Bats In The Chimney – Facts & How To Remove Bats In Chimney

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Bats in the Chimney – Things To Avoid & Bat Disturbances

There is no doubt that many times bats can be a huge nuisance. If you have bats in your chimney, you might be tempted to employ extreme measures in order to remove the bats from the chimney. However, it is important to ensure that the process is legal and as humane as possible. If you want to hire a bat removal company, scroll through the states / city tab and locate your area to find a local wildlife business. Currently, many bats species are protected species. When you think about it, bats are not entirely the awful creatures that many of us think they are. Bats are very important to the ecosystem and we should not employ methods that would bring harm to the bats.

The relationship between bats and human can therefore be seen as mutual and the only point of conflict between the two is when bats create some form of disturbance in your house. The only reason why bats would be in your chimney is because of the warmth and security away from predators that chimneys offer. There are several do’s and donts when it comes to removing bats from your chimney. First, NEVER try to start a fire with the intention of scaring away the bats from your chimney. Such a move will only escalate the conflict with bats flying all over the house as they attempt to shimmy down the damper or escape through any possible opening available. Nobody wants a bunch of bats flying around in their house!

Baby Bats In The Chimney & Maternity Season

If you want to successfully remove bats from your chimney, the timing is very crucial. Depending on what time of the year that the bats decide to make your chimney their home, chances are that you might be stuck with the bats for some time. Female bats are most common in chimneys and attics as they seek shelter away from predators. If female bats happen to give birth which mostly happens between the months of April and May, the young bats are flightless during the first few months of their existence. Bat removal from the chimney should not be done if there are baby bats in summer.

It is illegal to kill bats and for that reason, no bat removal activity can take place in the presence of young bats. Even if you try to remove the mother, the babies will have to remain a situation that may lead to even greater disruptions of your normal routine. Without the mother, the baby bats will often try to crawl out of the chimney and may end up in your living room. Worse still, the mother will do everything possible to be reunited with her babies causing you even greater disturbance. If you want to remove bats from your chimney, then you would have to carry out what is referred to as bat exclusion. Bat exclusion can only take place if there are no baby bats present.

Bats Exclusion Facts & Where Bats Enter Chimneys

Bats are relatively flexible creatures and they can fit between gaps that are way less than their body size. Their rib cages are capable of breaking down to fit through tight gaps, similar to rat species. For this reason, it is important to identify the entry points into the chimney. Traditionally, bats prefer entry points that are horizontally placed. This means that there is less likelihood that the hole at the top of the chimney is the entry point. Being flexible creatures, bats only need gaps as small as 3/8 of an inch to gain access into your chimney. The chimney must therefore be well inspected for any gaps and openings. If you hire a wildlife removal company to exclude bats from your chimney, they would inspect the chimney and seal all secondary entries, while putting a one-way bat exclusion device over the main point of entry.

The most likely entry points that bats use to enter the chimney are the horizontal gaps found where the chimney meets the roof. Assuming that the entry points used by the bats are not so obvious, you can wait until nighttime when the bats fly out with the hope that they will use the same openings they used to gain entry into the chimney. When the bats fly out, you will be able to locate those areas. Never shine a flashlight over the entry points too much, because this can deter the bats from making their exit. Migration is natures way of removing bats from your chimney. Bats are not accustomed to cold climate and will therefore tend to migrate when confronted with extremely cold temperatures.

If you live within climatic conditions where it becomes extremely cold during winter, you can simply wait for the bats to migrate and then seal off any openings that can be used as entry points. There are several ways you can prevent the bats from re-entering your chimney including using sealants on cracks and a wire mesh to cover the top part of your chimney and other openings that cannot be completely sealed off. If the bats decide to come back home, it will not be possible for them to access your chimney. However, there is one species of bats found in North America which will stay in chimneys and attics all year, and that is the big brown bats. They are found mostly in the eastern states of America. Have a wildlife company come to your residence and have them go over the issue, and find out what species of bats are in your chimney.

Bat Removal From The Chimney Tips, Devices, & Techniques

To some people, waiting for the bats to migrate is not an option. Such a scenario is common in areas characterized by warm climate throughout the entire year. Consistent warm weather means that at no given time will the bats migrate voluntarily. For this reason, there are several ways to carry out bats exclusion including the existence of several equipments for exclusion. Despite the fact that such exclusion activities require a little bit of some effort, they effectively seal the entry point leaving no choice for the bats but to exit your chimney. One-way bat exclusion devices are used for this, and only a wildlife removal professional should utilize the methods of one-way door bat exclusion. If not properly executed which is a common obstacle by amateurs, it could cause some problems with the bat colony and make things worse than they already are.

There are various devices used for bats exclusion such as nettings, pipes and funnels. The devices are formed as one way valves that ensure that the bats can only exit the chimney, and not enter. While this activity is being carried out, it is important to ensure that the damper is sealed so the bats cannot exit the chimney into your living room. The devices used for exclusion can be left for a few weeks or months until all the bats are removed from the chimney. Once the bats are out, make sure to seal all gaps thoroughly with fireproof caulking so the material does not catch fire.

The successful removal of bats from your chimney depends on your knowledge of the bat species and the method used for exclusion. Remember, it is not advisable to have bats living in your chimney as they may pose a great health risk to you and your family. The greatest health risk attributed with bats comes from their guano or waste. Bat waste contains histoplasma encapsulate which is a type of fungus that can cause severe lung damage and disease known as histoplasmosis when it comes into contact with humans. People with weaker immune systems are more likely to get this disease from the bat guano. If you inspect your attic or chimney for bats, make sure to wear a quality respirator to avoid breathing in any harmful pathogens.