Bat Removal Services in Virginia

The United States boasts a rich diversity of over 40 bat species, with Arizona and Texas being the states with the highest bat variety. These nocturnal creatures are essential contributors to the local ecosystem and are also beneficial for the economy. In America, the majority of bats are insectivores, feeding primarily on insects. Remarkably, a single bat has the ability to consume up to 1,000 mosquitoes in just one hour, offering natural pest control.

Even the most ardent Batman enthusiasts wouldn’t appreciate the presence of flying nuisances in their homes. While bats can benefit the environment by consuming other pests, their presence indoors is not desirable. Over time, a colony of bats can inflict serious damage to both your home and your health.

It is important to address a bat infestation promptly. However, managing a bat problem can be challenging as using pesticides or exterminating bats is illegal in the United States. We’ve conducted thorough research into professional pest control solutions and do-it-yourself methods to provide you with the most effective recommendations for bat removal.

Signs of Bat Infestation

If you are noticing foul odors, unexplained noises, or bat droppings around your property, you may have a bat infestation. Other signs to watch for include sightings of bats around dusk or dawn, oily marks near entry points, or the presence of bats in your living space. Early detection is crucial to prevent further complications and protect your property from damage.

Our Wildlife Specialist will search for signs such as rub marks, guano, a strong scent of ammonia, and small openings.

The Bat Removal Process

Our bat removal process is designed to safely and humanely remove bats from your property. We begin with an inspection to identify entry points and assess the size of the infestation. Next, we implement exclusion methods to allow bats to exit while preventing re-entry. Finally, we can conduct a thorough cleanup of bat guano, sanitize the affected areas, and provide recommendations to prevent future infestations.

The most effective and humane approach to bat removal involves the use of a bat valve in combination with a comprehensive home exclusion process. A bat valve functions like a one-way door, allowing bats to leave your home but preventing their re-entry. As every bat infestation is unique, our experts will either select or create a custom bat valve tailored to your home. Our inspector will determine the appropriate number of bat valves needed for effective removal, although most cases only require one valve.

With the bat valve in place, all other potential entry points will be sealed, leaving only the valve as an exit for the bats. The removal process typically spans 3-7 days. A final attic inspection will be conducted by our specialist before the valve is removed. Once the valve is taken out, the last entry point will be sealed, rendering your home bat-free.

It’s important to note that many Virginia has specific concerning bat removal during maternity season.

Why Should You Remove Bats

Bats play an essential role in our ecosystem by controlling insect populations. However, when bats take up residence in our homes or businesses, they can pose health risks, damage property, and create a nuisance. Removing bats helps protect your property, prevent the spread of disease, and ensure that bats find a more suitable natural habitat.

As stated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, bats are capable of consuming around 1,200 mosquito-sized insects every hour. Moreover, certain bat species contribute to seed dispersal, plant pollination, and feed on beetles and other insects that can damage crops. Despite their beneficial contributions to the environment, bats can pose serious risks to your home and health when they enter your living spaces. The potential issues associated with indoor bats include:

1. Rabies Risk: Direct contact with bats can be highly hazardous and may expose homeowners to rabies, a severe and potentially life-threatening disease. Rabies transmission can occur through bites, scratches, or even handling bats.
2. Allergy Concerns: Bat presence in a home may trigger allergic reactions in some individuals, resulting in symptoms like asthma and congestion.
3. Home Structural Damage: Bat droppings, known as guano, can significantly damage your home’s structure by eroding wood and other building materials.
4. Histoplasmosis Threat: This infection is caused by inhaling a fungus present in bat and bird droppings. Symptoms include fever, cough, and fatigue, persisting for weeks or months. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises professional cleaning for large quantities of bat feces.
5. Unpleasant Odor: Over time, guano can produce an unpleasant smell, making your home less comfortable to live in.

It’s evident that bats should not be allowed to reside on your property. Even a small group of little brown bats can eventually multiply to hundreds, leaving behind a significant accumulation of guano.

To address bat issues, you can opt for professional bat control services or a DIY approach. Depending on the health risks and the extent of your bat infestation, the CDC often suggests seeking professional wildlife removal. Regardless of the method you choose, the following steps will help you effectively remove bats from your property.

Professional Bat Exclusion

Professional bat exclusion is the most effective and humane method to remove bats from your property. Our trained professionals use one-way exclusion devices and sealing techniques to prevent bats from re-entering your property while allowing them to exit safely. We take great care to ensure the wellbeing of the bats and provide a long-term solution for your bat problem.

When dealing with a large infestation of bats or recurrent bat re-entry, professional intervention is often the best solution. Since both bat extermination and the use of pesticides on bats are illegal, pest control companies typically employ an approach called exclusion. This technique involves sealing the primary exits bats use with one-way doors, allowing the bats to leave safely without the possibility of return.

Timing is Crucial for Bat Exclusions

Timing is essential in bat exclusion. Female bats can give birth to one pup per season anytime from May to July. Fortunately, nursing mothers can consume up to half their body weight in insects in a single day. To avoid trapping young bats, exclusion should be conducted either in the spring before the pups are born or after the young bats have learned to fly in the early fall, prior to hibernation.

Locate and Secure Entry Points

Regardless of the number of bats in your home, they will typically use a few designated entry points. Once you identify these, install one-way doors to block re-entry. These devices should remain in place for a few days – longer if inclement weather keeps the bats indoors – before being removed and the entry points sealed.

Examine and Clean Affected Areas

Pest control professionals need protection from dust, potential disease, and insulation fibers in your attic or eaves. When cleaning up after significant infestations, they often wear booties, goggles, gloves, and HEPA face masks.

If bats have compromised your insulation, the pros will employ a high-power vacuum to efficiently remove loose-fill insulation. Thorough cleaning is necessary to eradicate all traces of the bats from their former habitats.

Seal Gaps and Openings

Your pest control experts will meticulously inspect your house’s exterior for gaps and openings, focusing on the roof’s ridgeline and areas where clapboards or shingles may have separated. They may also check for small brown streaks and tiny black pellets outside the home, indicating bat urine and guano.

Bats can fit through gaps as small as 1 inch by 3/8 inches, so every potential entry point must be caulked except for those with one-way doors. Silicone caulk is the preferred sealant for its flexibility and clear appearance when dry. Sealing all entrances is crucial, as bats often return to the same roosts year after year.

To ensure bats do not re-enter your home, many companies use hardware cloth in conjunction with caulk. While bats don’t gnaw through wood, rodents like squirrels do. Using wire cloth helps prolong the effectiveness of the bat-proofing. If your attic has a vent, hardware cloth can also be used to seal that potential entry point.

Enzyme Deodorizers

Once old insulation has been completely removed, pest control experts typically employ stain cleaners and odor removers in areas where bat guano was concentrated. Special enzymes in these products are capable of breaking down the source of the odor.

Neutralizing the odor is not just a desirable step; it is a crucial one. This is because scents can attract bats back to the roost. Bats possess remarkable homing instincts and can live up to 30 years. With their superior sense of smell, it’s essential to take every precaution to deter them from returning to a roost they might have occupied for years.

Restoring Insulation

Once your bat issues are resolved, you’ll need to repair any areas damaged by the bats or the removal process. Restoring any damaged insulation or wood in the attic is a sensible first step. Additionally, address any exterior problems around their entry points by repairing or cleaning as necessary.

DIY Bat Removal

While some property owners may attempt DIY bat removal, it is essential to understand that improper removal can cause harm to bats and increase the risk of disease transmission. It is recommended to rely on professional bat removal services, which offer a safe, humane, and effective approach to addressing bat infestations.

Given the considerable health and home risks posed by bats, we usually advise seeking professional assistance in most cases to prevent disease and damage. Nevertheless, some homeowners may prefer to attempt DIY bat control as a way to reduce pest control expenses.

Here are some steps to take if you want to remove bats from your home:

1. Research Local Laws: As a non-professional, you may not be familiar with the legalities of bat removal in your area. It’s essential to check your local and state laws to find out if bats are a protected species and what removal methods are legally permitted. Local wildlife control can also provide guidance on whether and how you should remove bats on your own. For comprehensive legal advice on bat exclusion and other pest-related resources, we suggest consulting the website run by the nonprofit organization, Wildlife Management Pros.
2. Identify the Bat Species: Little brown bats, big brown bats, and pallid bats are the most common species to colonize homes. Each species has a unique maternity season that will determine the exclusion period you should adhere to.
3. Find and Seal Entry Points: Chimneys, vents, loose shingles, ridge caps, and eaves are all potential entry points for bats. If there’s no clear bat entrance, damaged areas of your home, like warped boards and loose siding, may also be entryways. Once you’ve identified the entry point, install a one-way tube to allow bats to exit but prevent re-entry. Then, seal up any other potential entryways with caulking.
4. Cleaning: Equip yourself with protective gear, including rubber work gloves, sleeves, booties, and an N95 mask or reusable respirator. Mist the affected areas with a water and bleach solution before scrubbing with detergent or a non-ammonia enzymatic cleaner, such as Biokleen’s Bac-Out Solution. Rinse the area and clean it again with a bleach solution. Discard and remove any porous materials like rugs, clothes, or fabrics from the home.

If you’re dealing with more than one bat, a significant amount of guano, or recurring bat issues, it might be worth considering professional pest control.

Invest In and Install a Bat House

Bat houses are an excellent way to provide a natural habitat for bats while keeping them away from your property. By installing a bat house on your property, you can support the local bat population, reduce insect pests, and minimize the likelihood of bats taking up residence in your living spaces.

Whether you opt for professional services or try DIY bat removal, bats are likely to return to a roost they’re familiar with, particularly if it has been established for a long time. To promote a mutually beneficial ecosystem in the long run, consider investing in and properly installing one or more bat houses near the structure that was previously infested.

Fortunately, providing bats with a nearby alternative roost can deter them from re-entering your home. Bats use echolocation to navigate, and this can lead them back to their favored entry points. Therefore, it is a good idea to place a bat house as close as possible to the old bat entry point. Experts note that it can take a few months up to 16 months for bats to fully adopt a newly installed bat house. Once established, a thriving bat colony can be an asset to your property by consuming mosquitos and other flying pests and acting as pollinators.

Bat houses typically come in two sizes: smaller roosts that can accommodate around 75 bats and larger roosts that can house up to 200 bats. The effectiveness of a bat house increases with height; aim to install it at least 15 feet off the ground.

According to Merlin Tuttle’s Bat Conservation Trust (MTBC), properly installing a high-quality bat house in the right location can reduce the likelihood of future home infestations by 80%.

Merlin Tuttle is a respected professor at the University of Texas and a leading bat expert in the U.S. He has authored numerous works on various bat species and published “The Bat House Guide” in 2022, a comprehensive manual for wildlife removal professionals, homeowners, commercial property managers, and construction managers.

Tuttle is an advocate for bat conservation and encourages a harmonious coexistence between humans and bats. He warns against purchasing uncertified, low-quality bat houses that not only prove ineffective but also endanger already vulnerable bat populations:

“Unfortunately, many bat houses are poorly constructed and sold with exaggerated claims and little or no instruction on bat needs. Sellers of such houses deceive customers and undermine the credibility of bat conservation efforts. Both sellers and customers stand to benefit from education and certification.”

When shopping for a bat house, we recommend looking for the “MTBC” certification endorsement, indicating that the bat house meets Merlin Tuttle’s Bat Conservation’s stringent safety and success standards. Visit MTBC’s Selecting a Quality Bat House page for more information, including recommendations for bat houses, mounting poles, and a list of MTBC-approved bat house vendors.

Bat Houses

Interested in bat houses, the installation process, how to build a bat house, or the effectiveness of bat houses? We can help with these questions too.

Bat Removal Costs

Concerned about bat removal costs in Virginia? While we do not offer free bat removal and bat control in Virginia, you’ll find that our bat removal costs in Virginia are very competitive and beat our competitors prices hands down. Best of all we’ll match or beat the price you’re given for bat removal services from any legitimate, reputable and certified Virginia Bat Removal Company to perform the same work necessary to successfully rid your home or business or bats.

Bat Removal Pros – Our Credentials

Our Wildlife Pest Control Professionals have completed advanced training in bat removal techniques and processes. We use the most advanced bat removal processes and tools in the industry. Our bat removal company is licensed and insured to do Bat Removal in Virginia and all of our work is done in-house by our Virginia Bat Removal Specialist.

Bats In Virginia

There are more than 1,000 different species of bats worldwide. Virginia is fortunate to have seventeen species of bats that have been documented in Virginia, although only 15 are likely to reside in the state. Bats in Virginia can be divided into three basic groups: Cave Bats, Tree Bats and Non-Resident Bats. Generally, bats are considered one of the most diverse mammal groups. The more than 1,000 bat species worldwide, comprise about one-fifth of all mammal species. Forty-seven bat species are native to the United States. Situated in the mid-Atlantic region, Virginia shares the diversity of bat species found in both the Northeast and the Southeast. For the most part, bats may be divided into two broad subgroups, fruit-eating bats and insect-eating bats. Insect-eating bats, found in both tropical and temperate climates, feed predominantly on insects. Insect-eating bats in temperate climates, such as the eastern United States, are forced to hibernate or migrate during the winter months when insects are scarce. All bat species that reside in Virginia are insectivorous.

Bat Biology in Virginia

The only mammals that can sustain flight, bats comprise an order, or group of animals called Chiroptera, which means “hand wing.” When you look closely at a bat’s wing, you understand why. The wing is made up of two layers of skin covering the bones of the hand and arm. The thumb and four fingers make up half the wing, with the upper arm and forearm accounting for the other half. With each finger working independently, bats have amazing flying skills. Hovering in place, swooping, diving and “turning on a dime” are just a few of their abilities. These are all necessary when in hot pursuit of evasive insect prey. Bats use a special sensory system called echolocation to evaluate their surroundings and locate food. They emit short, high-pitched sounds that bounce off surrounding objects and return to them as echoes, which are used to determine the size, distance, direction and movement of objects around them, including insects they catch and eat. Of equal interest are the longevity and birth rates of bats. Most small mammals (mice, voles, rats, etc.) produce several litters of many young each year but live only one to two years. By contrast, bats typically have a single litter of only one or two offspring per year and can live in the wild for up to 30 years.

Health Issues Involving Bats in Virginia

Two human health issues associated with bats are histoplasmosis and rabies. Histoplasmosis, a lung disease caused by a microscopic fungus found in bat guano, is typically contracted by inhaling airborne fungal spores in an enclosed area, such as an attic or barn. Hiring a professional cleaning service or wearing an appropriate respirator can reduce the risk of this disease. Though very few bats carry rabies, occasionally cases are attributed to them. Their small teeth make bite wounds difficult to detect. Anyone suspecting a bat bite should seek medical attention immediately and if possible turn the bat over to authorities for testing. Avoid rabies by leaving wild animals alone, particularly those behaving abnormally. For bats this might include daytime activity and the inability to fly.

The Official State Bat of Virginia – The Virginia Big-Eared Bat

The Virginia big-eared bat is about 4 inches long, weighs less than half an ounce and feeds mainly on moths. This bat lives exclusively in limestone caves in a few isolated populations in the mountains of western Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky and North Carolina. The large ears are this bat’s most conspicuous feature. Human disturbance of caves used for hibernation and the raising of offspring (maternity colonies) are the biggest threats to the species. As of 2015 the Virginia big-eared bat does not appear to be affected by White Nose Syndrome (WNS).

White-Nose Syndrome (WNS) in Bats

In the winter of 2007, large numbers of bats in the Northeast died from white-nose syndrome, named after the appearance of the pathogenic fungus on the muzzle of many affected bats. WNS was first found in Virginia in 2009, and steep declines in summer and winter bat populations were seen across the state. By 2014 cave populations of little brown, Northern long-eared and tricolored bats had decreased by more than 90 percent. WNS has impacted Indiana bats to a lesser but still significant extent, and impact on other species such as Eastern small-footed and gray bats has been difficult to measure. Scientists continue to track the health of Virginia’s bat population with banding and biometry projects and winter hibernacula counts. Another issue is the development of wind farms, where bladed turbines sometimes kill large numbers of bats either directly or by inducing extremely rapid changes in air pressure. With cooperation between the public and private sectors, bats can continue to perform valuable pest control and other ecological functions that benefit both humans and the environment.

Bat Conservation in Virginia

Bats are an essential and beneficial part of natural ecosystems. Consuming over half their body weight in insects each night, bats are an important natural insecticide and the only major predator of night-flying insects. Bat research has contributed to major scientific discoveries in the fields of vaccine development, artificial insemination, sonar and blood coagulation. In Virginia, four bat species are listed as endangered. Three cave species, the gray, Indiana and Virginia big-eared bats, are federally endangered. One tree bat, the Eastern big-eared bat, is state endangered. The decline of these four species is due primarily to loss of habitat and disturbance by humans, although Indiana bats have suffered significant additional losses from white-nose syndrome (WNS). A fifth species recommended for federal listing is the Northern long-eared bat, whose numbers have dropped by 95 percent due to WNS. The low reproductive rates of most bat species make it difficult for populations to recover quickly after large declines. Efforts to stabilize or increase populations of rare bats in Virginia include land purchases, conservation easements, education programs and construction of bat-friendly cave gates that allow bats to move freely while reducing human disturbance of hibernating bats and maternity colonies. The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation’s Natural Heritage Program and the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries’ Non-game Wildlife Program work with public and private stakeholders to protect bats. Partners on bat conservation projects include the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Forest Service and nongovernmental organizations.

Virginia’s Three Bat Groups

Cave Bats:

Virginia Big-eared Bat* (Corynorhinus townsendii virginianus) – State or Federal Endangered Species

Big Brown Bat (Eptesicus fuscus)

Gray Bat* (Myotis grisescens) – State or Federal Endangered Species

Eastern Small-footed Bat (Myotis leibii)

Little Brown Bat (Myotis lucifugus)

Northern Long-eared Bat (Myotis septentrionalis)

Indiana Bat* (Myotis sodalis) – State or Federal Endangered Species

Tricolored Bat (Perimyotis subflavus)

Tree Bats

Eastern Big-eared Bat* (Corynorhinus rafinesquii macrotis)

Silver-haired Bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans)

Eastern Red Bat (Lasiurus borealis)

Hoary Bat (Lasiurus cinereus)

Seminole Bat (Lasiurus seminolus) (likely resident)

Southeastern Bat (Myotis austroriparius) (rare species in Virginia)

Evening Bat (Nycticeius humeralis)

Non-resident Bats

Northern Yellow Bat (Lasiurus intermedius)

Brazilian Free-tailed Bat (Tadarida brasiliensis)

* state or federal endangered species

FAQs

Q: Can bats transmit diseases?
A: While bats play a vital role in our ecosystem, they can carry diseases like rabies. However, the risk of transmission is minimal if you avoid direct contact with bats.

Q: Are bats protected by law?
A: Many bat species are protected by state and federal laws, making it essential to address bat problems with humane and legal methods.

Q: Can I remove bats during any season?
A: Bat removal is best conducted outside of the maternity season to avoid separating mothers from their pups. We consider the local bat species and breeding cycles to ensure timely and responsible removal.

Q: How do you get rid of bats?
A: In many states, it’s illegal to harm or kill bats. The most effective and humane way to remove bats from your property is by using a one-way valve, also known as a bat cone or bat valve. This device allows bats to safely exit your attic but prevents them from reentering. Before installing a bat cone, be sure to seal all other potential entry points. Additionally, do not start bat exclusion if flightless pups are present in your attic, as they rely entirely on their mothers and abandoned pups will die.

Q: When is the best time to remove bats?
A: Bats move to different locations throughout the year, each serving a specific purpose. Bat maternity roosts are locations where a large number of pregnant females gather to raise their young. Bat maternity colonies start forming in early April. Homeowners who observe bats leaving an attic or overhang at twilight in late spring or summer may need to check for an infestation. The ideal time to remove a bat maternity colony is after the pups have learned to fly, typically beginning in August.

Q: How much does bat removal cost?
A: The cost of bat removal can vary depending on several factors, including how long bats have been roosting, the size of the colony, the number of potential entry points in your house, and the extent of damage requiring repair.

Q: What does a bat look like?
A: Bats have furry bodies in varying shades of tan, red, brown, and grey. They have large ears to compensate for their poor eyesight, adapted for echolocation. As the only mammals capable of flight, bats are lightweight and possess wings. Their wing bone structure resembles a human hand, with skin flaps between the bones. Smaller bats typically measure between 2.5 and 3.5 inches (6 to 9 cm) in length with an 8-inch (20 cm) wingspan, while larger species range from 7 to 8 inches (18 to 20 cm) in length with a wingspan between 21 and 23 inches (53 and 58 cm).

Q: Where do bats live?
A: Bats are highly adaptable and can be found in various environments, including deserts, woodlands, suburbs, and urban areas. They are present worldwide, excluding extreme climate zones like polar regions and harsh deserts. Bats prefer warm temperatures but hibernate in temperate regions during winter. They often roost in barns, attics, caves, tree cavities, and under bridges.

Q: How do bats get into houses?
A: Bats, primarily nocturnal creatures, usually avoid human interaction. However, in colder regions, they may enter homes to roost in secluded places like attics. Bats can squeeze through openings as small as a quarter of an inch (6 mm) in diameter, such as cracks around windows and doors, pipes and wiring leading inside, and vents.

Q: What damage does a bat do?
A: While bats are generally beneficial, they can pose health risks. Diseases like rabies and histoplasmosis are associated with bats. Rabid bats rarely bite humans unless threatened. Bat guano can stain ceilings, walls, and floors and, if left unchecked, cause structural damage. The fungus causing histoplasmosis is not carried by bats but thrives in bat droppings, and humans can become infected by inhaling spores. Bats also host ectoparasites like fleas, flies, ticks, and mites, posing risks to humans and pets. Bat urine can produce an unpleasant odor, and droppings can stain building exteriors.

Q: How do you prevent bats from getting into your home?
A: To encourage bats to roost away from unwanted areas, some homeowners construct bat houses near gardens and homes. However, homes may still be targeted unless all entry points are sealed. Sealing cracks and openings, illuminating attic spaces and eaves at night, and using fans in attics to lower temperatures can deter bats from roosting.

Q: Does homeowners insurance cover bat removal?
A: Homeowners insurance is unlikely to cover bat removal costs. However, it may cover repairs associated with bat colonies.

Contact

Email: vawildlifepro@gmail.com

Areas Served in Virginia