ALL OUT Wildlife Control, LLC spoke to a group of Realtors about bats and their habits--and why they sometimes end up in houses.

1. BATS
Dave Schmidt, CWCP, ACP
ALL OUT Wildlife Control, LLC

2. The Low Down (or High Up)
• Bats are our only flying mammals. They are not
rodents.
• They live in colonies that can number several
hundred. All bats in this area feed entirely on
night-flying insects. They find prey through
echolocation—ultrasonic sounds that humans
cannot hear.
• They are generally found roosting under the
ridges of cedar shake roofs, inside soffits,
behind fascia boards, inside cracks on walls,
underneath side flashing, in chimneys and
behind gutters.

3. Little Brown Bat
• One of Missouri’s most common bats
• They look fierce but are very beneficial, eating
thousands of insects (including mosquitoes) every
night. They will consume one-half their body
weight every night.
• They weigh approximately ½ ounce.
• They are the most common bat found in buildings
in the St. Louis area.

4. Bats in jeopardy
• White Nose Syndrome, a fungal disease, is affecting
bats in the Eastern part of the United States. It is steadily
moving west, decimating bat colonies and causing
concern to biologists. It has been found in Missouri but
doesn’t seem to be affecting populations—yet.

5. Why you don’t want… bats in your
belfry
• Rabies
• Droppings support insect/fungus
populations
• In substantial populations, odor/noises will
be present
• Exterior stains

6. How do you know a building has
bats?
• The most obvious sign is
guano, or bat droppings.
• Guano can be observed
in an attic or as smears
along the wood or brick
near the entry hole.
• In addition to being
unsightly, these
droppings can contain or
encourage insect
populations and fungus.

7. What building inspectors can look
for
• Rodent and termite inspections are relatively
common, but not necessarily bats.
• Some inspectors do attic inspections, but not all.
• A chimney inspection will not reveal much—bats
cannot fly up a chimney.
• Some municipal inspectors will check for any
opening on the exterior that could allow any
animal entry. Typically these must be sealed.
However, it is the responsibility of the building
owner to do this, and the owner may not know if
any animal is still living in the building.

8. Building Inspectors cont.
• Some inspectors check the attic from the scuttle
hole and look for droppings, nesting material,
holes in sheathing, etc. that would indicate the
presence of any animal. It is important to know
what sign equals what infestation; i.e., bats do
not leave nesting material.
• Some inspectors may use a ladder to inspect the
attic from the roof.

9. Building inspectors cont.
• Keep in mind that bats can use any entry
hole that is 3/16‖ or smaller. This may
require the aid of binoculars or ladders,
since these holes can be difficult to see
with the naked eye.
• Walking around the attic with a headlamp
will likely reveal droppings if there have
been bats in the attic.

10. Visible signs building inspectors
can watch for
• Bat urine stains on
soffit

11. Guano close-up

12. An extreme build-up of guano

13. Bat entry
• Bat entry between
siding courses

14. Bat Entry
• The dark smudges
indicate a well-used
bat entry

15. Bat entry

16. DON’T TRY THIS AT HOME
(or anywhere else)
• Fumigation, repellents, traps and poisons
• ALL OUT Wildlife Control, LLC
STRONGLY advises our customers
against these poor methods of bat removal
or control
• They do not address the issue (small entry
holes that bats can use) and cause further
problems

17. • Human behavior, habitat loss and disease
have reduced many bat populations
• Because of their importance to the
ecosystem, some bats are federally
protected. Others are listed as
endangered
• A professional wildlife service will respect
this and use the bats’ biology to exclude
them from a building

18. When do bats mate and raise
young?
• Bat breeding season is in late fall, just before
they hibernate. Birthing occurs from early June
through Mid-August.
• ALL OUT will not do bat removal and
exclusion during these weeks. We must allow
the young to develop and be able to fly. This is
the industry standard, so be wary if a service
is offered during the peak summer months.
Many times people will beg us to do the work
during the ―blackout‖ period, but that would
only make a bad situation worse.

19. What if you find one?
• Don’t panic. Bats are not aggressive and
will avoid you if possible.
• However, be respectful of the potential
hazards, such as a bite to a human or pet.
• If the bat is in your home, try to isolate it in
one room and close the door.
• Put damp towels under the door so it
cannot escape through the cracks.
• Call a wildlife professional!

20. • Take the bat to the Health Department.
They may want to test it for rabies and/or
White Nose or other diseases.
• Call your WCO to determine if there are
more bats in the building.

21. This is the form they will likely have
you complete at the Health Dept.

22. How are bats removed?
• Removing one live bat from a home can
sometimes be done with a net and other tools.
Keep in mind that bats live in colonies and the
one you see may be one of many.
• A professional WCO will install a one-way device
that allows bats to leave the building but not
return. (Think of a door that locks once you close
it)
• This is a humane and safe way to remove bats.
They will find another place to live.
• Once they are gone, your WCO will cover the
entry holes so bats cannot use the holes to
move back in.

23. What costs can you expect?
• The cost of bat removal and exclusion
depends on a number of factors:
– The number of entry holes
– The style of building and number of stories
– The type of roof
– The equipment and supplies we will need to
use
– Accessibility to all exterior areas; i.e., trees,
steep slopes

24. • ALL OUT typically does bat removal in two
phases. This is the accepted method of
bat control for wildlife professionals.
• Phase I involves the bat-proofing of most
of the building installation of the one-way
device.
• Once we are sure the bats have left the
building, Phase II is done. This is the
closing and sealing of entry holes.

25. Some buildings may require a lift
and/or a second technician.

26. • A bakery in a nearby
historic area had bats
living above its front
door.

27. What you should expect for your
money
• Custom-made one-way devices on each
bat entry
• Permanent, weather-tight, high-quality
materials
• A warranty against bat re-entry at the sites
that have been sealed
• The peace of mind of knowing that you did
not harm the bats—but they won’t harm
you either

28. Additional options
• We recommend
specially designed
bat houses to our
customers.
• This will allow the
bats to establish a
colony in a safe and
appropriate home.