Minnesota Bat Cleanup | MN Bat Removal
Once the bats have been excluded from the roost area should be thoroughly cleaned as bat droppings can create a strong odor. This odor may also attract bats if new openings develop in the structure. Use caution cleaning the area to avoid contracting histoplasmosis. Histoplasmosis is a respiratory infection caused by inhaling fungal spores which may grow in bat droppings. This fungus is widespread in soils throughout the world.
In this country it is most prevalent throughout the Mississippi and Ohio River valleys and primary sources of infection are the droppings of starlings, pigeons and poultry. Although most people contract histoplasmosis has few if any symptoms or problems, some people develop serious respiratory conditions.
Bat Cleanup
Bat Droppings
When cleaning up bat droppings, wear a tight fitting respirator that will filter particles as small as 2 microns. Dampening the droppings before cleaning them up will help decrease the spread of any spores. The droppings should be sealed in plastic bags for disposal. The area should then be cleaned and disinfected with a solution of 1 part household bleach to 20 parts water. Clothes worn while cleaning should be washed immediately.
***Any bat bite or scratch should be considered serious. If someone has been bitten or scratched, attempt to capture the bat without damaging its head, so that it can be analyzed for rabies. Any wound should be thoroughly washed. Then contact county health officials or your doctor immediately to determine how to have the bat tested and what medical treatment might be needed. ***
Permanently Excluding Unwanted Bats | Bat-proofing
Whether or not you decide to delay excluding the bats for the above reasons, concentrate your efforts first on bat-proofing the living
Ways Bats Are Enter Your Home
areas of your home. Make sure doors to attics and basements are sealed with draft guards and holes in any interior walls and ceilings are repaired so that a bat can’t mistakenly enter the main parts of your house. Bats find their homes in walls and attics of homes, churches, barns and other buildings year-round, maternity colonies also in hollow trees. Bats are nocturnal and are active only on warm dry nights. They come out approximately 30 minutes after sunset, feed until they are full, roost the rest of the night, then return to daytime roost before sunrise.
Timing Is Critical
Timing is critical for excluding bats. In the spring and summer, if a maternity colony has taken up residence, you will need to delay excluding the bats until August when the young are able to fly. If you exclude the adult bats while the young are flightless, the young bats will needlessly starve to death and may create an odor problem. Frantic mother bats, excluded from their young may mistakenly get into your living area when trying to find a way back to the roost to care for the pups.
Extreme care should be taken when attempting to catch a bat(s) if your home is currently under attack by bats it is wise to call a professional. A MN Wild Animal Management had experience in handling bat removals. Hiring a professional will guarantee the safety of you and your family along with preventing these bats from returning.
