Frequently Asked Questions

Most of the time, if you already have a bat infestation, it is a really bad idea to try tackling bat control in Omaha on your own. Bats are among the top vectors of rabies, the deadliest virus in the world.

If you contract rabies and start to show symptoms, there is a 100% chance of death. The good news is that rabies vaccines prevent virtually all potential rabies cases in the United States. A full-blown rabies infection is very rare. However, the bad news is that rabies vaccinations can be very painful and may not be covered by insurance, leaving you on the hook for potentially thousands of dollars worth of shots.

If you're bitten by a bat when trying to get rid of them yourself, you will need rabies shots — end of story. Rabies in bats is so prevalent that it is not worth the risk, and that is why you should always let professionals handle an existing bat problem. The residential bat control specialists here at CP Bat Mitigation can humanely and safely exclude bats from your home without putting ourselves or anyone else in danger of a potentially infectious bite.

While it's better to trust the experts to help you eliminate an existing bat infestation, there are some things you can do to prevent yourself from ever having to deal with one. One of the best ways to prevent bats is by using bat control products like wire mesh to cover all potential entryways to your attic. Cover things like:

• Ventilation openings
• Chimneys
• Condensation outlets
• Other holes and gaps in the roof area

Rodent mesh or bat mesh will do the trick. Make sure you cover these areas during the evening when any potential bats are outside your home.

There could be a couple of things attracting bats to your house. One of the biggest bat attractants is a good place to roost. Bats need to spend the day in a sheltered area that protects them from the elements. Common places bats roost in homes include:

• Chimneys
• Windows/framing
• Vents
• Roofing
• Siding
• Walls
• Fascia boards
• Attics

They can easily set up shop if you don't use exclusion measures to keep them away from these areas.

Another major bat attractant that may draw more bats to your home is a mosquito or other flying insect problem, which is why good bat control includes means removing bugs too. Bats will be less likely to come around if there's nothing to eat.

If bats are just roosting in your attic and not bothering you, you might think you can just leave them alone — this isn't a good idea. In addition to the potential for rabies exposure, bats can also expose you to a severe fungal disease called histoplasmosis. Bat guano can release the spores that cause histoplasmosis into the air and infect the people and animals that live near their roosts. They can also cause structural damage if their populations grow large enough. So it's important to get rid of bat infestations as soon as possible.

In the wild, bats are in many different climates and geographical locations. They may live in woodlands, deserts, mountains, rainforests, and anywhere else they can get what they need to survive. Most bats eat insects that fly, though some eat fruit and, in the case of the vampire bat, even blood.

Bats will roost wherever they can stay warm and dry. They may take up residence inside caves, hollow trees, the undersides of bridges, and anywhere else that keeps them out of the elements. If your house is the most convenient place, they will take up residence there too.