Why Are Bats In The Attic Dangerous?

Bats are beneficial insects that will naturally control insects on and around your property. When bats roost close to humans, however, it can be a problem for various reasons. Bats can be aggressive, cause costly damage requiring repair & cleanup, and spread disease to people who share space with them. The bats themselves may not be the most dangerous part of the infestation; it’s the guano (feces) that will pile up because of the infestation.

Bat Guano & Urine

Bat droppings are most commonly found beneath the roost, and below the access points bats use to gain access to a building or a roosting area.

Because all bats eat insects, their droppings are mostly dried insect remains. Bat droppings are often confused with mouse droppings, but unlike mouse droppings, they do not contain any moisture and thus crumble easily (and look slightly sparkly when crumbled).

Allergies, dust inhalation (for example, when cleaning up large amounts of droppings), and gastro-intestinal infection from eating droppings are all possible health risks on rare occasions.

The primary concern with bat urine is that it contains high uric acid levels, which can corrode metal. Bat urine stains light-colored fabrics and porous stone like marble and alabaster, as well as etching polished surfaces. ¹Go To Source dnrec.delaware.gov -“BAT-RELATED HEALTH CONCERN FACT SHEET “

Attraction Of Parasites And Insects

When bat guano is present, insects and parasites become a secondary threat. Insects are attracted to areas where bat urine and guano accumulate, such as an attic, crawl spaces, or even walls. Ticks, mites, fleas, and even cockroaches fall into this category.

While these pests rarely attack humans, most people can agree that sharing a home with them can be a nightmare. The removal of bats and their guano, fortunately, causes insects to die quickly. To ensure your family’s health, bat removal professionals will use special procedures to remove and dispose of their guano and urine in a safe and environmentally friendly manner. ²Go To Source dwr.virginia.gov -“Health Issues with Bats: Rabies, Histoplasmosis, and Parasites”

The Spread Of Bat Carried Diseases

When it comes to bats versus other pests, the main concern is not so much the damage as it is the risk of disease transmission from bats to humans. When bats begin to live in human environments, the risk of a potentially fatal disease being transmitted to humans becomes real, and it must be addressed. Histoplasmosis and rabies are the two diseases most commonly associated with bats.

The fungus Histoplasma capsulatum, which is found in bat droppings, causes histoplasmosis, a respiratory disease. The fungus produces spores that can infect humans through inhalation alone once they become airborne. The disease’s symptoms can be flu-like at first, and it can also affect vision, hearing, and the heart’s performance. Fever, blood abnormalities, pneumonia, and even death can result from the illness. While not all bats carry the rabies virus, a small percentage do. When a bat is infected with rabies, it becomes very sick, so any bat you see flying around could have rabies, though the chances are slim.

Bats rarely attack humans, but they may attack if they are captured or handled, especially if they are rabid or sick. If you or your pet has been bitten by a bat, especially a sick bat, try to catch it with tongs, preserve it, and seek medical attention right away. A rabies vaccine is effective when given before symptoms appear; however, once symptoms appear, the disease is almost always fatal. ³Go To Source cdc.gov -“Learning about bats and rabies”

Attic Damage Caused By Bats

Guano, believe it or not, can cause extensive damage throughout your home. These droppings are known to be corrosive, and due to an imbalance in pressure, they can cause ceilings and flooring to sink or sag. Even the most durable materials in your home, such as wood and metal, can be broken down by it. As previously stated, this feces attracts rodents and insects, both of which can eat away at your wood, jeopardizing the structural integrity of your home.

Bat control experts should be contacted at the first sign of a bat infestation to minimize attic damage. The sooner they assess the situation, the sooner they can provide you with the assistance you require, so contact us today, and we’ll get this process started for you.

Sources:

1. Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife. “BAT-RELATED HEALTH CONCERN FACT SHEET.” Dnrec.Delaware.Gov, June 2010, documents.dnrec.delaware.gov/fw/bats/Documents/Bats%20and%20Health%20Concerns-2012.pdf.
2. “Health Issues with Bats: Rabies, Histoplasmosis, and Parasites.” Virginia DWR, Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, dwr.virginia.gov/wildlife/bats/health-issues-with-bats. Accessed 14 July 2021.
3. Center For Diseases Control And Prevention. “CDC – Bats: Learning about Bats and Rabies – Rabies.” Cdc.Gov, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 22 Apr. 2011, www.cdc.gov/rabies/bats/education/index.html.