Are Bats Living Inside A Problem?
Safety and Removal of Bat infestations
People are the number one predator to most wild animals and not just from hunting and other detrimental practices. Sometimes, even the good hearted actions meant to help animals out, may inadvertently cause them harm. Here’s a guide to keep wildlife safe, as well as you, your family, and your pets.
Bats are flying mammals that come in all shapes and sizes. They feed mostly from insects or fruits and while there are over 1,400 species of bats around the world, in Illinois we can mostly encounter Big Brown and Little brown bats.
These bats are nocturnal and they emerge at dusk to feed on insects, using echolocation to avoid objects while flying in the dark.
Bats Species in the Chicagoland Area
- Big Brown Bat (eptesicus fuscus) has a total length of 4.33 to 5.12 in. with an average mass of 0.81 oz. The wingspan is about 13 inches.
- Little Brown Bats (myotis lucifugus) weighs between 0.18 to 0.49 oz. The length varies between 2.36 to 4.02 in, and the wingspan between 8.74 to 10.59 in.
Reproduction & Protection
Bats have young once a year in the summer, normally in June or July. Female bats gather in nurseries and have one or sometimes two offspring that they nurse until they are ready to take flight.
Bats are protected and can’t be disturbed during the breeding seasons. Permanent eviction of bats may be performed from: March 15 through May 15 and August 5th through October 31 when outdoor temperatures exceed 50 degrees at dusk.
Outside that time frame, Wildlife control experts can do nothing about bats infestations. So if you’ve noticed bats flying in and out your property, you must not wait long and call specialists to deal with them in the permitted period of the year.
Why can’t I trap bats?
Bats may not be shot, trapped, transported or held in confinement except as allowed by section 525.75 of the Illinois Nuisance Wildlife Administrative Law
Any person that captures a bat alive when found in the living quarters of a structure has to immediately release it out doors. The thing is, catching a bat is tricky and you may end up being scratched or bitten without even realize it, and if this is the case, you won’t be able to test the animal for rabies or any other disease or pathogen because you are require to release it as soon as you capture it.
We do not recommend handling bats on your own. Always call a specialist, that way you will avoid costly sanctions and health risks.
What are the health risks regarding bats?
Bats are one of the primary vectors of rabies in Illinois. While scratching wounds may not represent a big risk for contracting rabies, the exchange of fluid does. Bat urine entering contact with eyes or mouth for example, guarantees almost certain contraction. Rabies is a non curable deathly disease and there’s only a brief window to get the shots after having contact with an infected host.
Aren’t bats good for pest control since they eat insects?
Yes, bats are excellent at keeping insects at bay, the thing is, if they inhabit human-built structures, chances are they will leave droppings around causing odor problems and health risks to the people sharing their home. Also, bats urine is extremely acidic and may corrode metal, not to mention the damage that can cause to wood and other construction materials. The costs of leaving a bat infestation problem unattended can be higher than you might expect.
At AMPEST we respond to residential and commercial infestations, with different and unique treatments for every scenario. So, if you’ve seen bats flying around your home or even spotted them coming in and out of the structure, give us a call! Well be happy to inspect and offer you solutions.
Monday - Friday: 8:30am - 5:00pm
Saturday: 8:30am - 12:00pm
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