Common bats in Indiana, like the Big Brown bat and Little Brown bat, are not solitary species. They generally stick together, in colonies ranging from a dozen bats to hundreds of thousands or more. Residentially, bats like to take shelter in our attics, crawl spaces, wall voids, and any other areas they can access for warmth and privacy. In such areas, you can expect roost sizes to range from a handful of bats to a roomful of bats, and sometimes even more depending on available square footage. Structures separate from the house, like barns and sheds can become roost locations to extremely large numbers of bats, in the thousands or more.
If you suspect that you might have an infestation of bats in the house, it is critical that you act fast. The longer bats reside within your property, the more damage they will cause. More importantly, bats carry disease; disease that can be passed onto people and pets. The first step to getting rid of bats in the house is detection.
Continue reading to learn what the top three signs of having bats in the house are, and what you need to do to eliminate them as quickly as possible.
How to Tell if You Have Bats in the House
Bats, although stealthy enough to find access into your home, are not very smart at hiding once they are there. They give off a lot of clues that indicate their presence. All you have to do is know which clues to look for and keep your eyes peeled for them! The top three signs that suggest you have bats in the attic or other area of the home include lingering odor, drywall stains, and strange noises.
You Might Have Bats in the Attic or House if…
❶ You Smell a Lingering Odor
If you have ever gone to the pet store, you know what an animal cage smells like. Well, bats are wild animals and that means they tend to stink. Not only do their outdoor nature and animal-like behaviors give them a strong odor, but their droppings of feces and urine do too. After some time, you will be able to smell these foul, rotten odors because they will travel through walls, ceilings, or air ducts.
❷ You Spot Stains on the Walls and Ceiling
Bat guano and bat urine accumulate in mass quantities very quickly. Overtime, the waste will seep into the floorboards, walls, and ceilings of the surrounding area, and eventually, present in the living quarter areas of the home. If you see yellow, orange, or brownish stains on the walls or ceilings, it could be caused by a roosting bat colony inside the house.
❸ You Hear Strange Noises in the Night
Bats are nocturnal, which means they are active from dusk to dawn. Overnight, if you are hearing strange noises coming from the walls, ceiling, or chimney, it could be a bat infestation. Listen for common bat noises like shuffling, chattering, squeaking, squealing, and fluttering.
If You Have Just ONE Bat in the House
If you find one solitary bat in the house or on your property, you can usually persuade it to fly out if you open a window and use a broom stick. If that does not work, you can try to cover it with a shoe box and relocate it outdoors. If all attempts fail, contact a 24 hour Indianapolis bat removal company for immediate critter control assistance.
Are you looking for a trusted and affordable Indiana critter control company to get rid of bats around the house? Contact Modern Wildlife Control at 317-847-6409 for licensed and insured bat removal services in Indianapolis, Indiana. We serve residential and commercial clients.
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