With over a billion bats worldwide and 47 known species that reside in the United States, alone, it is extremely common for some of them to find their way to your home. However, this is one animal you don’t want seeking shelter at your residence. One of the primary areas bats like to dwell at your home may be surprising to you. Can you guess it? It’s shutters! In this article, we discuss why bats choose shutters to roost behind, how to discourage bats roosting behind shutters, why you don’t want them around your home & next steps if your bat problem is just too great.
Why Do Bats Roost Behind Shutters In The First Place?
First things first, why do bats roost behind shutters out of all places? Bats enjoy small, dark areas to hide that will protect them from danger and predators. It also gives them easy access to the outside where they can score a quick bite to eat and return swiftly back to the shutter. Bats, such as the Little Brown Myotis bat that is only around 2 inches in length, can squeeze into places as small as 3.8 cm x 0.64 cm. In saying so, behind a shutter matches that criteria perfectly. However, one benefit of bats roosting behind shutters is that they haven’t actually made it into your house…yet. This gives you the opportunity to remove and have the bats sealed out before the problem eventually gets bigger.
How To Discourage Bats Roosting Behind Shutters
Although bats are are an integral part of our ecosystem and keep the amount of bugs we have around, at bay, it still doesn’t mean they should be welcome guests in our homes. In saying so, that is why it is also important to remain humane when it comes to discouraging bats roosting behind shutters. Below we will list three methods you can use:
1. Use repellents
One important fact to know about bats is that they have a super strong, keen sense of smell. This means that using repellents, such as mothballs, that contain naphthalene, it a great deterrent. The strong smell produced by this chemical can discourage bats roosting behind shutters of your home. Simply place them around and between the spaces in your shutters and wait a few days to see if this method works for you. You might also use some sticky bird repellents that are typically used to keep birds from landing on unwanted areas, to assist in keeping bats from re-entering. Please note that this method should not be used as a permanent solution. Overtime, the bats may come back because they’re gotten used to the smell.
2. Use light
As we know, bats prefer dark, cool spaces since they are nocturnal creatures. Light is not their friend and they certainly will not roost in an area that has an abundant amount of light. Another easy method would be to either place a small light behind the shutters of shine a strong light under the shutters to discourage the bats from wanting to settle there. Again, this method is not proven to work for bats roosting behind shutters forever and similar to the mothballs, may only be a temporary solution to getting the bats away from roosting behind them. Another important note to remember is that the light may also drive them to another area of your home that is not so bright, like your attic. If this becomes the case, the bats have ample room to procreate and create a larger colony and bigger problem inside of your house.
Why You Don’t Want Bats Around Your Home
You may ask, “What’s the big deal with bats roosting behind shutters?” Well, the shutters are only the beginning. The real problem comes into play if they move into your attic, as previously mentioned. A bat infestation comes with issues that can be detrimental to you and your family’s health. One of the key factors in this is the bat’s feces, also known as “guano”. Bat guano can accumulate in your attic very quickly. Once the amount of guano increases and begins to heat up in your attic, it will begin to smell BAD. It will also begin to grow Histoplasma fungus. If the spores become airborne, it can lead to a potential health risks for your family. If you breath in the spores, it can lead to a lung infection known as Histoplasmosis. Along with that, overtime, the bat guano accumulates and ruins your attic insulation, which can cost you thousands in out-of-pocket costs. Learn more about Histoplasmosis, here.
Why Choose Varmint Gone?
Varmint Gone understands the importance of protecting your home and your family. We also have decades of experience and training to ensure that your home is cleaned and sealed correctly… the first time! Schedule an inspection online or call Varmint Gone at 888-391-3330, today. Varmint Gone is a licensed, insured, and local veteran owned bat removal company providing fast and reliable bat removal services to homeowners and commercial facilities since 1983. We include an unprecedented five-year warranty on all repairs and construction exclusion work against bats.
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Call Varmint Gone Now at 888-391-3330 or schedule your inspection online to remove bats from your home or business.
