Creatures of the night, vampires, flying rats. These are just a couple of the names bats are referred to as. Popular culture over the years have led people to associate bats as dark menacing flying supernatural animals, a common decor cut-out for Halloween. In reality, bats are like any other wildlife animal who simply goes about its routine, looking for food, finding shelter, raising its young. Bats are incredible creatures with interesting abilities and skills that aid them in their everyday life. Regardless of their skill set, though, you probably wouldn’t want to be faced one-on-one with a bat without the necessary equipment, experience and training needed. Whether it is in your workplace, or your home, bats indoors can be a difficult thing for people to deal with that occurs more often than expected and if it does happen, be sure to call for bat control from a professional Toronto bat removal service company to help you out.
About Toronto Bats
As previously mentioned, bats are interesting creatures. Not only are the interesting, but on a more serious note, bats are an endangered species. The most common bat found in Toronto is the Little Brown Bat. They have brown fur and grow to about 4-5 cm long with a wingspan of about 22-27 cm. They are the only species of mammals that fly and can weigh from 4-11 grams and have poor eyesight. Little Brown Bats are nocturnal and are often found in dark spaces like caves and abandoned buildings. In the city, bats can also be commonly found in places like the attic, soffits. Bats hibernate during the winter season, from about October to March depending on the weather conditions. Little Brown Bats feed on insects, mosquitoes and moths.
Here are some quick interesting facts about Bats
There are about 8 species of bats in Toronto
Baby bats are able to find food for themselves and fly at just only 3 weeks, almost fully independent at 4 weeks
Due to their poor eyesight, bats use echolocation, an action where they omit a high-frequency sound that bounces of objects that helps them create a mental image to find their way
Their ability to use echolocation is so accurate that they are able to track small insects, moths and their quick pace
Little Brown Bats give bird to 1 pup (baby bat) at a time
Little Brown Bats are most active around 3 hours after sunset
Can squeeze into spaces as small as mm
Female bats can control their pregnancy by storing sperm from the fall and getting pregnant in more favorable conditions in the spring
Decline of Little Brown Bats
There has been a decline in the population of bats. Bats are an endangered species and have been added to the Species at Risk Ontario list on January 24th, 2013. The reason for their decline can be contributed by the threat of White Nose Syndrome. White Nose Syndrome is a disease that is presumed to be brought to North American from Europe. The fungus that affects the bats grow in places that are moist, cold humid, such as caves where they most commonly hibernate. According to Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry on the official Ontario website, White Nose Syndrome affects the wing membrane of the bat, which controls their water balance. When this occurs, bats can wake up due to thirst during their hibernation in the wintertime and when this happens they use up their body fat supply.
Toronto Bat Removal
When dealing with a bat in the house or in the workplace, its best to call for a professional Toronto Bat Removal service. With Little Brown Bats being endangered, for their safety and for yours, calling a trained technician with expertise and experience can help remove the bat from your property safely and humanely. At SOS Wildlife Control Incorporated, Toronto Bat Removal occurs from soffits and attics. The technicians analyze the situation by determining the point of entrance, to see if there is only 1 or multiple. A one-way door is installed and the Ministry of Health is contacted. At that point, either SOS Wildlife Control Incorporated technician drops the bat off, or someone is sent to pick the bat up to undergo testing. Although the fear of bats and rabies is present, the actual rate of bats who carry the rabies virus is small. Testing is done as a precaution. More common than rabies is a disease called Histoplasmosis. This is contracted through bat guano (bat droppings) and can cause flu-like symptoms, such as a feeling light headed, loss of appetite, headaches or more. For these reasons and more, it is a better solution to call for a professional to handle Toronto Bat Removal rather than trying to take care of it yourself and risk being exposed to Histoplasmosis or other common wildlife germs that can be contracted. Trying to handle Toronto Bat Removal yourself can result in getting hurt, or in harming the bat. Neither of these should have to happen.
If you notice signs of wildlife in your house give us a call. At SOS Wildlife Control Incorporated, we provide superior bat removal services for residential, commercial, and industrial clients. Let us help you solve your wildlife problems. Taking action before it’s too late will help eliminate animal damage repair costs. We can easily be reached at 1-800-981-0330. Don’t wait and call us to schedule an appointment for a thorough inspection to help evacuate all your unwanted wildlife guests in the most humane way possible.
Call SOS Wildlife Control Incorporated 1.800.981.0330 for Toronto Bat Removal!
Wildlife removal always comes with the concern for rabies- a serious virus that presents itself in mammals and is transferred through the saliva of the animal. While not all animals carry the virus, it only takes one case of being bitten to turn into a bad situation. For this reason, it is important to be well educated of the effects, the symptoms, how to avoid it and the types of animals who are likely to carry it. Rabid bats are one of the more common types of cases that occur in Ontario. While there are other animals in Ontario who are known to have carried the virus such as raccoons, skunks and foxes, rabid bats are also more difficult to control. When controlling the virus in other species, professionals lace bait with a vaccine that helps protect the mammal from contracting it. Bats, on the other hand are insectivores which makes the process more difficult.
About Rabies
Rabies, also known as the Lyssavirus is a virus that affects mammal on almost every continent with many cases occurring in Asia and Africa. In Ontario the more prevalent types of species who are known to have carried the virus are raccoons, skunks, foxes and bats. When infected, the virus affects the central nervous system of the brain. This causes the animal to behave unnaturally. Some of the symptoms that occur in animals infected with rabies are the following:
Symptoms of fever
Biting at anything
Vomiting
Initially behaving tired, slow, lethargic and then very excited
Acting Aggressive
Has trouble breathing
Salivating excessively
Steer clear of animals who are presenting symptoms of rabies and immediately call a professional wildlife removal service to your aid. Definitely do not try to contain the animal yourself whether it is on your property or not.
Rabies are transferred from mammal to mammal through infected saliva in close proximity with eyes and mouth, it is transmitted from bites, scratches or an open wound. The rabies virus is not contracted through contact of unbroken skin, blood or excretions of a rabid animal although it is still best to contact a medical professional if you or your pet comes into contact with either of these as a precaution.
In humans, when somebody has contracted the rabies virus their symptoms are similar to that of a rabid animal along with flu-like symptoms, headaches or weakness, hallucination and insomnia. If you or anybody you know is experiencing these symptoms, seek medical attention immediately as death is usually imminent from rabies.
Rabies in the past years have effectively been controlled with the laced bait left out in the wild for animals to find that vaccinates them. Although successful in certain species, unfortunately not all animals were able to be vaccinated in that manner resulting in rabid bats.
Bats and Rabid Bats
There have been several cases of rabid bats as well as bats carrying other disease widespread which is most likely the reason of people placing high caution when it comes to these flying mammals. In 2014, there were 18 reported cases of rabid bats in Ontario. The reason why the number of rabid bats in Ontario is higher than that of other species are due to the fact that it is more difficult to control. As mentioned earlier, vaccinations of other species occurs when animals eat the bait deliberately laid out for them that is laced with the vaccine. This method has been successful in reducing the number of rabies cases in raccoons, skunk and foxes. Unfortunately, due to the fact that bats are insectivores, lacing and baiting their meals are more difficult. Rabid bats will act more aggressive, show a staring expression and may behave disoriented and as a result, have trouble flying. Rabid bats are also not as common as they are made out to be. As a result of the misconception bats are killed and their population has declined significantly. While they do exist, rabid bats are definitely not the only species to spread the disease to other animals or humans. When encountering a rabid bat or any animal with rabies symptoms, do not take the drastic measure of killing or handling the animal yourself. Instead call a wildlife professional for bat removal or a veterinarian to report the incident following any further instructions. Keep your pets safe by getting them vaccinated for rabies and keeping them away from an infected animal before an incident can occur.
If you are injured or have made close contact with wildlife showing signs of rabies immediately wash out the wound with warm water and soap and call for medical help immediately. As soon as possible, report the incident to a veterinarian or a professional wildlife removal technician to handle the animal. If a bat makes an appearance in a child’s room, in a room where somebody has been sleeping or near somebody who is disabled, report the incident. Bat bites are not always noticeable.
If you are concerned with bats entering your home, interacting with your family or near your pets, here are a couple tips for you to use
Check the house for any holes, spaces or potential entrances where a bat can possibly enter from
Cover these spaces by patching them up or using screens to prevent the bat from entering
Keep your eyes open during winter time as bats use this season for hibernation
Educate yourself and your children about bats and other wildlife. Remind children to not go near any wild animal regardless of whether it is portraying signs of rabies or not
Vaccinate all your pets
Ensure that any storage bins, trash, or anywhere that can serve as a habitat or food source for a wild animal is tightly sealed
Keep this phone number in a place that is easily accessible or seen: Rabies Hotline at 1-888-574-6656.
In the event where you are already hosting a bat on you property or notice signs of wildlife in your house give us a call. At SOS Wildlife Control Incorporated, we provide superior wildlife removal services for residential, commercial, and industrial clients. Let us help you solve your wildlife problems. Taking action before it’s too late will help eliminate animal damage repair costs. We can easily be reached at 1-800-981-0330. Don’t wait and call us to schedule an appointment for a thorough inspection to help evacuate all your unwanted wildlife guests in the most humane way possible.
Call SOS Wildlife Control Incorporated 1.800.981.0330 for Bat Removal!
First off when it comes to Bat Control you need to know they are a protected animal. It is illegal to kill a bat in Toronto or in fact anywhere in Canada. Bats play an important role in many environments around the world. Bats help pollinate flowers like mango, banana, cocoa, durian, guava and agave (used to make tequila – this is very important). Bats also control pests like mosquitoes and other insects, eating thousands of insects every night. Insect-eating bats are great for keeping bugs away from crops, as well as the places where the bats roost.
Bat characteristics
Bats are nocturnal mammals, meaning the majority of their activity takes place at night. Bats usually breed in the late summer or early autumn.
Bats are located throughout most of Ontario but they prefer to be near fresh water where they can forge for insects. The Little Brown Bat and the Big Brown Bat are the most common bats found in and near buildings in Ontario. During the winter months the Little Brown Bats and Big Brown Bats will hibernate. Little brown bats have an adult wing span between 9 to 11 inches and a body length between 2-4 inches. Their colour can range from a dark brown to reddish brown or pale tan. The big brown bat has an adult wing span between 13-16 inches and their body length can range from 3-6 inches. Their color can range from light brown, to reddish brown or dark brown.
In 2006 a bat disease called White-nose syndrome (WNS) was identified. It has been associated with the deaths of over 5.7 million bats across the USA and Canada, according to figures from the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the MNR. In some hibernation sites, numbers have declined by 80-100% since 2006. This disease is not known to be transferable to humans but is a huge danger to this protected species.
Bat Diseases
Globally, bats are considered ‘reservoirs’ (long-term hosts) of a number of viruses, many of which are not harmful and cannot be passed to humans. Bats are not normally aggressive and will avoid contact with humans. This means that there is no risk if you do not handle bats. The rabies virus is transmitted via a bite or scratch from an infected animal, or from its saliva coming into contact with your mucous membranes (your eyes, mouth or nose). If you do need to handle bats always wear thick gloves to avoid getting bitten. Rabies can be a deadly disease if not treated immediately. Even though not all bats carry rabies, and of those that do, not all are likely to transmit it. If bats enter your living space it’s usually by accident or because they have rabies and are rabid. Only 10% of cases with bats in living areas are due to rabies. In Canada there are usually only one or two human cases of people infected by rabies per year. So be careful!
It is illegal to kill a bat, they are protected animals
Bat Control
It is not uncommon for bats to live in attics and multi story buildings. These bats enter through small openings or vents that are left open. Bats can fit through an entry point as small as a quarter of an inch and have little difficulty gaining access to structures through cracks and crevices. Though bats, especially in great number look dangerous, they are harmless and vulnerable creatures unless their life is threatened. Though they are harmless, most people don’t like bats in their house because they make disturbing noises, can come into contact with people and can spread diseases.
To remove bats from your home or building it needs to be humane. The most effective humane way to remove bats from an attic or building is with a live exclusion. This is where none of the bats are killed in the process. The idea behind bat exclusion is to let the bats leave the attic on their own but prevent them from returning. This is achieved by installing one-way devices, such as mesh netting and bat valves on the entry points.
Bat removal is not easy and it is highly recommended to hire a professional to avoid any harm to yourself or the bat(s). Bat feces also called bat guano is risk to your health and it is advised to remove the bats as soon as possible.
Bat Baby Season
Bat baby season starts in mid – summer. If you have babies in your attic it is illegal to remove them until the babies are old enough to leave the nest. The babies are unable to get food during the maternity season because they cannot fly. If you remove the mothers and block their access to the roost, then the babies are going to starve to death.
If bats are roosting in your attic or walls, it’s important to have bats evicted from your home as soon as possible to avoid costly bat guano cleanup, attic insulation replacement and possible health risk.
SOS Wildlife Removal have answered 100’s of bat removal cases and are available 24/7.
There are two main options to solving a wildlife problem – do it yourself or call a professional.
As a professional I will always advise using our services than doing it yourself, but that being said I do get a lot of phone calls from customers where it just ends up they only need advice as they can easily solve it themselves with the right knowledge. However this is the main reason I advise hiring a professional – knowledge.
As a professional, with the amount of times I’ve seen things done incorrectly or inhumanely, I would always recommend calling for wildlife removal services. That being said, it is a common occurrence that we receive phone calls from people requesting advice so that they can tackle it on their own. When conducting wildlife removal, it’s always safest to call a professional because one of the main differences between DIY methods and calling a service are two things main things, knowledge and experience.
Handling wildlife problems without experience or knowledge can be dangerous. As recently reported in the Town of Oakville were three dogs who died and three dogs were seriously ill after eating poison a neighbor planted carelessly to get rid of local wildlife.
The individual planted rat poison around trees to get rid of squirrels but unfortunately the neighbors pets were victim. As a huge dog lover and an advocate for the humane treatment of animals, I would be devastated if any animal (or human) got poisoned due to my neighbor’s carelessness.
Without knowledge or experience, anybody can fall victim putting their own and other people’s health and safety at risk. It is unfortunate that a decision made by their neighbor has devastated these houses which could have been avoided with proper research into more humane, non-lethal solutions. You can read more on the story on Global News.
In general SOS Wildlife Control Incorporated takes one of two approaches for wildlife problems (or a combination).
The main and preferred approach is to install one-way doors at entry-points to allow animals to leave the building, and to prevent re-entry.
The second is live trapping. We snare or trap the animal and then release back into the wild a kilometer away in accordance to Ontario rules and regulations.
These approaches sound very easy but it takes experience and knowledge of the animals to do it correctly. If there are babies involved separate precautions must be taken. The mother must be initially removed and later relocated with her babies, the humane method of wildlife removal with babies. If you have a wildlife problem, call us for advice or help – 647-994-9453 or email us at info@soswildlife.ca.
Do-it-Yourself Wildlife Removal Tips
As much as we recommend calling wildlife technicians, we are aware of the stride people take on their own. Below are a couple tips for Do-it-Yourself wildlife removal.
If the animals pose no immediate threat to health and safety, then residents may choose to wait until the adults and any young have left the home or property, and then close the access point to prevent re-entry. Residents taking this approach must ensure that all young animals have left the nest or den, which normally means waiting until the young are weaned.
Read up on your local animal legislation before attempting to do it yourself. Ontario has strong animal welfare legislation, enforcing strong laws and tough penalties. In Ontario it is an offence to cause or permit distress to an animal.
“Their goal is to ensure Ontario’s animals are protected and treated in the humane manner that our society expects”.
Ministry of Natural Resources, 2015.
It’s against the law in Ontario to even own a trap that can catch anything bigger than a rat. Any device big enough to kill a raccoon or any use of poisons to kill these wild animals could also snare the neighbor’s cat or worst case scenario a toddler. The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) recommends hiring a licensed professional to trap and remove the animal.
Trapping is a common tactic for urban wildlife management in Toronto, but the most effective way of controlling pests like raccoons, skunks, mice, rats, or squirrels is prevention. Preventing the wildlife from entering your home can be much more effective than live trapping. Please check out our video on wildlife proofing your home.
There has been a decline in the population of bats. Bats are an endangered species and have been added to the Species at Risk Ontario list on January 24th, 2013. The reason for their decline can be contributed by the threat of White Nose Syndrome. White Nose Syndrome is a disease that is presumed to be brought to North American from Europe. The fungus that affects the bats grow in places that are moist, cold humid, such as caves where they most commonly hibernate. According to Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry on the official Ontario website, White Nose Syndrome affects the wing membrane of the bat, which controls their water balance. When this occurs, bats can wake up due to thirst during their hibernation in the wintertime and when this happens they use up their body fat supply.