Bat Removal in Raleigh and Durham
Are you looking for bat removal companie in Raleigh, NC? Learn more about bats in the attic, dangers & disease and the process of removing them safely including bat exclusion laws in North Carolina.
Identifying Bats
Bats are some of the most misinterpreted wildlife. When it comes to environmental benefits, bats do not receive a lot of credit. However, they serve as pollinators, seed-dispersers and help to control pests. North America is home to 45 species of bats, three of which are common in the Triangle area. Using echolocation or bio sonar, bats can find their way into the tiniest spaces. These mammals are mysterious in appearance and typically are only seen at night. They are often feared by humans, which contributes to threats to their population worldwide. Bats in the Triangle are known to form colonies in their chosen roosting areas. While in search of dark and quiet places to raise their young, bats are known to invade attics in the summertime. Each species of bat is unique and poses its own challenge for people. Critter Control of the Triangle is the expert in Raleigh, Durham and the surrounding region for bat removal services. We humanely remove bats as well as examine and repair your home to eliminate the chance of future bat infestation.
While bats may be fascinating creatures when they’re OUTSIDE your house, it’s necessary to know if they are IN your house. Here are some tell tale clues.
- Bat droppings, or guano, can be found on the sides of your house, in attics or under the eaves. Unlike rodent droppings, which are typically dispersed, bat droppings are found in clumps and may contain insect parts.
- Bats roost on the outside of the house.
- A scratching noise that comes from the attic—day or night, as the bat or bats attempt to find their way out.
- High pitched squeaks coming from your attic, eaves or walls.
- A strong smell from the attic (from the bat droppings).
- Bats fly around the outside of your home or out of your chimney at dusk.
Bat Habitats
Typically found in caves, bats can live in almost any feasible shelter. As their natural habitats diminish, many bat species choose to live in homes or storage-type buildings. It is also common for bats to roost in attics or caves. The big brown and little brown bat species of North Carolina often make noises upon exiting their roost. They also tend to have a musky odor and commonly leave droppings underneath their roosting area. Critter Control of the Triangle specializes in the removal of bats common to the Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill communities.
Bats are great to have around your home as they eat almost 100% of their body weight every night. And sure—bats aren’t the biggest creatures, weighing in around half an ounce each—but, they live together in large groups, so the numbers add up quickly. Each night, they cut back the number of nasty mosquitos and other insects to bother you during the pleasant spring and summer nights.
Say you see the droppings but never the bats—you may be asking yourself where they roost during the day. Typically, they roost and forage in the trees and areas around neighborhoods where the insects are the worst. If you aren’t sure if they are around your home, try sitting on your porch or in your backyard in the early evening and keep an eye on the street lights. You can often find them flitting between the lights as they start their insect hunting for the night.
As you may have guessed, bats don’t always find places to live where the bugs are, so they improvise. Sometimes that improvisation means that they decide to use your home as their roost. Bats can enter an opening as small as a dime or the diameter of your pinky. They can sense drafts of hot air escaping from your attic gable vents, ridge vents, or soffit gaps. Once they find these areas, they can hang on the underside of your gable vent (those slats of wood on the side of your home that look like large shutters) or crawl into any gap they find. Once they begin to roost in your home, word gets out to their fellow flying mammals to come to the new (literally) hot spot to sleep.
Common North Carolina Bats
- Big Brown Bat (Eptesicusfuscus): These are one of the largest of the species found in North Carolina, with a wingspan of 13-16 in. Their fur is long and oily with the colors ranging from light to dark brown.
- Brazilian Free-Tailed Bat (Tadaridabrasiliensis): These bats are characterized by their free tails which are roughly half the length of their bodies. Their fur is brown in color and they have a wingspan of approximately 11-14 in.
- Little Brown Myotis (Myotislucifugus): Often called the little brown bat, they are known for their glossy brown fur which can be of various shades. Their wingspan ranges from 8-11 in.
Bats do not chew their way into your home or business; instead, they enter through gaps and other openings. They are skilled in entering holes the size of quarters. Property owners often have no idea that these holes exist because bats are able to squeeze through the smallest of spaces.
Bat Control and Safety
Bats carry rabies and other threatening diseases. Although generally bats will not harm you unless provoked, it is best to contact Critter Control of the Triangle for safe bat removal and take a few steps to prepare for a technician’s arrival. By listening to the sounds made by the bats in your home or business, you should be able to identify the general area of where they are roosting. Providing any known areas of bat infestation will be useful to your technician as they assess the problem. Also, it is important to remember never handle bats without gloves or proper equipment. Along with various diseases, bats can also carry fleas and mites. If you come in contact with a bat and are bitten, it is difficult to see signs of bite marks due to their tiny teeth. However, if you have been bitten or come in contact with infectious material, such as saliva entering your eyes, nose, mouth, or a wound, then wash the affected area thoroughly with soap and water and seek medical advice right way.
Bat Trapping, Removal, and Damage
Critter Control of the Triangle Technicians are Certified Wildlife Specialists with the knowledge and tools to eliminate bats from invading your property. Bat droppings are called guano, and these differ from mouse droppings because they tend to have a shiny, speckled appearance and cluster together as they pile up. If left alone over time, these droppings will begin to grow fungus and spores which can cause histoplasmosis in severe cases. The dusts from these droppings can potentially become an irritant to humans. Along with their droppings, a bat’s urine can also damage wood by causing an increase in decay if left over a long period of time. Bats emit waste 20-30 times a day and the smell is unpleasant and can attract other pests. Our Critter Control technicians are highly equipped and experienced in bat removal and the proper cleaning of bat waste. Do not hesitate to call and schedule your appointment.
Bat Related Diseases
Bats play a crucial role in ecosystems around the world but can also be carriers of diseases that affect humans, notably rabies and histoplasmosis.
Rabies
Rabies is a viral disease that can be transmitted to humans and animals through the bite or scratch of an infected bat. Bats are the leading cause of rabies deaths in the United States, with rabid bats found in all 49 continental states except Hawaii, which is rabies-free[1][3]. The disease is preventable through immediate medical care, including wound washing and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), which involves vaccination. It's important to capture the bat for testing if possible, as this can determine the need for vaccination. Bat bites can be very small and not always noticeable, so any direct contact with bats, especially if a bite or scratch cannot be confidently ruled out, warrants a consultation with a healthcare provider for a risk assessment and possible rabies vaccination[1][3][5].
Histoplasmosis
Histoplasmosis is a fungal infection caused by inhaling spores of Histoplasma capsulatum, often found in bird and bat droppings. This disease is not contagious between people but can be contracted from environments contaminated with the droppings, such as caves, old barns, or areas with significant bird or bat populations. While many people infected with histoplasmosis never develop symptoms, it can cause severe and potentially fatal illness, especially in infants and those with weakened immune systems. Symptoms can range from flu-like to severe, affecting multiple organs[2][4][6]. The fungus thrives in damp soil rich in organic material, particularly where there are high concentrations of bird or bat droppings. Preventive measures include avoiding areas likely to be contaminated with the fungus and using protective equipment like respirator masks when such exposure is unavoidable[2].
In summary, while bats are beneficial to the environment, their potential to transmit diseases like rabies and histoplasmosis to humans necessitates caution and preventive measures. Avoiding direct contact with bats, ensuring homes are bat-proof, and seeking immediate medical attention if exposed are key steps in preventing these diseases[1][2][3].
Citations: [1] https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/animals/bats/index.html [2] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/histoplasmosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20373495 [3] https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/exposure/animals/bats.html [4] https://ldh.la.gov/assets/oph/Center-PHCH/Center-CH/infectious-epi/VetInfo/Rabies/BatGuanoInAtticsAndCrawlspaces.pdf [5] https://ksvdl.org/resources/news/diagnostic_insights_for_technicians/october2015/bats-and-rabies.html [6] http://www.idph.state.il.us/public/hb/hbb&bdrp.htm [7] https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/infectious-disease/epi/zoonotic/documents/bats-rabies-fact-sheet.pdf [8] https://dph.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/idph/files/publications/publicationsohpeh-factsheet-histoplasmosis.pdf [9] https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/health/rabies/bats-and-rabies-what-you-need-know [10] https://www.cdc.gov/fungal/features/histoplasmosis.html [11] https://uhs.umich.edu/batsandrabies [12] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37553137/ [13] https://myfwc.com/conservation/you-conserve/wildlife/bats/health/rabies/ [14] https://myfwc.com/conservation/you-conserve/wildlife/bats/health/histoplasmosis/ [15] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2802607/ [16] https://academic.oup.com/mmy/article-abstract/61/8/myad080/7239297?redirectedFrom=fulltext