Bat Infestation Removal
District Wildlife Solutions provides bat trapping and bat infestation removal services. We specialize in the safe, humane, and effective removal and prevention of bats from home and property. Bats require special live exclusion considerations, and we have the correct exclusion devices, tools, and experience to properly address the unique characteristics of bats. Call us now at 202-997-3410 for Washington DC area bat removal.
Visit our Washington DC wildlife removal home page to learn more about us.
Tips for Bat Colony Removal in Washington D.C.
Thanks to several myths and legends, bats are most feared for their blood-sucking abilities. But this estimation is unfair. Bats are incredible and fascinating creatures – and they don’t deserve to be considered creeps.
For one, bats are the only flying mammal in the world. What’s more, their role in the ecosystem cannot be overstated. Some species help to keep the population of harmful insect species (like mosquitoes) in check, while others help in the pollination of several fruits we love.
But even with these immense benefits, the last thing you want is to have bats in the house or property. Why? Because if you have a bat colony in your attic or chimney, with time, the bats accumulate lots of droppings (guano). Bat guano is highly corrosive and is known to accelerate the deterioration of building materials.
Moreover, bat guano also contains the spores of a fungus that can cause histoplasmosis when inhaled. Histoplasmosis is a serious lung infection that can have fatal consequences if left untreated.
In this post, we explore some of the bat infestation removal strategies we use at District Wildlife Solutions to help our clients get rid of bats.
Eliminate food and water sources
Bats eat a whole lot of insects. To give you a bit of perspective, a single bat can eat up to 6,000 to 8,000 mosquito-sized insects each night. Hence, if you have an insect infestation problem, you must take care of that prior to bat colony removal in your attic or home. You can use an insecticide or have your property fumigated.
But also as important, you must ensure no stagnant water is lying around your property. Mosquitoes lay eggs in stagnant water, which in turn attracts bats. Water also attracts bugs and several other insects. Eliminating any potential food and water sources is an excellent start in your bat infestation removal journey.
Bat Exclusion
Exclusion makes it practically impossible for bats to gain access to your house or property. And not surprisingly, this is the most effective means of keeping bats away. What’s more, humane bat colony removal is the only legal way to get rid of bats. That’s right! Bats are a protected species. Hence, the killing or trapping of bats is illegal and can result in fines and/or jail time.
It’s best to keep in mind that bat exclusion and bat infestation removal are quite complex processes. That’s why it’s best to involve a professional wildlife company like District Wildlife Solutions.
Here’s how the bat exclusion process works:
- Identify bat species and colony size.
In the United States, there are 47 bat species with a wide range of sizes and behaviors. A good place to start is to note the bat species present in your area, before you narrow it down.
- Choose the right moment
To reiterate, bat infestation removal and exclusion cannot be carried out anytime or any way you want. As noted earlier, bats are a protected species. Hence, your actions must not directly result in their death.
For that reason, generally speaking, exclusion should not be carried out from May through August. Why? Because this is their birthing season. Attempts to exclude bats will only result in trapping young bats as they are separated from their mothers. And eventually, they will die.
Similarly, exclusion should not be carried out when bats are hibernating. Bat infestation removal during hibernation season is sending them to their graves.
- Perform bat exclusion
First off, you need to seal all potential entry holes for bats into your property. This may include cracks in window screens, damaged chimney caps, space beneath doors to the attic, and lots more. Close up these holes with stainless steel wool or caulk. Replace your chimney cap if needed.
But most important, leave one hole open. In this hole, install an exclusion device. Once bats make it out through this device, they are unable to get back in.
- Clear bat waste
Bats leave lots of waste which serves as a breeding ground for several diseases. That’s why you must clean the infected area with an enzyme-based cleaner as part of the bat infestation removal process.
Are repellents effective?
There are several repellents on the market that claim to aid in bat colony removal and to keep them away, but the truth is that most do not work. Even if they do, they are very ineffective.
Notwithstanding, some repellents you can experiment with include mothballs, phenol, aerosol, mylar balls, aluminum foils, mirrors, and cinnamon, among many others.
Since bats are mostly nocturnal, having bright lights on your property at night may help keep them away.
Wrap Up
Keeping bats away can quickly become complicated because of their ability to fly, as well as their status as a protected species. That’s why you shouldn’t handle a bat infestation removal on your own. You can always trust us at District Wildlife Solutions to effectively bat-proof your property.
How to Get Bats Out of The Attic?
If you hear or see bats in your home, you want to get rid of these animals as soon as possible. Bats can carry dangerous diseases like rabies, and their droppings and waste can damage your home. Still, you have to be mindful of animal protection laws and your own safety. You can’t simply poison bats or go into your attic unprotected to perform bat infestation removal on your own.
In fact, it can be tricky getting bats out of your attic on your own, as you might not have the right information or tools to do this. Luckily, we have compiled a list of tips and tricks that will help you get these animals out of your attic. Keep reading to find out more about bat infestation removal practices!
- Search For Entry Points and Seal Them Up
To get rid of bats for good, you need to find out how they are sneaking into your attic. Search the inside of your attic for any holes or openings. It doesn’t matter how small these entry points are, you want to seal them up with mesh wire or a sealant.
This way the bats can’t get back in. These animals are crafty and will fit into spaces as small as half an inch. So be thorough when you do your search. Also, think about sealing your chimney with a chimney cap. As bats can also enter through this area of your home.
- Set Up Bat Exclusion Traps
Another bat infestation removal practice you can try out is exclusion traps. Seal up most of the holes in your attic and home, then put an exclusion trap over any remaining entry points. This device will allow bats to leave your home, but it won’t let them come back in.
Make sure you are wearing protective gear if you know there is a bat in your attic, as you can be bitten and infected with rabies. It is imperative to use extreme care setting traps as part of your bat colony removal strategy. It can take some time to set them up, and professional setup is suggested. Effectively created exclusions are one of the best ways to remove bats from your property.
- Use Bat Repellent
You can’t poison or harm bats, as the government protects them through local animal rights laws. This requires extreme care if attempting bat infestation removal on your own. However, you can use natural sprays and repellents to get rid of bats in your attic. Using repellant in combination with some of the other methods in this post will be most effective.
We recommend using mint, peppermint, cinnamon, and even cloves. Bats hate these scents and are likely to leave your home if you spray them in your attic. You can buy premixed repellent or create your own with essential oils and water.
- Use Loud Noises and Bright Lights
Bats are highly sensitive to loud sounds and high pitch frequencies. If you make your attic noisy this can help get rid of these animals quickly. Bat alarms for bat infestation removal can be bought online or in local stores.
Another option is to install bright lights and shine them into your attic to get rid of the bats. Bright lights and loud sounds can be the perfect combination for bat removal.
- Hire A Professional Wildlife Expert to help with bat colony removal
You might want to save money and get rid of the bats in your attic on your own. But, if your attic is infested, calling a professional might be a better option, especially if your own bat infestation removal efforts are not working.
Remember, bats can pose a danger to homeowners. Not only are these animals disease carriers, but their waste can be highly corrosive and toxic. So, you need the right protective gear to deal with these animals safely. A professional wildlife expert has the experience, tools, and knowledge to deal with bats. They can also help you clean up the waste and damage that bats leave behind.
Contact District Wildlife Solutions Today
The District Wildlife Solutions team will efficiently remove bats from your property. Please contact us here. We’ll take all the hassle out of bat infestation removal and get the job done professionally and efficiently!
How to Remove Bats from the Walls
There’s something profoundly disturbing about the idea of having bats (or any other wild animal) trapped inside your walls. And yet, it’s more common than at first you might think. Bats, in particular, tend to get stuck inside the walls of your home or commercial building, since they usually make for great nesting spaces. The area inside your wall serves as a great shelter that protects them from other predators, and yet, offers easy access to the outside world, and thus to food.
Unfortunately, the presence of bats inside the walls can cause a host of problems for you, including the bat getting stuck inside, and dying in there. So how can you get bats out of the walls?
A word of caution…
Before we go any further, we’d like to remind you that we don’t recommend attempting bat infestation removal yourself due to safety issues and animal protection laws. Keep in mind that in many areas of the United States, bats are protected by law as a helpful species, so killing one (not to mention a colony) could land you in legal hot waters.
On top of that, attempting to remove bats from inside a wall can prove tricky and dangerous, so your best bet may be to hire a professional wildlife removal service such as District Wildlife Solutions. We are current on all local laws regarding bats, repair techniques for your home, and have equipment to remove and relocate the animals safely.
Removing bats from inside the walls can be particularly difficult, if there are baby bats involved. Simply excluding the mother bat only leaves the babies to starve which is a problem on many planes.
You can, however, try to repel them.
A big favorite for homeowners is using natural repellents to get the bats to quit their property. Since bats rely heavily on their sense of smell, strong scents tend to bother them.
Strong scents like ammonia, or chili sauce, can be enough to get the bats to vacate the premises. You can either try placing moth balls around the walls, or near the bat’s entry point, if you’ve found one, or use cotton balls soaked in a harsh smelling substance.
However, keep in mind that if you decide to try the olfactory route, you’ll need to replace the moth balls, or the cotton, regularly to keep them effective.
Light and seal.
Another popular method for bat colony removal is to expose them to bright light. Since bats are nocturnal animals, they strongly dislike bright lights, so shining a torch into the wall opening may actually get them to leave.
But it’s tricky. Because the bats never stay away for long, and the only way to get this method to work is to promptly seal the entry point as soon as the bats have flown the nest (literally). However, you should only try doing this if you are sure there are no baby bats trapped inside, because you wouldn’t want that.
Cut out the wall.
As a last measure, if all else has failed, it’s time to cut out the wall. Obviously, we wouldn’t recommend attempting bat colony removal by yourself, especially if you aren’t used to a lot of handiwork. This may also put you in direct conflict with the bats because after all, you’re a great big giant, with a sharp object, who’s making a lot of noise near their home. So this might send the bats into overdrive.
Last but not least, cutting out the wall makes a terrible mess, and entails a lot of work. This is why, if you suspect you’ve got bats trapped in the wall, it’s best to just call a professional bat removal expert.