They may not be the most pleasant creatures to look at, but bats actually play a vital role in our ecosystem by controlling insect populations, dispersing seeds, and pollinating a variety of fruits across the globe. But despite their integral role in nature, they pose serious health risks to humans, especially if they take nest in their homes.

Due to their ability to spread disease and cause substantial damage to the structure of a home, removing nesting bats is a vital step in keeping your family safe. In order to better understand the importance of bat removal, following are three reasons why bats are more than just a noisy nuisance when they infest a building.

1. Rabies

Bats are one of the primary animals that transmit rabies to humans. Exposure to the disease typically occurs when a human is bitten by a rabid bat, but it can also be transmitted when saliva from an infected animal comes into contact with a person’s mouth, eyes, nose, or an open wound. Although there are treatments for rabies, the timely administration of this vaccine is of the utmost importance, as the disease can be fatal if left untreated.

2. Histoplasmosis

Histoplasmosis is another disease commonly associated with bats. As bats accumulate in a building, their droppings, or guano, quickly build up on the floor below. Overtime, fungus grows in the guano, releasing toxic spores into the air, which can quickly lead to an infection when inhaled by humans. Symptoms for this disease vary greatly, but it primarily affects the lungs. If the disease reaches other organs of the body or is left untreated, it can be fatal.

3. Damage to Property

In addition to spreading fatal diseases to humans, bats also cause substantial damage to areas of the home they infest. A few bats will pose no issues for homeowners, but once a colony of 30 or more is present, the real trouble begins. Bats excrete guano at an incredible rate, and as the nesting population in your home continues to grow, so will the amount of their droppings. As excrement accumulates, it will put off a strong odor that can travel throughout the infested home. Worse yet, bats are known to chew into walls and damage insulation, compromise the structural integrity of the building, and destroy wiring and creating fire hazards.

Humane Removal of Bats

There are many home remedies available to eliminate bats from a building and keep them out for a long time. However, due to the high level of risk present when dealing with these animals, it is recommended to receive assistance from a pest control professional. At Greenleaf Pest Control, we offer humane wildlife removal services that ensure the safe and effective removal of bats from your home, without putting you in risk of being bitten or infected.

The treatment process begins with a thorough inspection of the interior and exterior of your home, in order to locate access points. Once located, our team of specialists will utilize humane removal techniques to get the bats out unharmed and implement physical barriers and deterrents to ensure they do not return in the future. For treating current infestations and preventing future ones, Greenleaf Pest Control will use only the most eco-friendly treatments available, in order to make sure your family is safe from the dangers inflicted by the extensive use of pesticides.

Whether you hear squeaking or rustling in your attic or notice bats flying around your property, contact Greenleaf Pest Control right away. Bats may be an important component of our ecosystem, but like any invasive wildlife species, their prompt removal is vital to the health of you, your family, and your home.

About the Author:

Daniel Mackie, co-owner of Greenleaf Pest Control, is a Toronto pest control expert well-known as an industry go-to guy, an innovator of safe, effective pest control solutions, and is a regular guest on HGTV. Mackie, along with business partner Sandy Costa, were the first pest control professionals in Canada to use detection dogs and thermal remediation for the successful eradication of bed bugs. In his free time, he is an avid gardener.