Do Bats Share Attic Space With Other Animals

Some bats carry rabies which can be spread if a bat bites someone.
Do bats share attic space with other animals. If you live in an area with mild temperatures throughout the year the bats will stay year round. Bats will hibernate in the winter if the temperature stays at around 35 to 40 f. If bats are living in your attic you should not try to trap or handle them because you could get bitten. Additionally bat droppings can contain pathogens which can cause histoplasmosis an infection that can be severe if left.
Bats are very beneficial to the environment and for their mosquito controlling capabilities but will be attracted to man made architecture and attics for a suitable roosting location. You ll spot bat feces accumulating under beams and other places where bats roost often in a straight line. The other problem that sometimes occurs in bat roosts is that young bats may fall into uncovered water tanks. Signs of bats in the attic can be determined from staining on drywall or outside damage on the.
Other animals will leave scattered larger droppings. Also don t forget the time of year. The smell can be overpowering and it can also spread diseases. Raccoons can enter year round but 90 of cases happen in the months of march april and may when the female raccoons enter attics looking for a safe place to give birth.
When bats are entering or exiting the small holes to and from their roost area in your attic the oil that is produced by their skin accumulates at the entry point and becomes an. There are many ways bats can get into an attic and when they do they ll leave behind a black streaky and oily mess that is a sure mark of a bat entry point. If it gets colder than that the bats in the attic will migrate out allowing you to seal up cracks and other entry points once they leave for the season. Because they fly bats are just about the only animal that won t leave tracks.
Touching bats is never recommended as they can carry rabies and other pathogens that can cause disease. Every house owner should ensure that their water tank is covered not just to prevent bats from trying to take a drink and drowning but to prevent other animals such as mice or dust and fibres from falling in. Regularly inspect your home for rotting wood holes or other weak spots that provide access. Tips for removing animals commonly found in your attic rats and mice.
If do notice signs of animal activity on the floor of your attic it is likely not a bat problem. The likelihood is that rats a raccoon or squirrels have managed to find a way into the warm space between your living area and the roof although other animals are sometimes found up in the eaves. Animals will often look for a warm place in the winter months and any small opening is enough for them to make their way through. Bats can cause extreme amounts of damage in a attic area in a quick amount of time in charleston south carolina.
After the animal is gone repair the damage to keep other animals from entering your attic. Block their re entry if you are sure all animals are gone. Before you attempt any do it yourself solutions first consider that a majority of bat species are federally protected.