INDIANTOWN, Fla. — Hundreds of bats forced a Boys and Girls Club in Indiantown to close for nearly three weeks starting in late August. The bats were spotted by a cleaning crew and found crawling through small openings in the gym ceiling.
Kenny Baez, the Facilities Manager at the local gym, pointed out the stains on the ceiling where he says bats were living. He noted that they left behind evidence of their presence in the form of bat droppings.
Baez is with local animal pest control out of Orlando. They had issues up above, as well as down below where bat guano littered the gym floor. Guano is bat poop.
The local animal pest control has been struggling to get rid of bats for years. The creatures have taken up residence in the eaves of the building, and because they are protected by law, the only way to remove them is to trap them and release them elsewhere. But this process is complicated and time-consuming, so the pest control company decided to build a one-way contraption that would allow the bats to leave but not return.
Keith Fletcher, CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of Martin County, came to the club Wednesday dressed as Batman. He used the opportunity to teach the kids about bats. The kids were fascinated by the bats and asked questions about how they got in, what role they play in the environment, and how we were going to get them out.
Bats
Bats are nocturnal animals that use echolocation to navigate and hunt in the dark. There are over 1,200 species of bats worldwide, making them the second-largest group of mammals. Bats are important for their role in ecosystems and for their economic value; they are consumed as food in some cultures and are used in traditional medicine.
But they can be a nuisance once they move into your home. Bats are known to carry rabies and other diseases, which can be transmitted to humans through their bites or feces. In addition, their constant flapping can create a loud noise that can be disruptive to your sleep.
Bats in the Attic
When you hear a noise that comes from your attic and it’s a bat, you’re dealing with an infestation. Bats can gain access to your home through small openings, such as cracks in the siding or gaps around the roofline. Once they’re inside, they’ll roost in attics, crawl spaces, or behind walls.
Bat guano, or droppings, can accumulate in these areas and lead to unpleasant odors. In addition, bat guano is a potential health hazard; it can contain harmful bacteria that can cause respiratory infections, such as histoplasmosis.
If you have bats in your attic, the best course of action is to call a wildlife control professional. They will be able to safely remove the bats and seal up the openings to your home so that they can’t get back in.
Preventing Bats from Returning
If you want to remove the bats from your property and keep them from coming back, you need to take preventive measures. Start by sealing up any cracks or holes in your home’s exterior. This will help to prevent bats from getting inside.
You should also install bat houses on your property. Bat houses provide a roosting area for bats and can help to deter them from entering your home.
If you have a bat problem, the best thing to do is to call a wildlife control professional. Bats can carry many diseases that can be harmful to humans, so it’s best to leave them to the experts.
Bat Exclusion
The best way to get rid of bats is by performing a bat exclusion. This is a process where all of the bats are removed from the roosting area and the area is sealed so that they cannot return.
Bat exclusions are best performed by wildlife control professionals because they have the experience and equipment to safely remove the bats and seal up the area.
Bat Removal
If your dealing with a bat infestation, the best thing to do is to call a wildlife control professional. They will be able to safely remove the bats from your property and seal up any openings so that they cannot return.
Bat infestations can be a nuisance because of the noise they make and the potential health hazards they pose. If you have bats in your home, the best thing to do is to call a wildlife control professional. They will be able to safely remove the bats and seal up any openings so that they cannot return.
As a homeowner, you should also take preventive measures to keep bats from returning, such as sealing up any cracks or holes in your home’s exterior and installing bat houses on your property.
AAAC Wildlife Removal can help you with the work that goes into a bat exclusion and prevent bats from returning to your home. We are experts in wildlife removal and can help you to get rid of your bat problem safely and efficiently. Contact us today for a consultation.
The news originally from: https://www.wptv.com/news/local-news/martin-county/boys-and-girls-club-gym-reopens-after-bat-infestation
