How to get rid of bats in your home
Often, with the onset of warmth, the owners of private houses and summer residents are trapped by an unpleasant neighborhood - a colony of bats. This problem not only causes discomfort from noise, uninvited guests can cause significant damage to property and pose a potential threat to the health of households. Therefore, it is important to know how to get rid of bats in the house and take the necessary measures to prevent their appearance in a timely manner.
Signs of the appearance of bats
Bats settle in warm places inhabited by humans - in the attic, balcony, shed, summer cottage, and can also fly into living quarters. They are very nimble and can squeeze through 1-1.5 cm slots.
The main reason for the appearance of animals in the house or in the country is the search for shelter to reproduce offspring, therefore, most often not individual individuals appear, but entire colonies. In the spring, their number increases significantly, and by August the grown offspring begins to fly, then the problem becomes obvious.
The appearance of bats can be determined long before this moment by the following signs:
- The appearance of extraneous noise and squeak at night.
- When examining the premises, traces of wool can be detected.
- The appearance of a pungent unpleasant odor.
- In places of settlement, there will certainly be excrement from animals of a round shape, which are called guano, and stains from urine.
A subtle sign of the appearance of bats is a decrease in the number of mosquitoes and midges and beetles that they feed on, which is of undoubted benefit. Some species of animals eat fruits, so they can significantly spoil the harvest. But the most important danger is the likelihood of infection due to the bite of these creatures, since they are carriers of dangerous diseases. Therefore, it is better to get rid of such a neighborhood in a timely manner.
How to get rid of bats
There are several methods on how to get bats out of the house, but in any case, you should know how to do it correctly. Some countries have laws to protect bats from extermination. There is also a certain period when it is not recommended to get rid of the animal. You should not do this in the cold season - in winter bats are in hibernation, all metabolic processes in the body slow down, so the animals may die.
After the appearance of offspring, it is impossible to drive away adults, since the cubs will be doomed to a painful death by starvation. In addition, dead animals can cause an unpleasant odor and spread of infection. Therefore, the procedure is carried out before their birth or after the feeding stage.It is strictly forbidden to poison and kill bats, therefore the methods of struggle presented below are the most humane and effective.
Chemical methods of struggle
This method involves the use of special chemicals aimed at scaring away bats. They should be used when animals leave their abode in search of food.
- Special repellents. Aerosols are used to treat animal habitats and openings through which they enter the premises.
- Mothballs. The smell of mothballs scares away bats, and over time they leave their chosen place. As the smell disappears over time, the procedure should be repeated.
Important! Naphthalene is a chemical substance of the 4th hazard class, the vapors of which pose a threat to human health. The placement of this chemical in residential areas is prohibited.
Traditional methods of scaring away bats
Folk methods are less effective and are observed only after a while, but it's still worth a try.
- Additional lighting. The bright light scares off the inhabitants of the night, so you can install lamps and leave the lights on overnight.
- Water. Since bats have chosen only warm and dry places, you can water the room with water within reasonable limits so as not to spoil the property. Dampness will definitely discourage guests. In addition, you can direct a stream of water directly at the animals, then they will certainly fly away, but they may soon return.
- Smoke spraying. To do this, you need to make a fire in a tin can, and then smoke the animals with the help of smoke. This procedure will have to be carried out over several days.
- Fan application. The disadvantage of this method is that it will only work if the air flow is directed directly at the animals.
Note! Due to the low efficiency of these methods, it is recommended to use them as additional means.
Application of electrical appliances
Particularly popular are special electrical devices that act on bats using ultrasound. Sound waves of variable frequency through the hearing organs affect the nervous system of animals, so they leave their habitats. The effect does not come immediately, usually it takes two or three weeks.
Devices differ in some characteristics:
- by appointment: for animals, insects or universal;
- at the place of installation: for premises and streets;
- by mounting method: stationary and wall-mounted;
- by impact: with different frequency.
- by the zone (area) of the device.
Important! Such devices are completely safe for people, since a person is not sensitive to sound waves of this range. But if there are pets, it should be remembered that the effect of the device will also apply to them. It is recommended to isolate pets during installation.
When you need to call special teams
If all the tried and tested methods have not brought the desired result, and the number of bred individuals is growing exponentially, you should seek help from the sanitary and epidemiological station or call a special team that is engaged in the elimination of pests.Experts know how to effectively get rid of mice in the attic, in the shortest possible time and using absolutely legal methods.
The main problem created by small loft dwellers is the possibility of human infection from a bite bite with various diseases. They themselves do not attack humans, but when trying to drive them out of their homes, bats can bite.
The most common diseases that these creatures carry are as follows:
- Histoplasmosis is a dangerous disease caused by a fungus that affects the respiratory tract. Birds and bats spread it along with their excrement.
- Rabies. Infected bats live only a few days, but the likelihood of a bite during this period still exists.
- Ebola and Marburg viruses. According to official figures, the main focus of the spread of the virus is Africa, but precautions are never superfluous.
Additional Information. Special services will take measures to remove bats, as well as disinfect the premises with special preparations permitted by law. This will allow you to get rid of intrusive inhabitants for a long time.
Preventive measures
Like any other nuisance, the appearance of bats in the house is easier to prevent than to waste time and money on getting them out.
It is worth preparing for this in advance, until the colony settles down thoroughly and hatches offspring:
- Regularly it is necessary to inspect attics, basements and other places in which the owners are extremely rare. It is such premises, if they are also insulated, that attract bats.
- It is necessary to close up all possible openings through which bats can enter the room. To do this, close large openings with a grill, and eliminate small gaps with sealants or construction foam.
- It is very practical to install a special device with a unidirectional output. Such a device is fixed in places most susceptible to the penetration of animals. Its principle of operation is based on blocking the reverse entry. Even if the bats have already managed to enter the house, after they leave it, they will no longer be able to return.
Important! When disposing of bats on your own, you need to take precautions. They put on rubber gloves on their hands, protect the respiratory organs with a respirator, on the eyes with glasses. Found excrement should be well moistened with water before harvesting to prevent spraying of dried guano. The cleaned area must be thoroughly washed with a disinfectant.
Fighting bats is not a one-day process; it may take a long time to eliminate them or help from special services. In any case, it is important to remain calm, patient and humane. A correctly chosen method will allow you to get rid of uninvited guests once and for all.
VIDEO: How to get rid of bats in the house.