Bat Control
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.
Call SOS Wildlife on 647-831-9951 for bat removal