Does An Bat Infested Attic Need To Be Decontaminated?

If your home contains a lot of bat droppings, we recommend hiring a professional to clean them up for you. In a stuffy, confined space like an attic, piles of bat guano can harbor dangerous histoplasmosis spores, which can become airborne if disturbed. Furthermore, large piles can be heavy and require a lot of physical strength and sterile equipment to move out of the attic.

Learn More: Bat Clean-Up FAQ

What Is The Attic Cleaning-Process?

At least once every three years, a thorough inspection of the attic or crawl space should be carried out, regardless if a wildlife infestation is suspected. Attics should be cleaned if the following conditions exist:

• Damaged, wet, moldy, or missing insulation
• Bats have been discovered.
• Guano, or bat droppings, can be seen.
• Strong odors of ammonia can be smelled.

Wildlife removal experts will inspect the building and identify areas where pests or nuisance wildlife have gained access. A thorough assessment is carried out and discussed with the homeowner, and decontamination is planned out.

A thorough clean-up will be performed to remove debris, droppings, ticks, and mites, among other things. Insulation and drywall often will need to be cleaned after a bat infestation. 

Following the initial clean-up, the exterior soffits, gutters, siding, and roofing will be repaired by wild animal technicians to prevent future infestations. 

Can I Get Sick From Bats In The Attic?

Bat guano (feces) contains fungus spores that can cause histoplasmosis, a lung disease. It’s a fungus that people can contract by inhaling spores in the air, either outside or indoors (attics).

Histoplasmosis can be a serious health problem for infants and people with weakened immune systems, especially in places where guano is confined, such as an attic. If a bat infestation is not addressed, guano will accumulate in the attic, posing a health risk to those who live there.

How To Prevent Contracting Illnesses From Bats?

Only trained bat control experts with the proper safety equipment should conduct bat removal or guano clean-up. The risk of contracting diseases is too significant to attempt at home guano decontamination. Instead, contact wildlife control professionals to perform safe bat control and clean-up services.