Are you afraid of bats? There are some reasons to be afraid, but not the ones that most people think about:

Don’t worry about these things:

  • Bats do not swoop down on people and get tangled in your hair.
  • Bats can carry rabies, but are no more likely to than any other mammal.
  • Bats are not flying rats. They are not rodents. They are their own type of animal.
  • Bats groom themselves and each other. They are not dirty.
  • Bats eat bugs. They do not suck blood from people.
  • Bats carry some diseases that humans can catch. Birds carry diseases, too. They are just cuter.

Real concerns about bats:

The reason to be afraid of bats is that their feces (also called guano) carry disease. In New England, bat feces can have histoplasmosis fungus. This can cause lung infections in people. So the takeaway about bat feces is that you don’t want to handle it, or breathe the dust. Wear gloves and N95 masks if you are cleaning it up. Don’t spread the dust by sweeping or vacuuming it. Because of the guano, it is a good idea to evict bats who get into your attic.

A bat exterminator can tell the difference between bat guano and mouse droppings because bat guano is dryer and will turn to dust (another reason not to handle it!)

bat guanoJust like squirrels and raccoons, bats are small mammals who will chew their way in through gaps in your house exterior. Sometimes the gap is around the chimney flashing or other wood that has gotten soft and rotted. Some may come down the chimney to get warm.

If you find any small mammal or bird in your attic, the solution is to seal up the gaps and create a one-way door, so the animals can leave and not get back in. There are times of year that professionals can do this, and times when it is not humane to do so.

 

 

Everything you need to know about bats, for New England Homeowners.