Bats

If you have bats in your belfry, The Critter Guy can help. We handle residential, governmental, and commercial bat work, large and small.

Bat issues can vary greatly. We can handle issues ranging from bats hanging on interior gable vent screens, bats hanging under shutters, and full-scale attic infestations. We usually start with a thorough inspection, then offer a specialized quote for handling the issues, because bat infestations can vary greatly.

If you find a bat inside the occupied living spaces of your home, it may need to be submitted to the health department for rabies testing. We strongly encourage you to not allow anyone to release the bat outside (or do anything that would damage its brain tissue) without first considering rabies exposure risk. Go to the Virginia Department of Health's website for more information about rabies exposure testing criteria.

If you call us out to capture a bat in your house, please be advised it is mandatory that we contact the Virginia Department of Health and provide them with your contact information so that they may call you and assess whether or not you are a rabies exposure risk. Testing the bat affects the necessity of post-exposure shots, so do not release the bat if there is any question as to whether or not there has been a rabies exposure.

We provide bat capturing services at any time of day or night. It's actually easier for us to catch bats at night, as that is the time they are naturally awake and active. If at all possible, try to contain the bat in a well-lit room, stuffing towels around any gaps in the door to keep it in. Within a couple of hours, we will come out and attempt to collect the bat for submission, so we can submit it in case the health department deems you a rabies exposure risk.

Bats are great at hiding in small places and slipping through cracks and holes. Because of this, we can't guarantee we will be able to find the bat. We will try our hardest though, and that sometimes means we spend over two hours looking for the bat. If we can't find it, you should follow the health department's guidance on whether rabies post exposure shots are necessary.

If you are deemed a rabies exposure risk by the health department, we will submit the bat to the health department for testing. Test results usually come back within a couple days.

Bats in the attic (as opposed to bats in occupied living spaces) are not usually considered an immediate rabies exposure risk. If you still have any questions about whether you've been exposed to rabies, you should contact your local state health department's environmental services office.

There are several federally-recognized and state-recognized threatened and endangered species of bats in our area. For both ethical and legal reasons, we have to handle our bat exclusions very professionally, by ensuring the bats are not overly disrupted by the exclusion. Bats are a very beneficial part of nature; they help keep our ecosystem in balance by eating a lot of insects every night. Unfortunately, sometimes bats roost in places where they can become harmful to humans. There are certain times of the year known as "bat blackouts" when any reputable bat company will not perform a bat exclusion. However, the interior parts of your home can be sealed against bat entry any time of year. This is because having bats in your occupied living areas is a public health threat. You can find plenty of information about the bat blackout time period online, but for our area, installing exclusion devices is generally not allowed from May 15th until September 1st. This blackout period protects the customer and bat pups. Contact us if you would like a more in-depth explanation.

Bat Guano Clean-ups

Bat guano is hazardous biological waste. The main contaminating agent is a fungus called histoplasma, which can cause the disease histoplasmosis. This is a lung infection caused by breathing in the spores. For more information, look up a reputable source such as the CDC. It should definitely be handled by a professional company like The Critter Guy, with trained professionals who can ensure your safety during the removal process. Occasionally, we can handle smaller and more recent infestations with spot cleaning and minor insulation replacements. On the other hand, serious infestations might warrant more involved remediation such as:

• Complete clean-outs
• Cleaning and sanitizing duct work and exposed wood
• Encapsulating exposed wood
• Deodorizing
• Replacing insulation

We will work with you on a safe, affordable solution to this problem so you don't have to live with smelly bat guano in your attic.

Note on TAP Insulation

A somewhat notable issue we have seen locally is how large chain companies sometimes try to push full remediation, in cases where only spot cleaning may be necessary. It may be a good idea to get a second opinion if you get a sky-high quote. We've also heard of these companies trying to sell "magic insulation" that supposedly repels or harms wildlife. This is simply untrue. They are talking about TAP insulation, which has been treated with a borate material. It has some effect on invertebrates, but does not do anything for mice, rats, or bats. The best way to combat these types of critters is to exclude them out of the structure so they cannot enter. If a pest company tries to tell you this insulation will work on bats, rats, or mice, make them warranty their work and guarantee no re-infestations for at least five years.

Other Pictures

If you need professional nuisance bat removal and exclusion services, please feel free to give us a call!