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For release: August 7, 2007
Bats in House Mean More Living Upstairs
Homeowners think bats just “flew in the
window”
Most
people who find a bat flying around their house
believe the bat just flew in an open window or
door. It is very rare that bats will do this and
most people are not aware of the potential
dangers that bats pose. This time of year, baby
bats are beginning to leave their roosting area
(often in attics, roofs or walls) and are still
disoriented. They will get into the living area
and fly around trying to find an exit. Since
they roost in colonies, you can be sure there
are more in the building.
“If
people aren’t outright scared of the bat, they
will try and shoo it out with a broom or grab
it,” notes Humane Wildlife Control President
Bill Dowd. “But this increases the risk of a bat
bite and health units advise extra caution when
it comes to bats and rabies,” he cautions.
Potential Rabies Infection Should Be Taken
Seriously
Bats
have very small teeth and can bite without you
noticing it, especially when sleeping. Bats are
the most common carriers of rabies. Health units
advise anyone finding a bat in their living
space in the morning or who have come into
contact with a bat to seek immediate medical
attention. Rabies can cause severe illness and
death if not treated promptly, and health units
err on the side of caution.
Brown
Bats Can Carry Other Diseases
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Bed
bugs are a growing problem in Ontario and
Quebec cities. Bats are common carriers of
bed bugs, which multiply and look for other
hosts, such as pets and people, when they
roost in buildings. They are extremely
difficult to eradicate and bites can cause
serious itching and welts.
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Bats
produce a lot of feces (guano), which if
inhaled by humans, can cause an incurable
respiratory disease called histoplasmosis.
The very young, very old and those with
impaired immune systems are at greatest risk
for severe illness.
-
Although most bats are not rabid, they are
the most common species to carry rabies.
Symptoms can take up to one year to appear,
and if not treated quickly, serious illness
and death can result.
Difficult to Detect, Remove and Keep Out
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Health units do not recommend people remove
bats themselves because of potential health
risks.
-
Brown bats are very difficult to detect in
walls, attics and roofs – they can squeeze
through a hole the size of a dime. They
should be removed before temperatures get
colder or they will go dormant for the
winter and proper sealing will ensure they
do not return.
-
Bats
feed on a 24-48 hour cycle. Plugging a hole
after they leave at night may seal half the
colony in and cause building damage and
disease.
Humane and Effective Removal the Best Method
Humane
Wildlife Control uses humane methods to remove
bats and keep babies with their mothers.
Professional operators guarantee their work –
both the removal of the bat and making sure they
don’t come back.
“Bats
are one of the most misunderstood animals
because of movies and mythology,” says Bill
Dowd. “They eat insects like mosquitoes, which
people appreciate, but they can also spread
rabies and you should be very cautious around
them” he warns.
Humane
Wildlife Control has been an industry leader
since 1989, and has pioneered several humane
removal and exclusion techniques for a wide
variety of urban animals.
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For more information:
Bill Dowd, President
1-877-222-3459 ext 220
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