Bats in my house?
Question:Every year I get three to four bats in my house, usually in my basement. Is it possible for "Brown Bats" to crawl under the the lowest pieces of siding and into the basement? I have blocked every avenue leading from my attic and have recently been in it and saw no signs of them there. I was always told that bats will not go "low" when entering structure, that they prefer high access locations. The one thing I know is they are coming into the basement. I don't think they're living in the house, because I've been remodeling and they're not in the walls either. The one pattern I have discovered is that on cool nights (Sring in Minnesota) and extremely warm nights is usually when I find one. I've tried standing outside my house at dusk to watch for them, that's why I'm sure they aren't coming out of the house. Any suggestions, they freak out my wife and kids..
Answers:
Wow, I wish I had that "problem". Little brown bats, as they are commonly known, are beautiful little creatures that are great bug catchers.
If they freak out your wife and kids you might want to educate them more on what bats do and how they live. Also remind them that bats will NOT harm humans nor will they get caught up in your hair unless you have bugs in your hair they are going after.
Some great information on bats can be found here... http://www.batmanagement.com/discover/di... and http://www.batmanagement.com/ordering/ev...
*EDIT*
I am not suggesting living with the bats in your home, just relocating them to a different area of your yard as outlined in the links above. It is true that bats can carry diseases and it is always best to leave wild animals outside of your home. However, the diseases that a bat carries are the same ones that a mouse will carry into your home and you have less risk from bats than from mice since bats do not urinate a trail nor do they get into your food or food prep areas.
I highly suggest keeping them on your property, but outside of your home. Bats can be fascinating creatures and a great educational source for your children.
Just the opinion of a nature loving hunter/fisherman :)
There are likely bats underground nearby in the neighborhood
Move, or call a specialist to survey any holes in the wall or floor.
If the house is old, with "balloon" construction, the spaces between the studs are open from basement to attic. So the bats' entry point can be almost anywhere. Try caulkking around the chimney and any exhaust fans, especially, and look for rotted or split window trim. Also check fascia and soffits- the bats could be entering at the top of the house, then taking the stud route to the warmth of the basement. Bats will go low= in the wild they live in caves, not attics. Caulk around the dryer vent, too.
In my opinion, pay no attention to people who suggest you live with bats. They are disease-carrying vermin. Rattlesnakes eat undesirable creatures, too, but you wouldn't risk your family by letting them live with rattlesnakes.
They are probably in the attic. Generally, people get bats in their house in the winter because hibernating bats can wake up if the temp raises a bit. They are a bit groggy and can fall down between the walls to an unfinished basement.
During the hot summer months, the juvenile bats are learning to fly and can get into trouble.
http://www.crittercatchersinc.com/critte...
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