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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

Bat Abatement

Bats are very important to our ecosystem. Bats do many things for us: they pollinate plants, control pests, and consume their weight in harmful insects every night. However, they can also be a nuisance, especially when they are roosting in human-inhabited areas. Their populations have been steadily declining due to habitat destruction and the white-nose syndrome, which is why they are protected by law, and killing or extermination is considered illegal. Abatement and remediation Bat abatement refers to getting rid of bats from any structures they roost in - this may involve bat trapping and removal (federal law prohibits killing them), exclusion, or other methods that don't harm the animals. Bats roosting in human-inhabited buildings can be a nuisance and bat infestation remediation is often necessary. If you live in an area with a decent bat population, and you can hear noises in your attic then you may be in the market for bat control services. Bats are protected by law Most bat species are federally protected under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. This means that killing them is illegal without permission from federal authorities who may grant it if there are no other options. Bat removal is not legal at all unless they present an imminent danger to human health or safety - like when living inside a home where people reside full time. Bat control methods There are three main types of bat control: lethal removal (generally illegal), non-lethal control (such as bat traps or bat deterrents that use sound waves instead of chemicals that can harm humans), and exclusion (keeping them out). Lethal Removal A lethal removal is rarely an option because it is inhumane and it's illegal at a federal level to kill bats. There are also more effective yet humane solutions to get rid of bats from buildings. Bat extermination also creates the problem of dealing with the bat carcasses once they're dead. Non-lethal control Non-lethal options include deterrents: devices that push bats away with a high-frequency sound waves to drive them out. Or, baiting and live trapping so that the bats can be removed humanely. These methods are much more popular because they do not harm the bats and are tend to be more effective than other other home remedies. Repellents like mothballs or ammonia are used by some people, but they are quite impractical as you'd need a lot of them to work as well as the fact that the smell dissipates rather quickly - Not to mention the smell will work its way to your living areas and cause respiratory problems for people. Bat exclusion Exclusion is by far the best option to get rid of bats and any wildlife pest control company will offer exclusion services. Exclusion should always be the primary option when bat control is needed because it's both humane and effective at keeping bats out of buildings. It is usually done by sealing all entrances, including ones that are smaller than one inch wide. This ensures that no bat can get inside your building after you've excluded them. Pest control professionals will do everything from installing bat gates, replacing rotted wood on windowsills, caulking cracks underneath doors, or anything else necessary to prevent re-entry. This is the most humane way of doing removal because it doesn't harm the bats or cause other problems later on. Remember to consider: Bat maternity season When excluding bats it is important to plan it so it doesn't coincide with bat maternity season (May 15-Aug 15). Doing exclusion during this time is inhumane and illegal because flightless baby bats will be in the colony and excluding the mothers from the roost will cause them to starve and die. Bat exclusion process Identify a possible entry and exit points Seal all identified openings except one Install a one way door on the last opening Check to be sure that all bats have been excluded Decontaminate and restore the attic Fix damage to the interior(including replacement of insulation if necessary) and exterior The first step is usually is to spend a great deal of time locating entry and exit points. This is done by looking for holes, crevices, and gaps on the exterior of a building. You will also need to identify any gaps in foundation walls that may allow bats access as well as other possible openings like chimneys, vents, roof spaces, and so forth. Once all potential entrances have been identified you can start sealing them off one at a time leaving one with an exclusion device or one-way door. These work because they only allow bats out but not back into your home once installed properly. After excluding all the bats from your property it's necessary to do an attic cleanup before doing repairs inside and outside the structure. The process usually involves getting rid of feces, and any loose insulation before doing repairs. The addition of a bat house can also help bat control efforts by giving them a place to live outside of buildings. Dangers and problems caused by bats Bats can cause all kinds of problems for you, including: spreading diseases like rabies and histoplasmosis making noises in the attic causing structural damage destroying your attic with bat guano transmitting parasites like mites and bugs Diseases These critters often carry bat diseases that humans can catch. These include things like rabies, that can be transmitted to humans or pets, and Histoplasmosis, a severe lung disease caused by Histoplasma capsulatum. Guano is the greatest risk you face when you have bats inside your home and removal is often done to avoid this health risk. The bat's natural habits of living in bat colonies can cause an issue with the concentration of bat droppings, which is toxic if it accumulates around vents or other parts of a building where people might be breathing this air. Droppings buildup also attract cockroaches and mites as well as create another nesting area for pests like ants. Structural damage Bats can also cause problems with a home's structure if left unchecked, such as weakening walls or ceilings, and may cause them to collapse. In addition, they will start making bigger holes once they find an entry point which means removal should happen before these damages become too significant. Noise The noise of bat colonies roosting can disrupt sleep patterns for the people who live there. When the problem gets handled early on (before there are too many bats) then you probably never hear them. However, the noise does get worse when you ignore them though because eventually one family can turn into several hundred bats hanging out in your attic! Parasites like mites and bat bugs Bats can carry mites and bugs that will make their way to your living areas if removal isn't performed. These parasites can cause serious allergies and health risks for humans and pets! What attracts bat into buildings? Bats are attracted to buildings because they provide a safe roosting place away from predators and the elements. Buildings with bat-friendly features like large openings, crevices, or areas where there is little disturbance make good bat refuge. Additionally, female bats will roost to have their pups and nurture them there until they are old enough to fly. Factors in bat removal The factors that are taken into account when removing bats from an area include: how many bats you have where the bats are roosting (inside or outside) whether you want them gone permanently or just temporarily. Size of infestation & no. of bat entry points The colony size and the number of entry points all affect what your removal costs will be. Larger colonies and more entry points will typically cost you more. A small infestation with a few bats should cost much less, while bats in a large building could make for an expensive removal. Location and accessibility of the Bat Infestation The location of the colony can affect your exclusion costs. For example, colonies located in basements and stairwells will be less expensive than bats living high up on the walls or roofs or inside of a chimney. Clean up and damage repair Another factor that affects bat removal costs is whether guano needs to be cleaned up after the bats are gone. For example, dropping cleanup can increase cost by thousands. Additionally the repair on the interior and exterior of your building can add an even greater expense. FAQs Does homeowners insurance cover bat removal? Homeowner's coverage generally does not reimburse for bat removal. Most companies consider this a maintenance problem. Bats can get through holes the size of a dime to get into your home. How long will bat remediation take? Remediation usually takes two to four days - It depends on how many bats are inside and whether they're hibernating or not. During cold months remediation might be impossible or take far longer than usual. What kind of bat do I have? The most common bats in homes are the big brown bats and little brown bats. These species prefer to roost in bat houses, attics, and chimneys. It is very likely that one of these two is in your home. However, there are also other bats that like to roost inside homes such as the Mexican free-tailed bat. Call us so we can help you determine which bat is in your home and assist you in removing them. What is bat guano? Bat guano, also called bat feces or bat poop, is composed of the urine and waste material excreted by bats as they roost inside a building. It accumulates on surfaces below where the bats reside such as ceilings and walls before it falls to the ground beneath them. Guano can contain harmful parasites and the fungus that causes histoplasmosis. They should not be touched with bare hands and must only be removed using protective gear like gloves, masks, goggles, etc... Are Bats Dangerous? Bats normally aren't dangerous but they can be. The main danger with bats is the guano build-up that comes with a bat infestation. Originally published on https://aaacwildliferemoval.com/blog/bats/bat-abatement