Bat Info - Bat Removal Specialist

Bat Exclusions

What is a Bat Exclusion?

Exclusion is conducted by positioning one-way devices at key locations to allow bats to exit the structure. The one-way devices allow the bats to exit, but prevents them from re-entering. We can also use stealth-netting, (netting must be applied by professionals) so as to allow bats to exit and not reenter. We seal and bat proof in an aesthetically pleasing way. We have thousands of satisfied customers. (Check out our testimonials)

We perform Bat Exclusions in a safe and humane manner. Bats are not rodents and they are a natural pesticide. Many bats are protected and we never want to hurt or kill bats! However, we do not want bats in our homes, warehouses, buildings or structures causing damage.

We have successfully performed thousands of bat exclusions and we give a guarantee with our work!

Please note: Physically capturing bats and relocating them is almost never successful because bats are often hiding in areas of the building that are not accessible. If bats become scared they can travel back into the structure and become trapped. Even if bats are in an area that is open, attempts to capture them will likely cause them to flee into inaccessible areas of the structure. Trapping bats as they exit a building does not work either because bats are frequently injured or die in the process of being captured and transported to a new location. Although this may appear to solve the problem temporarily, bats will almost always instinctively return to their old roosting location, even if it requires flying hundreds of miles.

Bat Removal – Information on Frequently Asked Questions:

Maternity Season: Most bat species only have one baby a year. We cannot perform bat exclusions during Maternity season, June through mid- August. If you are experiencing bat problems during bat maternity season, please don’t hesitate to call Western Bat Specialists. Other companies may agree to do bat exclusions during this time; this is wrong and illegal in most states and extremely harmful to bats which can make a bad situation worse. Bats that can’t get back in, would be forced to leave their pups (babies). The pup without his or her mother would die (they are unable to fly and they would become trapped) leading to dead bats in your building. We would love to help you by performing a bat exclusion during the proper time of year! If you contact us we can get you on the calendar as soon as maternity season has lifted.

Bat Hibernation: We do not provide Bat Exclusions in the winter months while bats are hibernating. Well intentioned people bring harm to the bat species by causing too much disturbance. This is especially true in the wintertime, when bats have barely enough fat reserve to survive through the cold weather. One extra disturbance (waking up in winter) can cause a loss of 60 days’ worth of fat reserves for the hibernating bat! For this reason, we will not do exclusions when they are hibernating. (They are not going to queue up and fly out during this time anyway.)

This can run from November 1st until February depending on your location and the weather. Although no bat-proofing may be performed during this time, don’t delay! Call now to make an appointment, and we will make sure you are on the schedule to have your home bat-proofed as soon as the Hibernation season is over and it starts warming up. We will start booking appointments in February and we book up fast.

Don’t Plug Holes: Daily we gets calls in our office saying they have plugged up holes that they believe the bats are using to get in and out of the building. They waited for the bats to exit and then sealed up the area. This is never recommended as you can trap bats inside the home or building causing them to die and leading to additional problems as they take turns cycling throughout the evening hours. If you have done this please contact us right away 888-550-2287 Please note: not all bats in a roost exit each night and you can trap bats inside leading them to die!

Guano & Urine / Damage from Bats: After the bat exclusion is done and if the bats have made a mess of your building, home or structure we can perform a Remediation Service. Remediation is when we clean up all guano (feces) and affected areas. We can disinfect and clean your building using HEPA-filters. (Check out Remediation Services for more information)

Do Not Poison or Exterminate Bats: Many bats are protected and are essential to the environment. Bats, although they can make a big mess in your home or business, are extremely valuable. We will all be in serious trouble if the numbers of the bat population become drastically reduced. And the sad fact is, over half of all bat species across the nation are in trouble. This is because of many things; the closing of mines and caves, (loss of habitat) the use of pesticides, white nose syndrome, destruction of maternity colonies and poor attempts on some people’s part to do bat exclusions or even kill bats. Additionally, there is no pesticide created for use on bats. Therefore, anyone hired to use such chemicals / or products for anything except the labeled targeted pests is a violation of law.

Remember bats are a vital part of our eco-system, eating many insects (including mosquitoes) as part of their nightly diet. A favorite culinary delight of the Mexican Free-tailed bat is the corn earworm moth. The Pallid Bat loves scarab beetles. He also is know to eat grasshoppers, moths and termites, among other things.

Call our office to find out more about Bat Exclusions and for more information about our services!

A specialist is waiting to take your call!

888-550-2287 (BATS)

Bat Guano – Will It Make You Sick?

Not likely! You can relax. A bigger issue is why you have reoccurring bat guano (see picture of bat guano) on your porch. It might be time to call Batman to see if bats are gaining access into your home.

Histoplasmosis (caused by spores in infected soil, bird or bat guano has also been called “Cavers Disease” and “Spelunker’s Lung” because it would sometimes occur after long exposure to bat guano that had been stirred up by cave explorers. It can be a very serious disease, although most people infected with these spores will never display symptoms. It is a disease that usually affects the lungs, and often used to be misdiagnosed as tuberculosis. It is not limited to just the lungs however, and is very serious (or fatal) when it travels to other organs. Symptoms can include coughing, fever and general flu like symptoms.

The people who are at the highest risk of infection are those who inhale a large number of spores by working with heavily infected soil, cleaning poultry pens, working in bat infested buildings, frequenting caves and farmers. People with compromised immune systems are also at high risk for contracting Histoplasmosis.

In our office, we have heard of families contracting Histoplasmosis from having large deposits of guano in the ceiling of their home. We have not heard of it being contracted from small amounts of guano being swept away. However, if you were to develop symptoms of the disease, you should always contact your doctor.

If you have bats living in your structure, you may need a bat “clean out”, or bat remediation. We are bat specialists in removing guano from buildings and homes, and you will see us using our protective gear and face masks as necessary.

Bats and White-Nose Syndrome

Bat with white nose syndrome

White-Nose Syndrome is a mysterious fungal disease that has been killing bats hibernating in caves in the Northeastern United States at an alarming rate. The mortality rate is over 90% in affected colonies. Affected bats can look like they are starting to mold, with white rings of fungus around the nose, and also on the wings and ears. The disease is alarming, and spreading at a rapid rate.

Although White-Nose Syndrome is under study, it is thought that it kills bats by wakening them during hibernation. A hibernating bat awakens only about every 10 – 20 days normally and naturally, during which time they drink, urinate, mate and perhaps change location. A bat with White-Nose Syndrome awakens every three – four days. These awakenings use a lot of energy, and a bat that is awakened too much will use all it’s body reserves, and starve to death before winter is over.

Five species are currently being affected, one of these, the Indiana Bat, was already on the endangered list.

This disease is not currently in California or Nevada, but it is having a huge effect in other states on the population of two of California’s most common species, the little brown (in particular) and the big brown. We love our bats and want them to thrive. That is why we do our utmost to care for them, and practice only safe exclusion methods. If you have bats, consider putting up bat houses for them. (We will discuss bat houses in another blog) If they are in your house, use someone that is a bat professional and has expert knowledge of bats (read about our bat removal experts) and their habits to exclude them. Protect our ecology!

Hoary Facts

Mr. Hoary the bat 🦇. One of our favorite bats!

Did you know?

The hoary bat is typically a solitary bat.

These little guys are not very social. Rather preferring to hang out alone all tucked away in tree foliage.

Bat con states “What is neat about the hoary bat is that they will hang out in the leaves of trees and use their furry tail membrane to wrap themselves up like their own little personal sleeping bag. They typically hang from one foot and look like a dry leaf in a tree.” – bat con.

When The Hoary bat mates…This typically takes place in autumn

or at times in the winter. Fertilization takes place a long time after copulation, around spring. Young are born between mid-May and early July after a gestation period believed to be around 40 days. They will have on average 1 to 2 pups. Twins are a possibility!

Their pups are typically weaned after 34 days of being born. Bats give birth while hanging upside down! It’s pretty amazing! •

#welovebats #batcon #animalspot.net

Bats in Bracken Cave

In Bracken Cave, a population of approximately 20 million Mexican Free-tailed Bats call it home sweet home. (Mexican Free-tailed’s form the largest colonies of any bat species.) Every single night the bats of Bracken Cave consume tons of insects. Many of these bugs are harmful to our crops. Think of how much less pesticides can be used because of their help. Bats have been “green” for eons, long before it became “in vogue” to do so. They are actually one of the most environmental friendly creatures around. Bats ingest harmful pests, and deposit them in the end (literally) as guano (bat feces), one of the best and most valued fertilizers on earth. The bats of Bracken Cave are some of the most fortunate of bats, the cave is owned by Bat Conservation International (BCI) who restricts access and makes sure the cave and the land around it is protected. Western Bat Specialists is a member of Bat Conservation International.

Although the Southwest States are favorite habitats of the Mexican Free-tailed Bat, we have them in the Northwest as well. Thankfully we see them often in our exclusion work in Northern California.