Bat infestations can be subtle. You might not see them. But you hear them. You smell their guano. You may even see them flocking around your house at night.
Prevention can go a long way. While we’re always happy to remove bats, we’re nevertheless very happy to help you keep bats out of your home.
But bats are tiny. They can squeeze through incredibly small openings. Like rats, they need less than ½ of an inch to get inside. That’s an opening the size of a dime…and it can be difficult to find every last entry point on any house as a result.
Nevertheless, they tend to like some very common entry points. And knowing this vital information about bat behavior can make all the difference.
Roofline Openings
Gaps in the fascia, soffits, or loose shingles are extremely attractive for bats, offering a direct route into your attic. Inspect your roof and address any visible gaps you see.
If you already have a bat infestation, you might see dark smudge marks. Bat fur is full of oils and secretions, and they can leave smudges and streaks behind.
Weather damage often causes suitable openings, so be sure to inspect your soffit and fascia after any one of Houston’s severe storms.
Gables and Ridge Vents
You’ll find your gable vents on the side of the house in the attic triangular space. Ridge vents run along the peak of the roof.
They have to stay open, because they’re designed for ventilation. But they usually lack the fine mesh screens that keep bats out. Even when screens exist, they often become damaged over time.
Either way, openings here create a bat superhighway straight into your attic.
If you’re already seeing bats flying in and out of the vents at dawn or at dusk, you’re beyond prevention and need removal services.
Uncapped or Damaged Chimneys
The top opening of the chimney flue, especially if uncapped or if the cap is rusted or damaged, provides a dark, vertical shaft, mimicking natural roosts like hollow trees.
If you hear fluttering or scratching within the chimney, bats emerging from the top, or guano accumulating on the chimney crown or around the fireplace.
Missing Mortar Joints
If you have a brick house, as many in Houston do, then any cracks or holes in brickwork, stone, or foundations where mortar has deteriorated or is missing. These openings provide discreet, narrow openings.
The problematic spots will often be high up, near your roofline. Bats usually hunt high for a place to roost.
Door & Window Frames
Doors and windows can develop tiny openings around window frames, door frames, pipes, wires, siding, or trim. While these small openings are less favored by bats than the others we’ve discussed, they’ll still give them a try every now and then.
Usually these holes appear when sealants dry out, crack, and peel, creating new vulnerabilities.
Already infested? You need professional bat removal services.
You need our one-way exclusion methods and our professional eye, which can help us locate and seal off every last entry point that bats might be exploiting. Plus, you save a trip up to your roof, which tends to be a good thing. You also avoid coming into contact with guano or accidentally breaking Texas law.
Not sure? Contact Elite Wildlife today for a comprehensive bat inspection and professional exclusion services!
