Bat Exclusion Methods
- Try to confine bat to one room
- Wait for it to land and cover with a coffee can or similar container
- Slide a sheet of cardboard under the can
- If bat is roosting, slide gently into coffee can with lid
- Do not release bat if a person or pet has been bitten
- ALWAYS WEAR HEAVY LEATHER GLOVES FOR ANY KIND OF BAT REMOVAL
A Word of Caution
- Always wear a respirator, gloves and tyvek suit when cleaning up bat droppings
- Histoplasmosis: a disease caused by a fungus that thrives in bat droppings
- Infection occurs through breathing dust that contains contaminated spores
- Can be found in hot, dry attics; don’t stir up and breathe dust in these areas
- Parasites: bats harbor fleas, mites and ticks
Common Entry Points
Common Locations Where Bats May be Found:
Attic Vents
Facia Boards
Soffit Corners
The Dilemma of Bat Exclusion
- Bats are critical to the environment
- They eliminate disease-carrying mosquitoes and other insects
- They serve as early warning systems for high levels of pesticide and pollution levels
- They participate in seed dispersal and pollination
- Conversely, they can be a nuisance and may be carriers of rabies and other diseases
- EXCLUDING BATS WITHOUT HARMING THEM SOLVES THIS DILEMMA
When in Doubt, Cone ‘em Out!
With BatCone, Bats Fly Out and Won’t Return
Our safe and easy exclusion method is made of disposable recyclable plastic and is not
harmful to you or the bat.
Safey Precautions to Consider
Step 1: Safety is Important for Every Kind of Bat Exclusion
- Secure, reliable ladders
- For steep roofs, person should be protected with safety harness and line rope
- Bucket trucks are important when installation is made on large, commercial buildings or tall residences
Step 2: Find the Point of Entry for Every Kind of Bat Exclusion
- Conduct a “Bat Watch” during best times to identify points of entry
- When Bats come out to feed at dusk or when they return just before dawn
- During the day, check any cracks and holes where they might be exiting
- Check beneath the chimney, under the eaves, beneath the roof’s ridge cap and fascia boards, attic vents, roof vents, etc.
- Look for stains made by droppings and urine
Other Exclusion Methods and Why They Don't Work
Repellants and Poisons
- NOT effective
- Ultrasonic devices don’t work
- Chemical repellants - such as moth balls - may be hazardous to health when used in quantities; only moderately effective since they evaporate and need to be regularly and continually applied
- Aerosol flea foggers are inhumane, are illegal to use and/are not specified on product labels for bat removal
- Tracking powder doesn’t solve the problem
Bat Netting
- Unsightly
- Difficult to install
- Takes time to work
- Bats can be entrapped in the netting and cannot escape
- Must be installed properly to work
Using Closed Traps
- Generally steel construction but can also be plastic
- Bats “fry” in the summer if they are not removed
- Removal is risky
- Least effective of all bat traps
- Bats may refuse to enter traps and “Back-Up” into house
Basic Equipment Required for Bat-Proofing a Structure
- Assorted ladders: 6-foot step and extension ladders: 24-foot, 32-foot; 40-foot
- Screw gun
- Caulking gunStaple gun
- Foam guns: 12-inch and 24-inch
- Tin snips
- Hardware cloth: 1/4-inch; 1/4-inch for screening attic vents and sealing holes
- Aluminum flashing-white/brown
- Assorted screws and washers/staples
- Chimney caps
- Copper stuf-it
- Backer rod foam in assorted sizes
- Flashlight
- Tape measure
Basic Repair
Bat Proofing: Expandable Foam
- Pros
- Fast: quickly fills cracks and holes
- Cost effective: one can can seal an average house
Bat Removal Secrets
- Easy to remove by exclusion
- Easy to keep out
- Bats don’t chew their way back into the house once it has been sealed properly
But Beware…
- New construction or modifications may create new points of entry
- Squirrels may make new holes that bats may use to re-enter
A Word of Caution
- Do not remove bats from June 1st to August 1st
- Bats are born during this period of time
- Exact times may vary in different regions – birth cycle is influenced by climate
Be Sure with BATCONE™
- Safe, humane, easy-to-use
- Will not harm bats
- Bats cannot return once BATCONE™ is installed
- Installation is easy: it just takes a few minutes
- Made of disposable recyclable plastic
- Weatherproof
- Only requirements: duct tape, silicone caulk, screws and standard toolbox scissors, staple gun
Simple Instructions Make BatCone™ Easy-to-Use
- To release individual cones: Free the top cone first by twisting the base of the top cone while holding the remaining bases together
- To fasten cones: Use duct tape, 3/8” staples or 1” screws to fasten the base of the core of the cone to the area surrounding the exit point
- To seal: Use copper “stuff it”, polyfoam, silicone caulk or foam backer rod to seal the sides
- To fit: Use tin snips or scissors to trim the plastic as needed to fit the affected area
The Next Generation for Bat and Bird Exclusion: ProCone™
- Another product from Westchester Wildlife
- Efficient exclusion system for sparrows, starlings and bats
- Does not harm birds/bats but drives them from residential and commercial buildings
- Easy-to-use and made of flexible plastic that is readily disposable and recyclable
SPECIAL VINYL FLANGE DESIGN MAKES IT USABLE ON VIRTUALLY ANY SURFACE
Many Variables in Estimating the Cost of Bat Exclusion
- Size of house or building
- Height and difficulty of access: terrain, trees, shrubs
- Number of areas that require sealing: vents, fascia boards, etc.
- Amount of materials needed to complete the project
- Length of guarantee: 1 or 2 years
- Price will vary depending on scope of project; range begins at $250.00 per man hour and does not include material or scaffold/bucket truck rental if necessary