If you hear a bat in your attic and you think it’s just a cute little critter that isn’t hurting anything, think again. You’re probably hearing an entire colony, and bats can do a great deal of expensive damage.
Here are four ways that bats can destroy your home.
#1) They can make it smell disgusting.
Bat guano has a strong ammonia smell that can make it impossible to live in your home. Bats eliminate waste up to 30 times a day, which means it only takes 10 bats in your attic to end up with 300 “little accidents” in a single day.
Some colonies end up with hundreds of bats. Before long, the guano is soaking through your ceiling and your drywall, sending chunks of it to the floor.
#2) They can destroy the underlying structure.
Bats can do a great deal of structural damage to the home as they squeeze in and out of small openings to get into your attic. The more they pass in and out of these holes, the more they widen them, exposing the underlying material to wind and weather.
Mold and mildew soon move in after them, and it doesn’t take long for rot to set in. They aren’t like rats, which might downright chew on your housing supports, but that doesn’t mean they’re not destructive.
#3) They can turn it into a fire hazard.
Remember all that guano? It gathers around your electrical wiring, too. Guano is flammable. It’s a little like the fertilizer that might be used in certain explosives. Their nesting materials can be flammable too.
It only takes a single spark to light up the entire mess. Attic fires are extremely dangerous, and 33% of them spread to encompass the entire building.
#4) They can expose you to diseases.
There are many ways that bats in the home can expose you and your family to bats. Guano in the vents can mean breathing in particles trapped in the guano.
It’s also easier than you think to come into contact with a bat’s body, especially if you put your hand into firewood, brush, or a crevice. Since avoiding firewood, brush, and crevices isn’t always possible when you’re a homeowner, it’s wise to take bat problems seriously.
Get Help With Your Bat Problem Today
Have you been ignoring your bat problem because you’re worried about how much bat removal services are going to cost? Elite Wildlife Services does everything in our power to keep your bat removal services as affordable as possible.
Find out what it will take to remove your bat problem by contacting us for a free estimate today.
