How Do Bats Get Inside? | Critter Control of Tampa

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How Bats Get In HomesBats can be a problem for homeowners, but maybe not in the way you might initially think. A lot of people have an erroneous view of these animals. Those found in Florida are not capable of directly harming humans by biting them, and certainly none suck blood. There are over 1,200 species of bats in the world and only three feed on blood — all of these “vampire” bats are found in South America. No, the real problem for homeowners is the damage bats can cause to houses by roosting in them.

Common Bat Entry Points

But how can bats get into houses anyway? Though you might think that your house is secure, all it takes is a 3/8” gap for bats to get inside. Here are some of the most common vulnerable places on the exterior of homes that allow bats to get inside.

  • Gaps between the soffit and roof
  • Gaps between the shingles and attic
  • Attic windows or vents
  • Open windows or doors
  • Gaps between the garage door and roof
  • Corners of the roof
  • Gaps in eaves or fascia boards

You’ll notice that most of these are high up in the air, and you probably won’t be able to detect them from the ground.

Inspecting for Entry Points

If you can, use a ladder to inspect these various entry points for signs of access. Using a ladder is preferable to walking around on the roof for safety reasons. When you are looking for signs of bat activity in these areas, here are some things that you might see.

  • A noticeable gap that bats could squeeze through
  • Bat droppings all around the entry point
  • Bat droppings sticking to the wall below
  • Bat droppings collecting in piles on the ground below
  • Urine stains
  • Grease marks from the bat’s oily fur around the opening
  • Bats flying around the area at dusk

These signs could overwhelmingly point to the conclusion that bats are roosting in your house, but things might not be so obvious. It depends on how many bats are inside and how long they’ve been inside. They can go undetected for years because they are quiet and minimally disruptive. But you must get them out, because even though you may not notice them, they silently wreck the parts of your house around their roost.

Professional Bat Removal

Because there are several protected species of bats in Florida, you don’t want to risk trapping them or expelling them yourself. It is also illegal for anyone, even wildlife experts, to remove bats from their roosts during certain times of the year because of their dwindling populations. It is better to be safe than sorry — let the bat removal experts at Critter Control® of Tampa handle everything.

From bat trapping and release to guano cleanup, our experts will make sure your house gets back to its former condition and stays that way. For a free initial bat inspection, just give us a call.

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