DIY Bat Removal
In order to safely and effectively remove bats from an attic one must first understand the bats habits and why they are there. DIY bat removal can be achieved by first doing a thorough inspection of the structure. The first phase of DIY bat removal is to locate all the entry points and potential future entry points. Common entry points for bats getting into the home are next to the chimney, in the chimney, gable vents, soffits, eaves, gaps along the gable rise, plumbing on the roof, roof ridge vents and pretty much any gap that is a half inch or bigger. If you exclude the bats in the attic they are getting in and do not seal the whole structure, then there is a high likelihood that the bats will just move to another area of the house for shelter. I repeat all gaps should be sealed.
Bats are protected so the should not be excluded between May 1 through July 31 in Charlotte, NC. If you find a bat removal company that will exclude them during this time frame then you would have to question their professionalism and ethics. Bats come in late spring for the sole purpose of creating a maternity colony to raise their young. If the babies are not Volant and are excluded they will end up on the ground dead or dead in the attic.
Once you have located all the entry points, you need to seal up all the areas with quarter inch hardware cloth, pur black foam or a silicone caulking that looks most aesthetically pleasing. The main entry should be left untouched. In this area you will need to install a bat excluder or one way door. The product we use is just a flex gutter piece from Lowes or Home Depot that allows the bats to leave but not return. Their are other pricier products online. If you google bat excluder most likely or bat excluder cone you should be able to order one online. These should be installed in a manner that all gaps are sealed and the only gap available is through the exclusion device. This would need to be left up for approximately one week and then can be removed. Once it is removed the area would then be capped off to finish your diy bat removal job. If this is not a job that you want to take on or have any questions feel free to give us a call at Charlotte Bat Control.
