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.
