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How To Get Rid Of Bats In Your Attic During A Renovation

Group of small dark bats huddled together between wooden beams.
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Renovations can be a tough job. There are many moving parts and things that need to be done. In many instances, walls, basements, or attics may have been invaded by bats and other critters.

Bats in Omaha create a respiratory challenge because of their guano and urine, so it is vital to eradicate all traces of them before you start your renovation project. However, they could be very beneficial to the environment, so outright killing is not the preferred solution.

The easy solution? Call us at CP Bat Mitigation! We’ll take care of the problem for you while you kick back and relax. Rest assured knowing your attic is in the hands of professionals with effective bat removal in Omaha.

Here are some effective steps to take in dealing with this issue.

Use Exclusion Boxes 

First, you need to get the bats out of your attic. One way to do this is to use an Excluder. An Excluder is simply a box that helps bats depart and blocks their way back into your attic.

An Excluder is about six inches long. If you look closely, it has four flexible tabs at one end. These tabs will aid the attachment of the Excluder over the exit point for the bats.

Tools needed to attach it may include: 

  • pushpins
  • staples 
  • duct tape

Once the bats are gone, you should remove the Excluder. Then, make sure all the entry points are closed off.

Before you remove the Excluder and seal off all the entry points, remove the guano, urine, and other animal droppings. If you fail to do this, you may face a health risk.  You should always use protective gear including a respirator.

Comb Every Inch For Holes 

Next, prevent them from returning. There may be one or more entry points which provide the bats entrance into your attic. You would marvel at how they can fit into small openings.

For example, do you know that a bat can pass through any opening that is 1 inch by 3/8 inches? That is a super small opening! Nevertheless, we need to learn how to spot such openings.

Begin by searching every inch of the exterior. Make sure to pay special attention to the ridgeline of the roof. Then, look at the clipboards and shingles for possible entry points.

Don’t take any possible entry for granted. These little buggers can, and will, pass through anywhere to come into your home.

When you have detected these openings, fill them with bat cones and screens.

Neutralize The Odor

You will need to neutralize the odor within the attic. As you know, bats are blind and therefore rely heavily on their sense of hearing and smell. They have a unique nasal system, and this makes them recognize the scent of their home. You need to block their homing instincts.

  • Step 1: Remove the guano and urine from your attic. Always use protective gear, especially a respirator.
  • Step 2: Neutralize the odor. You can do this by using varieties of stain cleaning products. It is imperative to ensure that the product has odor removing properties or it will be completely ineffective. You can use a product like D-molish to get the job done. It’s an organic stain cleaner that aggressively removes the bat guano smell.
  • Step 3: Lay new insulation. By insulation, we mean new materials that will impede them from gaining entrance. It is critical that you lay the insulation between the joists. A good installer will use multiple layers. Each layer would be placed in another direction to ensure that it retains firmness.

How To Get Really Get Rid Of Bats In Your Attic: More Smell Repellants 

The need to change the smell of your attic from what the bats and other animals are already used to cannot be overemphasized. When your attic is completely clean, it ought to smell great too. In this case, it ought to smell in a way that will be repulsive to bats and other animals.

Merely placing the insulation and screens will not be enough. You need to apply a product that will give off a long-lasting scented deterrent to bats. One such scent is eucalyptus.

Build An Abode For Them

Interestingly, bats and other animals are creatures of habit. Just like humans, they seem to recognize where home is. Providing a new place for them to live will prevent them from finding a new way into your attic.

Here is a way to help build an abode for them:

  1. To start with, ensure you call an expert that can aid you in setting up the bat house. You should position the new bat house close to the previous entrance or nearby.
  2. You need to ensure that the bat house is very high. A good rule of thumb is to place the new bat house at least 15 feet above the ground. 

The bat house needs to be big enough to house a bat colony that ranges from tens to hundreds. A good material to use is cedarwood. After some time passes, go check out the new place to see if they have fully relocated themselves.

Call The Professionals

While all these steps can be taken by a non-professional, it is always advantageous to call someone who knows how to do this. All the folks at CP Bat Mitigation are happy to talk to you about the best way to eradicate bats in your home. Reach out to us today and find out how we can help you.

Stick to these steps before you begin your renovation and enjoy a bat-free home!

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