Two times now, I have seen a bat in our house. My husband and I just bought this house. As wary, first-time buyers we ensure to cross all our t's and dot all of our I's. We employed a trustworthy home inspector and he spent hours inspecting all imaginable or possible problems with our to-be home. The house was constructed in 65' and as predictable, the inspection brought up a few fears. What appeared to seem like petty and feasible: until the bats flew in.
Now, I am not certain if we have a bat colony nestling in the house. But looking at my husband flailing around the house, hitting at these moth-like flying mammals, all the while experiencing my first lock-myself-in-the-bathroom shouting session, was sufficient to begin a full investigation. I called the bat police. If we have bats in the house, their elimination will be a possibly costly service. Similarly, there are precise health worries that set off important alarm bells. So, let's talk bats, in hopes that as you look into the purchase of your next home, you make sure to check for the tell-tale signs.
First off, just to get you thinking seriously about this concern, consider the fact that bats are not pests. In most states, as in most places in the world, these unique critters are both endangered and protected. Indeed, when I first googled my problem, I was expecting a sea full of comforting headlines: BAT EXTERMINATORS AT YOUR SERVICE. GET YOUR EFFECTIVE BAT POISON HERE. This was not the case. Most of my research sang to the tune of bats being the least understood and most persecuted animals in the world. I was oblivious to the fact that individuals, our environment and our legislation, admire bats. It’s alright, I understand it now. Without bats we could be swamped in a swamp full of blood-hungry sucking mosquitoes. Bats are serious insectivores and their populations are on the decline. For this reason alone, they need our protection. But beware, homeowners who unwittingly house them may end up paying for this unconditional love. It is good to avoid this issue completely, by not buying into a house with bats.
If you are interested in purchasing a home that is on the old to older side, it won't hurt to look for signs of bats. Chat with your building inspector before an official house inspection and see that he/she is savvy to these indicators. The below signs may be sign of bats settling in your to-be home:
Staining:
Look for unusual brown or grey stains in areas where bats might potentially enter the home. These entry points may be attic vents, cracks and holes under rotted eaves, where a chimney meets the house and openings where the pipes and wiring enter the house. The main characteristic of these stains is that they are oil based and difficult to remove.
Guano:
Guano is a pretty, Spanish name for bat poo. The droppings will be found around the roost site. Guano droppings are pellet-like and give off a particular scent. This ammonia or musky smell may be present near the roosting bats, notably in the summer. In the months of winter, the odor reduces as the bats have either moved or are hiding. Guano brings the most dangerous issues in housing bats. Inhaling dust that contains fungal spores found in guano can cause a serious lung infection. Histoplasmosis is the name of this fungal lung disease associated with bat droppings.
Chirping:
If your inspector thinks they hear the sweet chirpings of baby birds, have them double check that this cute social chatter is not emerging from a bat colony. Bats noise chatter is same like that of birds.
The motive for all the worrying forewarnings is not that bat flat-out creep me out. Yes, I was terrified when I first saw one flying about our house. Now, after having done some research, I have gained a vast respect and curiosity for these amazing mammals of the night. Still, who wants to live with bats? The reason to consider checking for signs of roosting bats is that they can be very tricky to remove. You can't poison them. It is illegal and otherwise ineffective. Proper bat removal usually involves an intervention by a bat removal company. The company will use exclusion methods to remove the bats and seal up any potential re-entry points in your home. Depending on the size of the bat colony and how long they have settled, the damages, re-insulation, guano clean-up and repair can be expensive and time consuming. So buyers are careful of bats. Yes, they are vital ecosystem managers and need to be protected. Let them be protected by our laws and not by our roofs.
THE BIG BAT FACTS:
- Bats are the only mammals in the world using natural flight.
- Bats can eat 500-1000 insects per hour.
- Bats are protected in the United States and should never be harmed or killed.
- Bats make up nearly one-quarter of all known mammal species.
- Bats use echolocation, a kind of natural sonar, to navigate and locate food.
- Bats are gentle, passive creatures that will only bite in self-defense if they are picked up and handled.
- Never touch a bat with your bare hands! Though rare, sick bats may have rabies.
- Bats can crawl through openings as little as 1cm in diameter.
- In the past 20 years, close to 80% of the country's bat population has been lost.
- To assist protecting the bat population, construct a bat house. It may attract bats to settle near, though not in your home!