Bat Bugs
Bat bugs are mites that feed on bats. Bat mites, like their hosts (mainly brown bats that live in colonies), love to live in dark, protected areas and narrow places where it is difficult to see and find. They can live for a long time for such a little creature (almost 1 year in cool areas).
The only effective way to get rid of bat bugs is to exclude the bats first, making sure they cannot return to your home or building. Only then will any mite control be effective. Once the bats are gone from your home or building, there is a chance that the bat bugs will remain and if no actions are taken, the bat bugs may end up using human hosts as a source of food. In this case, a pest control company should be called to help eliminate the bat bugs.
If bats are suspected and a building’s tenants are itchy or you have already had a pest control service come out but still have bugs, take these simple steps in order to assure your bat bug problem is solved:
- Have a bat exclusion professional exclude bats from your property
- Have the bat guano cleaned up to remove the smell and the histoplasmosis spores
- Have the area treated for bat bugs
- Protect the bedding with allergy or mite control bedding
Do not ever use an insecticide on your bedding. Bedding should always be protected from insecticide so frequent washing of your sheets in hot water and the use of matter covers specifically designed for the control of mites are recommended if you are having a problem with bat bugs or bed bugs.
By calling in a bat control specialist, you will be able to get both your bat and bat bug problems under control.
Our Services
Bat Proofing
We offer nice and friendly bat removal through a process called exclusion. Exclusion is where the bats are able to come out of your home and not get back in without hurting or harming them.
Guano Clean-Up
Dealing with a bat infestation may be one of the most difficult problems when owning a home but how and when a person should deal with the bat guano, can also be a difficult decision.
Insulation
With a properly insulated and ventilated home, you’ll be able to manage and mitigate excess heat and humidity more effectively and help extend the life of your home.
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FAQs
If I Found A Bat In My Home, Should I Test It?
Yes, the CDC recommends that you should always test bats that are in your house and that you catch.
Do I Need A Rabies Shot?
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) is very clear when addressing rabies. “Recent data suggest that transmission of the rabies virus can occur from minor, seemingly unimportant, or unrecognized bites from bats… Rabies post-exposure prophylaxis is recommended for all persons with [a possible] bite, scratch, or mucous membrane exposure to a bat unless the bat is available for testing and is negative for evidence of rabies.”
If the bat was in a room with a child, a person asleep, a person intoxicated, or someone mentally impaired, they should seek medical attention. Post-exposure rabies shots may save your life, but the shots are very expensive so it is important to get the answer right!
For more information about when to get rabies shots, Visit Here and Here, to view the CDC government website.
If you can safely collect the bat you’ve come in contact with and submit it for rabies diagnosis, you may not need post-exposure rabies shots. To test a bat for rabies virus, its brain must be intact. The bat can be dead or alive when you collect it, but it will be euthanized for the test. You must preserve the bat in a container until it can be picked up or dropped off for testing. If the bat is dead, it should be stored in a cool place to prevent decomposition.
Is Bat Guano Dangerous?
In most cases, you can sweep up and clean bat guano without any cause for concern, however, we always recommend wearing protective equipment such as gloves, mask, and goggles. There is a small chance you can come into contact with and contract Histoplasmosis. A small amount of bat guano should be a harmless as a few mouse droppings. Once the guano piles up, a fungus that causes histoplasmosis can start to grow, and this is when you need to be careful.
If you are going to clean up bat guano by yourself, we recommend spraying the guano with bleach or fungicide before disturbing it to help mitigate your risk. The best thing you can do is talk to a professional (like us) before attempting to clean up a large amount of bat guano first.
If you do not want to clean up bat guano, we would be more than happy to do it for you and provide our services to you!
Will My Insurance Cover The Cost Of Bat Removal Services?
As long as you don’t have a stated coverage policy excluding bats, your insurance probably allows for some sort of coverage for damages caused to the sheetrock by bats. Getting this coverage is often difficult but can be done.
If you purchased your home in the last 24 months and the infestation was not disclosed to you, the errors and omissions insurance for the real estate agent and the home inspector involved in the sale may provide coverage. Additionally, the seller of the property is often liable for the first 24 months after purchase.