Bats in NJ hibernate from mid to late October and emerge in April, as temperatures begin to rise. This is when you’ll find bats returning to their summer roosting spots —including your attic.
If you suspect bats in the attic of your home, you need a professional pest control company to assess the damage. However, you can take several precautionary measures on your own, although contacting the pros is the safest and most effective solution.
But what attracts bats to your house?
Bats are attracted to your house because they’re in search of food, water, and shelter. They look for stable temperatures to roost and protection from the elements and predators. This makes your attic an ideal nesting place for bats to set up shop.
Then this article explains how to get bats out of the attic and what you can do to keep them out.
Bat Excluders
Bat excluders can be helpful if you know the bats’ point of entry. You’d place this tube or cone-shaped device over the hole that bats are entering and exiting your home through. Any bats trapped inside your house will fly out and be unable to return, thanks to the one-way exit on this device.
You can also install mesh over your attic vents if you’re looking to prevent bats from entering and exiting your home at their leisure.
It’s important to look for any other holes they might be using as an entry point. If you find any holes, be sure to seal them with silicone caulk. Bats can squeeze through a hole as small as ½ inch, so look carefully when identifying entry points.
Repel Bats Using Essential Oil Sprays
Are you wondering what smell will keep bats away? For starters, peppermint repels bats (and mice), along with eucalyptus, and cinnamon. If you place these scents near nesting areas, you may have some success with driving them away from your attic.
Be mindful of where you spray essential oils, as many are
toxic to children and pets.
Bats can pose a serious health threat to you and your family, especially if there is guano (bat feces) or urine in your attic. This is why you
need a professional to remove bats from your attic safely and humanely.
Shiny Objects
Another DIY way to get rid of bats is with shiny objects such as CDs, tinfoil, mylar balloons, or mirrors. Anything that reflects light deters bats from entering your home. Hang old CDs or strips of aluminum foil from fishing wire to deter bats from entering your home.
Be Sure to Clean
If you discover bats in your attic, you’ll need to clean up the mess. You must wear the proper safety equipment while cleaning up after them, including gloves, a mask, and clothes you can throw away afterward.
You should always dampen bat droppings before removing them, as this prevents dangerous spores from becoming airborne. Always dispose of droppings using a sealed plastic bag.
Once bat droppings have been removed, disinfect the entire area and throw out any contaminated insulation. You may even need to replace damaged wood.
If you’re looking to avoid a bat infestation in the first place, contact a
professional pest removal company to assess your property and look for points of entry. The best type of bat removal services are preventative ones.
How to Get Rid of Bats in the Attic
If you suspect bats in the attic, follow the tips and tricks outlined in this article. However, bats carry dangerous diseases, including rabies, which means you should always defer to a professional if you suspect you have bats in your house.
Serene Property Services is experienced in all types of pest removal. Don’t struggle with bats or other rodent infestations.
Contact us today and remove harmful pests from your home, once and for all.
