It’s a common occurrence for a family of bats to get trapped in your Massachusetts home attic. When that happens, you should consider calling a bat removal specialist.
Bats may seem like terrifying creatures because of their freaky appearance or history of carrying deadly diseases like SARS. Even the most recent coronavirus outbreak of COVID-19 may have come from bats.
However, they have quite an impact on our ecosystem.
Thousands of Bats are killed each year because of wind turbines. This may not seem like a big deal, but the agricultural importance of bats is unmatched. “For example, a single colony of 150 big brown bats ( Eptesicus fuscus ) in Indiana has been estimated to eat nearly 1.3 million pest insects each year, possibly contributing to the disruption of population cycles of agricultural pests” (Boyles, Cryan, McCracken, Kunz, 2). Insect genocide is a cruel way to look at it, but their sacrifice is extremely beneficial to the agricultural industry. In Texas, it is a very cotton dominated agro-ecosystem. If bats did not exist, these agricultural companies would be spending a huge amount of money on pesticides for their crop. For the number of acres harvested across Texas, “We estimate the value of bats to the agricultural industry is roughly $22.9 billion/year. If we assume values at the extremes of the probable range, the value of bats may be as low as $3.7 billion/year and as high as $53 billion/year” (Boyles, Cryan, McCracken, Kunz, 2). These references include the reduced costs of pesticides used each year because of the bats’ impact. I believe it is important to keep bats alive because they are more important than many people are aware of. In the world, the United States ranks 3rd in the most consumption of pesticides. According to the article, “Harmful effects of pesticides and their control through cowpathy”, the author describes the effects pesticides can have on us. To list a few, pesticides cause immuno-pathological effects, carcinogenic effects, mutagenicity, teratogenicity, neuropathy, nephropathy, hepatotoxicity, reproductive disorders, or recurrent infections. It’s horrifying to see the pesticide filled products we consume every day and the endless list of effects.
So, the question is, what shall we do if bats get trapped in our attic?
The list of possible solutions is endless. The only option I would love for you to never consider is extermination. I understand they can carry rabies and other infectious diseases, but there are ways to not harm the bats. I would use an Ultrasonic Bat Repeller. This avoids the use of harmful toxins and chemicals while ending your bat problem for good. This device uses ultrasonic sound waves that are very high pitched to the bats, thereby driving them out of your home and preventing them from ever coming back. In the academic article, “Wildlife Damage Management Fact Sheet Series”, the authors emphasize and break down the process of bat-proofing. The first step is identifying entrances. Look for holes, roof leaks, or small areas where the bat may have been able to enter. A good indicator is bat droppings because they usually show where the bat entered. Second, you need to use hardware cloth to seal the large gaps or cracks in the ceiling. Make sure to bat-proof in the spring because if you don’t, the bats that get trapped are babies and will not be able to make it out. They will then cause odor and health issues if you do not do it correctly. If you have to bat-proof while bats are present, make sure to install a one-way door. Lastly, provide an alternative roost. “Homeowners may find it difficult to bat-proof their home completely. Bats can crawl through a crack as small as 1/4 by 1 1/2 inches, so persistent ones may find a way to re-enter their traditional roost” (Curtis, Sullivan, 4). Installing a bat box is the safest way to make sure this is not an issue. These are the two best solutions to getting bats out of your attic. While the second option is more complex, it is still very effective. Even if you have never had an issue with bats, they can crawl through very small spaces. Check your attic and make sure that those areas are sealed to prevent them from being trapped.
References
Boyles, J. G., Cryan, P. M., Mccracken, G. F., & Kunz, T. H. (2011). Economic Importance of Bats in Agriculture. Science, 332(6025), 41–42. doi: 10.1126/science.1201366
Greenhall, A., and S. Frantz. 1994. “Bats.” In Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage. S. Hygnstrom, R. Timm, and G. Larson, eds. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension.
Henderson, F., and C. Lee. 1992. Bats: Urban Wildlife Damage Control. Manhattan: Kansas State University Cooperative Extension Service.
New York State Department of Health. 1999. Bat Rabies in New York State. Albany: New York State Department of Health. 10 pp. Available from New York State Department of Health, Box 2000, Albany, NY 12220.
Williams-Whitmer, L., and M. Brittingham. 1995. A Homeowner’s Guide to Northeastern Bats and Bat Problems. State College: Penn State University Cooperative Extension. 22 pp.
Harmful Effects of Pesticides. (2005). Perils of Pesticides, 43–73. doi: 10.1017/upo9788175968769.007