Hibernation
When does the Hibernation Period begin?
The hibernation period beings towards the very end of October and the beginning of November. Bats are beginning to return to their roosts where they plan to spend the entire winter. Because the periods of torpor (also referred to as hibernation) are lasting longer it is harder for bats to find food to eat, so they are preparing to save energy over the colder months. Throughout the other months, they are building up and storing fat that they are going to use for food in hibernation.
During December bats are fully hibernating. They might be roosting on their own or in small groups (colonies) in quiet places like caves, abandoned buildings, or the attic of your home where they are hoping to not be disturbed.
January is a month bats are going to spend hibernating or in a state of torpor, where they are inactive, lower their body temperatures, slow their breathing, and lower their metabolic rate to conserve fat levels stored up. Bats will hibernate even in areas of the world where the temperatures are even a little bit warmer than the snowy winters here in South Dakota and the Midwest.
In February, bats are still hibernating but they are starting to have very little fat left to live off of for the rest of the winter.
March is a different kind of month all depending upon the climate and weather in which they are hibernating. If it is still cold during the month of March, they will most likely continue to hibernate but when it warms up enough for them on certain days they may leave to search for food and to drink water. They will then return to their roost and go back into a slight form of torpor.
As soon as the food is readily available bats will awaken and stay awake and start their year where they go on to eat thousands of insects and begin the Breeding Cycle.
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.