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The Problem with Bat Infestation

  
Bats can enter a building through openings as small a 1/4 of an inch.   

The number of potential entry points to a building for bats is usually very high - this photo shows many obvious entry points - however, in most cases, the entry points are concealed in nooks and crannies and require detailed inspection by experienced personnel for identification.

Once inside a building, bats will typically establish significant resident populations that can be very dedicated to their new found roost (i.e. they will return to the same building if removed) and will resist (and often totally ignore) visual or audio deterrents.

One of the most significant problems associated with having a population of bats in a dwelling is the inevitable accumulation of bat droppings (Guano) in attics, wall spaces, beneath roof decking - any location where bats roost.  Bats will produce several times their own body weight in guano every month.  Significant health risks are associated with human exposure to infectious agents (Histoplasma Capsulatum) found in bat guano.

Although unique and vital in nature, an infestation by a population of bats in  living spaces, dwellings, public buildings or work areas can result in significant inconvenience, material damage and, as described herein, significant potential health concerns.

The main species which roost in attics or other human habitats in North America are the Little Brown Bat, The Big Brown Bat and the Mexican Free-tailed Bat.  The two Brown Bat species noted above  range over the northeast US and eastern Canada.  As noted below, the Brown Bat may host potentially harmful infectious agents which may be transmitted to humans who enter or live in dwellings containing a resident bat population or frequented by bats.

Bats access building interiors using existing openings as small as 1/4 of an inch. Typical entry points may include gaps in soffit and facia boards, vent covers, ventilation systems, roofing structures, active or abandoned chimneys 

Bats may reside in wall spaces, soffit interiors, spaces between roof decking and ceiling boards and, most often, in attic spaces.

Once they have established a colony, bats may become very dedicated to it and will return to it even if trapped and removed.

A certain percentage of bat populations are infected with a fungus called Histoplasma capsulatum and can consequently excrete the organism in their droppings.  As a result of this, accumulations of bat guano, especially in interior spaces, may pose significant health risks to individuals exposed to airborne particles.