When bats get into your home, it can be a stressful situation. You may be tempted to ignore the problem, hoping it will go away on its own. With bats, though, the scratching, thumping and other unsettling noises can make this difficult. However, you shouldn’t avoid dealing with bats in your home, not just because they’re kind of creepy, but because they pose significant risks to your family and property. Read on to learn more about the consequences of ignoring a bat infestation.
Health Risks
The first concern with having bats in your home is the health risks. Some bats carry rabies, which can spread if they bite or scratch you. If you come into physical contact with a bat, they can scratch you and you may not even notice. This means they can transfer rabies to you without you knowing. That’s why having them in your home is dangerous.
Besides being common carriers of rabies, bats can also transmit a fungal disease called histoplasmosis. Their droppings, also called guano, are the culprit. Histoplasmosis is contracted when you breathe in the spores from the guano. For some, this disease presents no symptoms. For others, histoplasmosis causes flu-like symptoms or even chronic lung infections. Young children, older adults and immunocompromised individuals are at a higher risk of contracting this disease.
Besides these two conditions, bats can also carry salmonellosis and external parasites, so it’s best to have them removed from your home as quickly as possible.
Property Damage
Much of the damage bats leave behind is structural. A buildup of guano can seep into insulation and wood, weakening the materials and leaving stains behind. Bat guano and urine also contain acid that corrodes metal, wood and other materials, which destroys the structure over time. Beyond that, the odor from bat droppings that permeates your home is extremely unpleasant. Repairing damage and removing the odor caused by bats can become expensive, so it’s best to deal with a bat infestation as soon as you discover it.
Attracting Other Pests
While bats may be your first problem, after a while, they may not be the only pest you find yourself dealing with. Bat guano is known to attract secondary pests, like cockroaches and flies, that use the droppings as a food source. While bats can help control insect populations in people’s homes, an unchecked infestation with a buildup of guano can do just the opposite.
What to Do if You Find Bats in Your Home
The first thing you need to do if you find bats in your home is avoid them. Don’t touch them or try to remove them yourself. Besides the health risks they present, bats are a protected species. There are specific laws and regulations that must be followed when removing them. You can provide an exit and try to let the bats fly out on their own, but if they’ve already established a roosting site, it’s unlikely that they will leave voluntarily. Your best bet is professional bat removal.
If you find bats in your home, you shouldn’t ignore them. Protect your home and your family by calling the Omaha bat removal experts at (402) 819-7378.
