Many are afraid of the bat from an early age. And when does this seemingly evil animal begin to live on the roof of a house or in an apartment? The constant rustling, the presence of a squeak and the ability to suddenly fly into an apartment can give rise to a feeling of fear even in those with strong nerves.
When mammals are concerned, people often wonder how they can get bats out from under the roof. There are many ways to breed bats to help solve the problem.
Preventive measures
Are bats dangerous?
Bats are small flying animals that belong to the order bats. They are nocturnal, orientate in space with the help of ultrasound, do not tolerate sunlight well, therefore they settle in calm, dark places.
Experts believe that bats rarely settle in an urban environment due to the increased noise level and artificial lighting typical of modern megacities. Places that can be preferred by urban bats should have the following characteristics:
- In such places there should be protrusions for which bats catch on during sleep and rest, because as you know, they sleep with their heads down. Therefore, they often settle on balconies and ventilation, attics.
- The habitat of the animal should be well protected from sunlight both day and night, since bats do not tolerate it well.
- These generally harmless animals settle in quiet places where humans rarely look.
- In addition, in such a place there should be cracks through which the mice fly out and fly back into their habitat. Crevices in the balcony can become a secluded spot. It must be remembered that animals can penetrate even small holes.
Interesting! There is a misconception among ordinary people that bats feed on blood, which is why they are often called "vampires". Although in fact, most species feed on insects, small rodents and even fruits. Bats, which feed on blood, do not inhabit the territory of Russia. But even despite this, you are unlikely to get along with such neighbors.
Afterword
In conclusion, it should be said that animals such as bats are a fickle clientele and are unlikely to "rent" your apartment for a long time. In most cases, they do not stay longer than a month and fly away on all four sides by themselves. So you can bear with such lovely and charming "lodgers" for a month.
If you do not want to put up with them at any time and for any period of time, and you did not manage to expel them by the methods described above, then there are special brigades of professionals fighting this kind of uninvited “guests”. These guys, for a certain amount, will do their job at the highest level and save you from these annoying animals, and at the same time, at your request and for an additional payment, will bring out cockroaches and catch all the snakes in the garden.
Dangers of neighborhood bats
Many, having learned that such "wonderful" neighbors have appeared in their attic or balcony, immediately begin to wonder how to get rid of bats in an effective but safe way.
Even though these animals do not pose an immediate danger to humans, there are many unpleasant attributes of close coexistence with bats:
- Noise... If a flock of bats occupy a human dwelling, this can be immediately noticed by the noise that is activated at night. It does not look like the squeak of insects, but it also causes considerable discomfort, interferes with sleep, and scares.
- Dirt and smell... Bats abundantly litter their shelter with waste products, which smell very unpleasant.
- Unsanitary conditions... Bats are often carriers of various infectious and viral diseases, including extremely dangerous ones. Bat droppings are simply teeming with various parasites and pathogens. Therefore, it is urgent to get rid of such guests.
- Violation of the integrity of the roof... It is worth remembering that bats living in the attic can gnaw through insulation and waterproofing, which requires expensive roof repairs.
Are bats dangerous?
Remember! That on the territory of Russia you need to be afraid not so much of bites as bats droppings. You should be afraid of a bite if the individual belongs to the blood-sucking species, because they carry rabies.
Useful facts
There are many myths and stories about bats. But there are real facts that you need to know before getting rid of these animals.
Do not build nests
The main reason that flying individuals settle in residential buildings is that they do not nest. They just hang from the ceiling, clinging to their claws.
The appearance of offspring
In middle latitudes, bats reproduce once a year - by the end of spring, early summer. The number of offspring in a litter is one or two; triplets are rarely born.
Colonies of females
In summer, females form extensive maternal colonies. Males and dry females always settle separately.
Mating begins in the month of August and continues through the fall and winter. The colony includes from 10 to 1 or one and a half thousand individuals.
Night mode
Bats are nocturnal. At night they hunt insects, as they have an important advantage over other nocturnal animals - echolocation. During the day, mice sleep upside down, falling into a daze.
Disease vectors
Scientists have found that individuals carry more diseases dangerous to humans than other order of mammals.
Rabies
Bats are long-term hosts and carriers of the rabies virus. But not all species of individuals carry the disease. A person can become infected only with a bite.
Marburg virus
The mice are spreading the Marburg virus. The disease leads to the development of severe hemorrhagic fever in humans; at the same time, the death rate is high.
Ebola virus
Flying individuals can infect people with an acute viral infection, while they themselves do not become a victim of the disease. The virus can then spread through close person-to-person contact.
Histoplasmosis
Bats are carriers of the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum. The infection is found in animal excrement. Therefore, in order to become infected, it is enough to be present nearby and inhale dangerous fumes.
Parasites
Harmful insects settle on flying animals. But they do not threaten people, as they are attached to their masters.
Control methods
Getting rid of bats in the house can be difficult, because they are reluctant to leave their habitats, especially since their nests may die. However, every homeowner will find a way out of this situation.
If bats feel right at home in your attic, here are some of the most effective ways to get rid of these pesky creatures:
- Mechanical... The simplest method is mechanical.This method involves filling up all the cracks and gaps in the roof, installing gratings on the dormer windows, which will prevent bats from entering the attic.
- Chemical... The chemical method is to treat the attic with a deterrent that bats can feel. In this case, the animals will leave the house. Although sometimes, to get rid of all the mice, it is necessary to carry out the treatment several times.
- Ultrasonic... An ultrasonic repeller is often used to control flying pests. Ultrasonic repellents are the most harmless and safe. The method of operation of the device is to use ultrasound, which knocks down echo-location of mice.
- Light... An effective method is to organize around-the-clock lighting in the attic for a while. Light will prevent unpleasant neighbors from returning home in the morning, after which they will be forced to move.
Echolocation in bats
Important! To combat bats, each homeowner chooses those methods that he considers more effective. However, it is often necessary to call a special team of specialists who will do the job quickly and efficiently. For special treatment of the premises, the time of the year and its area are not important in those cases when the deterrent drug and its dosage are calculated correctly.
What to be afraid of?
- The first danger is possible injuries and injuries. A flying guest can scratch slightly, or it can seriously bite. The bite can be a deadly infection.
- The second danger is poisoning. Rodents leave waste products. Vapors from their excrement are harmful to humans. They can threaten with histoplasmosis.
- The third danger: other pests can get into the apartment with mice. For example, ticks. So you need to take up the fight against the original source of the problem in time.
Obviously, it is necessary to treat the elimination of rodents with caution.
It is better not to contact the mouse directly, to use protective products for the skin, to carry out all work with gloves.
Prevention recommendations
Thanks to the methods that we have mentioned, it is possible to effectively deal with the colonization of volatile pests in attics, balconies, and ventilation shafts.
However, the presence of holes and protrusions in the roof can provoke a re-invasion. Experts recommend observing the following preventive measures:
- To prevent bats from colonizing the under-roof space, it is necessary to carefully seal all the cracks through which they can get into the attic. Even a small gap can cause a problem, because the body of bats is quite compact.
- To prevent the occupation of the attic by bats, you need to use special gratings or nets that block the entrance for these pests, but nevertheless do not interfere with the air circulation in the under-roof space.
- In order for the methods of controlling bats to be effective, it is necessary to repeat the treatments several times, be sure to pay attention to the nests.
Ultrasonic Bat Repeller
Remember! Before getting rid of bats under a roof, you need to carefully study the legislation on this matter. In some regions of the country, chemical methods of controlling these pests are strictly prohibited. The easiest way to find out about safe and affordable methods for cleaning an attic is at your local sanitary and epidemiological station.
Fighting tactics
To get rid of volatile pests once and for all, it is necessary to use an integrated method of dealing with them. The tactics for processing the attic space is as follows:
- First, the under-roof space is fumigated with a smoky sulfur bomb, which makes the bats leave their permanent habitat.
- Those individuals who did not want to leave their homes can be carefully picked up with a tight gloved hand, transplanted into a small container or box, taken out of the house, and then released in a safe place.
- Then you need to inspect the attic for nests, they also need to be taken out of the house, if this is not prohibited by local environmental legislation.
- When the attic is clean of unwanted neighbors, you need to close up all the holes through which they can re-enter the chosen place.
- As a preventive measure, it is better to install an ultrasonic repeller, which will surely scare bats away from your home for a long time.
Bat nests in the attic of a house
Note! When smoking mice, it is necessary to comply with fire safety rules, as well as use personal protective equipment.
How to fight
There is always a lot of noise, smell and pollution from bats that have settled in a residential building. Therefore, no one wants to coexist with them.
Various deterrent agents can drive away or avoid their appearance.
When can you withdraw
Animals should not be driven out in late spring, during the rearing period. Cubs do not know how to fly, so they will stay in the house where they will die from starvation. The corpses of young animals will become a breeding ground for infection.
How to find and close loopholes in the house
Bats have a narrow enough gap to squeeze through and settle inside. Their main loopholes include:
- through ventilation in the attic;
- house cladding;
- gaps in the walls;
- balconies;
- roofs.
Animals are looking for nesting places in barns, outbuildings, summer cottages, residential apartment buildings.
Find and seal all cracks and holes with polyurethane foam or sealant.
Repellents
You can scare off bats in different ways. There are effective homemade and commercial products available.
Naphthalene in the form of fine flakes or crystals
The flakes are placed in bags and hung in places where animals have settled. The smell repels bats. The contents of the pouch should be changed more often to be effective.
