attic - AAAC Wildlife Removal

cleaning bat poop in an attic featured image

Brian Moss (President)
AAAC Wildlife Removal

11/28/2022 Total words : 1689

Cleaning Bat Poop in the Attic

After a successful bat abatement project, you may be left with hazardous guano on the attic floor. Cleaning bat poop can be a nasty and smelly job. The waste material not only emits a nasty odor but also poses significant health risks to those who come into contact with it. Fungus spores from disturbed guano are easily dispersed in the air and when inhaled can lead to a severe respiratory illness called Histoplasmosis. Bat diseases are no joke! Nevertheless, guano clean-up should be done as it is essential to the safety of your home! What do the droppings look like? Bat guano looks almost like rodent droppings, but typically larger, about a quarter of an inch in length on average. They can either be black or brown in color and cylindrical in shape. These guano sparkles when crumbled, this is because of the insect exoskeletons present in the dung. Before starting clean up The main concern with guano is the fungal spores that can easily go airborne once the dung is disturbed. To prevent this, ensure that the area is contained and sealed. Shut off the heating system and forced air ventilation system. Seal the intake mesh as well as the exhaust vents to prevent dust particles and spores from entering the house. Seal all openings in contaminated area with heavy duty duct tape and polyethylene sheeting. How to clean bat guano in the attic Cleaning bat guano in an attic is a messy job, but it's necessary to avoid health risks associated with the feces such as Histoplasmosis. Below are eight steps that cover all aspects of cleaning guano in attics: Wear personal protective equipment Double-check that all bats are excluded Pre-treat droppings Use vacuum cleaner to remove scattered poop Use hazardous waste bags Replace soiled insulation Scrub surfaces with an enzyme-based cleaner Fog the contaminated area Cleaning bat droppings Here are the steps to follow to successfully clean bat feces from an attic: Wear protective clothing In guano removal, it is important to start by wearing personal protective equipment. Thick gloves, surgical masks, and eye protection are vital because bat feces is hazardous and contains bacteria and parasites that can easily make you ill. Double check all bats are removed It is important to make sure that all bats are gone before you start your attic cleanup. Inspecting the entire attic thoroughly will prevent accidental bat contact during guano removal. Make sure that there are no baby bats left behind for mothers who might still be nursing as these young ones cannot yet fly away themselves! These bats will starve and die there in your attic and leave you with another problem. Make sure to wait until bat maternity season has concluded before making your move. Since bats are protected at the federal and state level, it's a good idea to exercise patience. Pre-treat bat droppings Dampen the droppings first with a spray bottle to prevent them from crumbling and fungal spores from dispersing into the air. This lessens your chances of inhaling fungal spores. Use vacuum to remove droppings in attic Vacuuming is an effective method for removing scattered feces from floorboards, insulation, and other areas that are hard to reach. Be sure that you are using HEPA filtered industrial vacuums so as not to stir up spores while vacuuming the feces out of your attic. Use hazardous waste bags In order to dispose of all bat guano properly, it needs to go into a hazardous trash bag before disposal outside your home (in accordance with local laws). Seal up all contaminated clothing as well after use so nothing gets out by accident while transporting them. Remove soiled insulation If bats were living on the rafters inside a home, they will leave behind droppings or urine wherever they roosted such as on insulation. These must be removed and replaced to avoid further bacterial or mold growth. Scrub contaminated surfaces with water and enzyme-based cleaner Bat poo is toxic and so must be scrubbed away from surfaces using an enzyme-based cleaner or enzymatic cleaners sold at your local hardware store. This will help to eliminate the smell of guano and break down organic material as well as neutralize any harmful pathogens on exposed areas. Fog the area to reach every nook and cranny To get bacteria and mold off of surfaces such as hard-to-reach areas like corners or ledges, you can use a fogger to reach every nook and cranny. Foggers are also effective for reaching behind beams and within wall cavities where dung particles might have been missed. Problems and dangers of bat feces in attic Leaving bat waste in the attic after bat removal is a big mistake. The feces contain bacteria and parasites that are harmful if they come into contact with people and also release spores that you or your family and pets can inhale. Here are problems and dangers caused by guano build up in an attic (or any place that bats might live): creates nurturing environment for histoplasmosis causing fungi encourages bacteria and mold growth creates a horrible smell attracts other pests due to odor causes stains in the ceiling rots any wood in your attic causes ceiling cave ins Histoplasmosis Histoplasmosis is a massive health risk associated with bat dung. It's a respiratory illness caused by inhaling the fungus spores Histoplasma capsulatum from the guano. It has flu-like symptoms that include fever, headache, fatigue, dry cough, and chest pain. It can be fatal especially for those with weakened immune systems or lung diseases such as asthma. Bacterial and mold growth Bat feces can also encourage bacterial and mold growth which can lead to severe health issues. Mold is a fungus that can produce mycotoxins, which are toxic substances that cause severe allergic reactions in humans and have been linked with asthma as well as other serious illnesses such as cancer. The bacteria from bat guano is not dangerous to bats but will make people sick with stuff things like salmonella, e Coli, and typhoid fever if they come into contact with the feces. There are also some parasites that live in bat poo such as roundworms and other intestinal worms that could cause serious health issues for those who might accidentally ingest them. Foul odor Bat dung creates a strong, foul odor that is likely to spread into your home. This smell seeps into your walls and ceilings, making it difficult to get rid of. Attracts other animals and insects The pheromones in bat waste can also attract other bats or other animals like snakes. It also attracts pesky insects such as flies or cockroaches and increases the risk of disease transmission or creating a secondary infestation. Causes staining Bat poop in an attic can also create unsightly stains on ceilings over time. Rotting droppings, as well as any other organic material that accumulates because of an infestation, will cause stains to form around the edges of your ceilings from seepage or mold growth. These need to be cleaned right away before they have a chance to set so you don't end up with ugly brown patches everywhere! Rotting wood Bat fecal matter contains high levels of uric acid which will rot untreated wood over time. If left unaddressed for too long, the dung will rot wooden surfaces like rafters, roof beams and may even reach floorboards below and cause structural damage by weakening them over time Ceiling cave ins Bats eat a lot of insects (up to their weight in a night!) and they poop a lot too! And sometimes the guano can pile up as high as a couple of feet deep. This problem is compounded by bat droppings that rot and produce methane gas which is a powerful agent of decay. The guano can also absorb the moisture from wooden surfaces, drywall, or insulation underneath it causing these materials to soften and break down over time. This will eventually lead to cave-ins in ceilings where feces pile up! Bat guano cleanup specialists AAAC Wildlife Removal offers bat removal services as well as guano cleanup and attic repair services. After we remove your bat problem, we'll ensure guaranteed sanitization and decontamination of your attic. Our professional wildlife control experts are available to remove toxic droppings from your attic to keep you safe at all times! Call AAAC Wildlife Removal today! We can help you with the problem no matter what those bats do to your home or business. Damage repair and attic restoration Aside from bat removal and guano clean-up, we also offer professional attic restoration services at AAAC Wildlife Removal. Our technicians are experienced in restoring attics from bat infestation so you don't have to worry about any damages caused by bats. With our full-service approach, we'll also ensure complete sanitization and deodorizing of your home while also providing structural repairs if needed after completing an effective bat removal process. Conclusion Cleaning bat feces in an attic can be hazardous, complex, and time-consuming. A typical homeowner should not attempt it without the proper protection and equipment required. Bat dung creates a health hazard for humans by spreading bacteria and mold spores that are toxic even in small quantities. It also creates stains on ceilings over time and can cause structural integrity issues. Removing bat waste in the attic after a successful removal is essential and should be addressed immediately before it can create any major problems. FAQs Can I vacuum the bat guano? You can, however, you can't simply use your regular home vacuum cleaner. The spores in bat droppings are too fine and will disperse all over your home, so a special one with a HEPA filter is required for cleanup in the attic. Can I clean bat guano in attic myself? It can be done, however, we don't advise you to try guano removal yourself, as it is time-consuming and dangerous for the uninitiated! It requires specialized equipment and a thorough understanding of bat biology. We recommend hiring professional bat control experts to clean feces in an attic, as it will save you time and money! Originally published on https://aaacwildliferemoval.com/blog/bats/cleaning-bat-poop-in-the-attic

Where Do Bats Live?

Bats live all over the world and their roosting sites vary depending on where they are. From their natural habitats like rainforests and caves, to man-made roosting sites like inside barns and attics, bats can be found all over. Bats can usually be found near water sources as well as deserts or tropical forests which means that there is no one specific place for them to live across the globe. They often make use of roosts but also hibernate during winter months - this period lasts about six months before it starts again with warming temperatures and increased bug populations. In this article, we will discuss bat habitats and more! Where do bats live? Bats have an almost enigmatic and mysterious quality to them. They are nocturnal flying mammals with a large wingspan and pointed ears. But you might have always wondered "Where do bats live?!" There are around 1400 species of bats in the world today. Some live in trees while others find their homes in caves or underground locations like mineshafts and wells. Some even used buildings as shelter. Where do most bats live? Most species of bats typically reside near water sources such as rivers, lakes, streams, and ponds where they can hunt after dark. They will use these areas until prey populations die down before looking elsewhere for food resources; this helps maintain healthy forests by keeping harmful insect populations in check. Bats can be found everywhere! from their natural habitats like jungles and rainforests to suburban communities and city parks. They don't thrive in the cold so they prefer secluded places with consistent temperatures to get them through winter hibernation. Where are bats from? Bats belong to an order of mammals called Chiroptera which means 'hand-wing'. There are over 1400 different species that exist worldwide and about 30% of them live in Central or South America where the climate is warmer and they have plenty of insects to eat. Where can you find bats in the summer? In summer, they can be mostly found in tall trees or high up on the side of buildings. They love to find cracks and crevices that are high off the ground because it makes it easier for them to swoop down, catch their prey then fly away! Where can bats be found in the winter? In cold climates, bats will find roost sites with the most optimal temperature for hibernation. Somewhere they can form colonies and stay warm like caves, rock faces, and tree cavities where they can hibernate and survive with their fat reserve. Most bat species require a temperature of at least 5 - 11 C (40 - 50 F) while a big brown bat can tolerate lower temperatures ranging from 0 - 5 C (30 - 40 F). Natural habitat Caves Caves are the most popular roosting site for bats. Hibernating bats like caves because they are dark, secluded and provide the perfect protection from the elements as they hang out upside-down. The Bracken cave just outside San Antonio, Texas has as many as 20 million bats inside it! It is the world's largest colony of Mexican free-tailed bats! Trees According to Bat Conservation International, more than half of the 47 species of bats that live in the U.S. roost in trees. Trees are one of a bat's natural habitats. They provide plenty of food, protection from predators below them, and a nice secluded spot to stay warm on cold nights. In warmer climates, roosts can be found in tree hollows or branches of trees like palm leaves, olive trees, and other fruit-bearing plants. Some species like to live in old hollow trees as it provides shelter from the wind, rain, and snow while also offering an easy escape route should there be any danger lurking outside. Others live in the foliage of trees and some roost beneath the loose bark of dying trees. There are also those who prefer to hide up high in leafy canopy tops. The species that like to live in trees are the Eastern pipistrelle, Northern long-eared bat, the endangered Indiana bat, small-footed bat, silver-haired bat, red bat, hoary bat, and the Seminole bat. Rock crevices Crevices and gaps on rock faces as well as other bat-friendly rock structures make for great shelter. Like caves, bats prefer these as they provide the perfect refuge from predators and also because it offers protection against elements like rain, snow, and wind. Some of these roosts can be found in limestone caves or abandoned mines. Man-made structures Bats often find themselves roosting inside man-made structures like abandoned mines, barns, buildings, tunnels, old wells, and sometimes, inside your attic. Many species find the environment perfect for creating maternity colonies (during bat roosting season) and rearing young bat pups as the temperature is stable and there is plenty of space for different species. These structures are the roosting site of choice of big brown bats and vampire bats. Wells Water sources such as wells provide excellent roosting sites for bats. Around these, bats can easily find insects to feed on. Water is an excellent place for insects to reproduce, so a hungry bat can do far worse than a well for their choice of lodging. Mine Shafts Mines also offer protection from the elements and predators as they are usually dark and damp - a perfect environment for hibernation. Bats like dark spaces that are easy for them to get into and out of which is why they often live underground or under forests where there's an opening at ground level. The entrance will usually lead down through a tunnel system until it reaches deeper parts of the cave where they will find their perfect roosting site - away from predators or any chance encounters with other animals. Buildings & Attics Bats love living inside abandoned houses or in attics where there is little light during daytime hours. Attics or basements usually have plenty of nooks and crannies for them to hang out in and are dark enough that they can sleep in the daytime. They will live in old attics, barns, and warehouses- any dark place really. They even find spots on church rafters quite frequently! These places offer safety during cold weather months. If you need bats removed from your attic, consider speaking with a wildlife expert at AAAC Wildlife Removal! Under bridges Bridges are often another location that bats like to roost at as it provides shelter and natural shade that protects them from the elements while also keeping them close to nourishment sources - insects! It's not uncommon for some species such as the Eastern Pipistrelle or Brazilian free-tailed bat, to live under them. They know that these will provide protection so it is always a popular spot for bat colonies. The congress avenue bridge in Austin, Texas is a great example of a bridge that has become a popular roosting spot for bats. It is home to the largest urban bat colony in the world. The population of Mexican free-tailed bats living under this bridge is estimated to be close to one million and counting! Bat house A bat house is not only one of the best bat habitats, but it also provides an opportunity for humans to control mosquitoes and other insects on their property. It is usually a wooden box with an opening at one end where bats fly in to roost. Putting up a bat house can be beneficial to both the environment and your backyard. Where do bats live during the day? During the daytime, they can usually be found in dark places like caves, old buildings, attics, and mineshafts. Bats are nocturnal animals so they sleep during the daytime and come out to hunt at night. They don't have very good eyesight so they mostly rely on echolocation and their sense of smell to find prey. FAQs Do bats make nests? No. Unlike birds, bats don't make nests. They use colonies to keep warm and to care for their young. What do bats eat? Bats mostly feed on insects such as mosquitoes, beetles, and even moths to provide them with energy. Some eat fruits such as bananas and mangoes and others, like the vampire bats, feed on blood. How many types of bat species are there? There are over 1400 different species of bat which is a pretty huge number when you think about it! Most people know that vampire bats exist but other common ones include fruitbats, rhinolophids, megabats, and horseshoe bats. Do bats like living in attics? Bats love finding homes inside dark places where there is little light during daytime hours - like old attics or basements, barns, and warehouses! These locations offer safety during cold weather months when it's difficult for them to forage. The attic provides the perfect roosting site, especially for females. If you find bats in your attic, you might consider bat abatement, or a quick guide on cleaning bat poop in the attic. Are bats endangered? Bat populations in the world are decreasing due to habitat loss and the fungal disease called white-nose syndrome. They are endangered and it is important to take steps in protecting bats and their habitats. Laws like the "Endangered Species Act" have been enacted in order to provide protection. Originally published on https://aaacwildliferemoval.com/blog/bats/where-do-bats-live