more damage will occur, which in turn increases time and money spent fixing the problem. Furthermore, getting rid of bats in the attic is only the first step. After bats are excluded, the mess they left behind must be cleaned, disinfected, and repaired. Continue reading to learn more about bats in the attic, and what to do if you find one or more in your home.

Signs of a Bat Infestation

Unless by accident or coincidence, homeowners usually do not discover a bat infestation in their attics until the signs become more evident. Bats can actually go undetected for long periods of time when they are in attics since these areas are generally ignored or avoided. This is not good because bats will cause more damage the longer they are present. For this reason, it is wise to learn the signs of a bat infestation, especially if you live near wooded lots or bodies of water. These regions have higher wildlife activity compared to open or new construction residential developments.

The most common signs of a bat infestation include visible bat droppings (on window ledges, roof shingles, or around openings), strange bird-like sounds in the walls or ceiling, strange odors coming from the attic, yellowish-brown stains on walls or ceilings, oily stains around gaps or openings in roof or siding, and a lone bat in the house (usually where there’s one, there’s more).

What Happens When Bats are in the Attic:

❶ A licensed Virginia bat removal and control company needs to be contacted immediately. Choose a company that provides 24 hour emergency bat removal and control service.

❷ Your bat removal specialists will extract the bats using professional exclusion methods. They should also use non-lethal, industry-accepted methods and best practices for bat extraction.

❸ Next, your bat removal specialists will implement the necessary proofing and exclusion maintenance needed to seal up your home and prevent future invasion.

❹ Last, and upon your request, they will provide bat cleanup and repair service to eliminate hygienic hazards and restore your attic back to a safe and functional condition.

Virginia Bat Removal and Control

Virginia Bat Removal and Control 804-729-9097

Call Virginia Bat Pros at 804-729-9097 if you suspect that you have bats in the attic. Our licensed and insured bat removal specialists are focused on safe and effective results, but more importantly, our client’s complete satisfaction. 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 bat removal, bat control, bat cleanup and restoration, 24 hour emergency service, and much more!

The Differences Between Megabats and Microbats

Posted on January 5, 2018 by virginia

There are two primary suborders that all bats can be categorized in depending on their particular biologics and physiognomies. These suborders are Microchiroptera and Megachiroptera. Continue reading to learn about them both, and the attributes that set them apart.

Megachiroptera – Fruit Bat

Classification of Bats

Bats are part of the Animal Kingdom, and further broken down into narrower classifications, including the Chordata Phylum, Mammalia Class, and of course, the Chiroptera Order. Within the Chirptera Order, bats are categorized into one of two suborders: Microchiroptera and Megachiroptera. Also referred to as microbats and megabats, these suborders are quite different in size, diet, habitat, and more.

Microchiroptera – Microbats

Microchiroptera bats are small, echolocating bats that maintain an insectivorous diet, with the exception of Vampire Bat species, which retain a dietary trait called hemotophagy, and consumes small droplets of blood on livestock like cows, horses, sheep, and goats. Other than Vampire Bats, microbats primarily eat a wide variety of insects, including moths, flies, mosquitos, grasshoppers, dragonflies, crickets, beetles, termites, ants, and more. It is rare, but some larger species of microbat hunt birds, lizards, frogs, smaller bats, or even fish. They generally roost in trees, caves, abandoned mines, and buildings in forested or wooded areas that are near bodies of water. Microbats make up the nuisance bat populations in our area of the country, with 9 species of bat native to Virginia.

Microchiroptera Bat

In appearance, microbats are much smaller than megabats. They have much smaller bodies and smaller eyes, but they are not blind. They can see quite well, and use their echolocating abilities to better dive and dart for prey. Microbats also lack the claw at the second finger of the forelimb. As for ears, microbats have larger ears that retain a tragus, which is thought to aid in echolocation. Megabats have small ears and no tragus, but large visual cortexes that allow them to see well.

Megachiroptera – Megabats

Megachiroptera bats only includes one family, Pteropodidae, but can be further narrowed into 7 Subfamilies, including Nyctimeninae, Cynopterinae, Harpiyonycterinae, Macroglossinae, Pteropodinae, Rousettinae, and Epomophorinae, and 166 different species. Also known as megabats, old world fruit bats, and simply, fruit bats, Megachiroptera is a significantly different suborder of bats compared to Microchiroptera. They are much larger in size, and live in tropical and subtropical climates. The most significant difference is that they do not possess echolocation abilities, nor do they eat insects.

Instead, megabats have large eyes and have great vision. Furthermore, they maintain nectarivores and frugivorous diets that primarily consist of plant material, such as fruit, nectar, or pollen. Megabats make their homes in trees, shrubs, and sometimes caves located near edges of water. They play an integral role in the surrounding ecosystem because they help to spread seeds and pollen through feeding and elimination.

Virginia Bat Removal and Control

Virginia Bat Removal and Control 804-729-9097

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. 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.

Which Bats are Native to the State of Virginia?

Posted on December 20, 2017 by virginia

Virginia Bat Removal and Control 804-729-9097

There are two main categories of bat: Microchiroptera and Megachiroptera. Megabats are also called fruit bats because they primarily feed on the pollen and nectar of fruits. For this reason and more, they generally live in warmer, tropical habitats. Since Virginia is not a tropical climate, we are left with the other suborder of bats: microbats. Microbats are smaller in size and feed on insects like moths and mosquitos. They are widely known for their use of echolocation, but also for being quite to nuisance to residential and commercial properties.

Although microbats are the common suborder of bat found in Virginia, there approximately 1,000 species found around the world. Here in Virginia, there are not that many species flying around. In fact, there are only a select few that are the most common among nuisance bat problems. Continue reading to learn which species of microbats are common here in Virginia, and what you can do to protect your home from an infestation.

Let’s Start With Endangered Species

There are 3 particular species of bat in Virginia that are Federally-endangered, and 1 that is state-endangered (Rafinesque’s Big-Eared Bat). All of them are currently protected by the Endangered Species Act. This act strictly prohibits anyone from attempting to “harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, collect, or attempt to engage in any such conduct” with any endangered or threatened species of wildlife, including bats. The bats that are on this list include:

🦇 Gray Bat (Myotis grisescens)
🦇 Indiana Bat (Myotis sodalist)
🦇 Virginia Big-Eared Bat (Corynorhinus townsendii virginianus)
🦇 Rafinesque’s Big-Eared Bat (Also known as the Southeastern Big-eared Bat)

Additional Species of Bat in Virginia

Aside from endangered species, there are 12 other non-game protected species of bat that are commonly found in Virginia. These include the 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, and the Northern Myotis.

Nuisance Bats in Virginia

In terms of nuisance wildlife problems, the species of bat that are often found dwelling inside attics, garages, decks, crawl spaces, and more include the Big Brown Bat (Eptesicus fuscus), Evening Bat (Nycticeius humeralis), and Little Brown Bat (Myotis lucifugus). Bat removal specialists often come across these three species when providing humane bat extraction and exclusion services in our state.

Virginia Bat Removal and Control

Virginia Bat Removal and Control 804-729-9097

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. Call 804-729-9097 to request a free estimate or advice, today.

Virginia Bat Pros Officially Launches a Brand New Website!

Posted on December 7, 2017 by virginia

Virginia Bat Pros has a brand new, easy to use website that showcases all of our company services and credentials! Check it out today and see for yourself why we are Virginia’s premiere bat removal specialists!

www.virginiabatpros.com

Virginia Bat Removal and Control 804-729-9097

Professionals You Can Trust

Here at Virginia Bat Pros, we have the safe and humane solutions to get rid of bats, all within a price you can afford. We are licensed, bonded, and insured bat removal specialists with more than 27 years of combined hands-on experience in the bat abatement industry. As members of the National Wildlife Control Operators Association (NWCOA), you can trust that we are truly qualified professionals who can offer dependable service, effective results, and unparalleled customer support. And all of our wildlife abatement services come with a comprehensive written guarantee, making our clients feel confident in the work we do.

Affordable Bat Removal and Control

We provide both residential and commercial bat removal and control services throughout Virginia and its neighboring districts, including bat extraction, bat exclusion, bat proofing, preventative maintenance, 24 hour emergency service, detailed inspections, integrated pest management solutions for bat bugs, post service checkups, bat cleanup, restorations for damages caused by bats, insurance claim work, free estimates, bat information, and more.

Our teams are fully equipped with the latest technologies and advanced equipment, so we can manage any job, regardless of size or scope, and in a time frame that’s convenient for you. Be sure to check out our list of service areas on our new website to see if we provide service in your area. If your town is not listed, give us a call anyway! We might still serve your area, and if we cannot, we can still provide trusted referrals for companies that do.

An Ethical and Responsible Company

Furthermore, we are an advocate for wildlife rights and protection. For this reason, we only use safe and humane strategies to get rid of bats and stop them from coming back. We never use lethal methods of bat removal, nor do we use poisons, inhumane traps, repellents, or lethal devices. Instead, we adhere to the industry accepted standards and best practices, as well as, all local, state, and federal laws that govern wildlife.

Contact Us Today!

Virginia Bat Removal and Control 804-729-9097

Here at Virginia Bat Removal, our professionals are focused on safe and effective results, but more importantly, our client’s complete satisfaction. Contact us at 804-729-9097 to request free estimates and information from one of our friendly office managers. In the meantime, be sure to periodically check back with our blog page to learn more about bats and how to protect your property from bat damages!