Arizona has 24 of the 40 species of bats that populate the United States.1, 2 It is unfortunate that horror movies have given the public a fear of these special animals. Of the 1,000 species of bats worldwide, only three species of “vampire bats” live off the blood of animals and none of those species live in the United States.3
Bats in the United States can be found in a variety of habitats from deserts and woodlands to caves and even suburban communities.
Aside from living in caves and trees, bats are known to set up shop in the attics of homes and other buildings.
Here’s How Bats Help
The good news of having bats in your attic is that a single bat can eat up to 1,200 mosquitoes in an hour and can consume their body weight in insects every night. Bats are nocturnal so they feed at night. That is why you may hear scratching noises in the attic at sunset and after dark.
Bats can fly at speeds up to 60 miles per hour, stalking their prey in total darkness using inaudible high-pitched sounds and listening to echoes. Some species of bats are actually pollinators.
Many bats species in the United States are in severe decline or actually on the endangered species list due in part to declining habitat as well as white nose syndrome which has decimated the bat population in recent years. Researchers have since made a breakthrough in successfully treating infected bat populations.
Here’s How Bats Can Harm
Bats themselves do not pose a threat to people. Bat excrement, call guano, becomes the main problem when bats nest in a home’s attic. Guano and bat urine can contain pathogens that cause leptospirosis, salmonella, histoplasmosis and other respiratory ailments.5
A threat to your family’s health isn’t the only reason to remove bats from your attic. There are laws and regulations, such as bat blackout periods during maternity season, that govern bat removal.6 A licensed wildlife professional that specializes in bat removal services will be aware of all the rules and regulations concerning bats, including endangered species laws, and after the bats are safely removed will be able to clean and sanitize the attic.
Another important aspect to hiring a wildlife removal service to manage your bat issue is that the professional will determine entry points and seal them so the bats don’t return. Bats can fit through spaces as small as a dime so this is essential to eliminating a bat infestation. Bats also live on average for 30 years, so it is important to make sure that all the bat entry and exit holes that were sealed remain sealed, with no new areas where the bats can return and seek entry — even several years later.
Don’t Do This to Bats
Don’t try to poison the bats in your attic. It is against federal law to use chemicals including insecticides, rodenticides, disinfectants and mothballs to kill bats and many states have restrictions on when and how bats can be removed.7
Wildlife Removal Services Keeping Arizona Homes Safe and Bat-Free
Critter Evictors in Scottsdale is a wildlife removal service that can help with any critter or pest infestation you are experiencing. We understand the importance of a safe and comfortable home environment and we take all the necessary measures to eradicate your wildlife problem responsibly so that nothing is harmed.
Bats, while playing a crucial role in our ecosystem, can pose significant health and safety risks when they take up residence in our living spaces. Contact us to learn how our professional bat removal services can help you today. Let’s start with a Free Estimate!
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1 24 Types of Bats in Arizona by Lindsey Dahle
Link: https://birdwatchinghq.com/bats-in-arizona/
2, 3 Bats, 7/16/2020
Link: https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/animals-we-protect/bats/
4 Bats
Link: https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Mammals/Bats
5, 6 How To Get Rid of Bats in the Attic by Chris Deziel, 10/3/2024
Link: https://www.familyhandyman.com/article/how-to-get-rid-of-bats-in-your-attic/
7 How To Get Rid of Bats in Your Attic
Link: https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-get-rid-of-bats-in-attic-8693718