Revised 6/13/19

 

Over 40 bat species exist in the U.S. alone. While some bat species feed on nectar, other small mammals or fish, the vast majority of bat species are insectivores and maintain a diet of night-flying insects like lacewings, cockroaches, mosquitoes and moths. For example, a single brown bat can eat between 3,000 and 7,000 mosquitoes in a single night.

 

Bats found in or around a structure can become very disruptive to its occupants for a number of reasons:

 

• Bat droppings (guano) – a bat’s feces can carry a fungus known to cause respiratory issues. Avoid direct contact with guano and do not inhale the air around it without proper protective equipment.

• Bat odor – bat urine emits a very strong and offensive odor, which could linger inside a structure.

• Stains – bats can leave visible grease marks around the area they inhabit.

• Bat bugs – a bat roost can harbor other parasites such as bat bugs (easily confused with bed bugs), which can move into other areas of a structure.

 

Funneling and exclusion is recommended to eliminate the presence of bats inside a structure and to prohibit further access in the future. Our service primarily involves funneling to get bats out of a structure and exclusion to keep them out. After all the bats have been removed and the exclusion is finalized, remove contaminated insulation, etc. then clean and deodorize these areas.

 

But, what is a Bat Exclusion? Exclusion is conducted by positioning one-way devices at key locations to allow bats to exit the structure. These one-way devices allow the bats to naturally leave without harming them, but prevent them from re-entering. Then we seal and bat proof the structure in an aesthetically pleasing way.

 

 

6 STEPS OF SERVICE

 

Following the 6 Steps of Service:

• Meet the homeowner or tenant and listen to any concerns.

• Inform the customer of your general inspection and treatment plans.

• Let them know what you expect to see while treating and ask if they are currently experiencing any other pest issues.

• Explain what they can expect from the treatment.

 

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SERVICE INSTRUCTIONS

 

Inspection:

• Prior to conducting any inspection, ensure all equipment and materials are available for job completion.

  • Flashlight.

  • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – coveralls, gloves, safety glasses, respirator, etc.

• Conduct a full inspection of the structure to determine exactly how the bats are getting in and out.

  • Bats can enter a structure through an opening as small as 3/8 of an inch.

  • Search for guano - it may be on the ground below the entry point, or it may be on the wall under the entry point.

  • Inspect around the perimeters of the roof, especially in open corners for guano.

  • Inspect the outside walls and roof of the structure for urine stains, which would indicate an entry point.

  • Inspect for brown stains that come from the oil on the bats’ skin as they squeeze in through their entry point.

  • Inspect roof vents, gables, gable vents, ridge caps, roof/fascia junctions, soffits, exterior wall/freeze board junctions, other wildlife (woodpeckers, raccoons, squirrels, etc.) holes in upper areas, dormer/roof junctions, roof to roof junctions, chimney flues, and chimney/soffit/roof  junctions for possible access points.

• Inspect the exterior closely for damage that might provide entry points for the bats.

  • Warped siding could be causing a gap for the bats to enter through.

  • Missing bricks or broken windows are other potential entry points.

  • Louvers or vents in the siding could be potential entry points as well.

• Conduct an attic inspection to continue to locate potential access points and to identify bat behavior.

  • Identify the bat species to determine the specific birthing and hibernating seasons.

  • ​Inspect to determine where the bat droppings are concentrated.

  • Observe where clusters of bats are clinging to or climbing down the walls which can provide some clue as to where they are entering.

 

Approved Product List:

• Treatment Materials: Demand; Temprid SC; Nygard; Archer

• Other Materials:  Bat Funnels, Batcones, screen mesh

 

Control & Exclusion:

• Prior to conducting any exclusion service, ensure all equipment and materials are available for job completion.

  • Funneling (bat removal) phase:

    • Flashlight.

    • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – coveralls, gloves, safety glasses, respirator, etc.

    • 1-way funneling devices.

    • Batcones.

  • Exclusion phase:

    • Flashlight.

    • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – coveralls, gloves, safety glasses, respirator, etc.

    • Hardware cloth.

    • Aluminum flashing.

    • Galvanized flashing.

    • Excluder wool cloth.

    • Expanding foam (used to seal holes that cannot be repaired with other materials.

    • Assorted screws, nails and staples used to attach these materials.

• After the inspection has determined any INACTIVE bat access points, these areas should be sealed with permanent screening in an aesthetically pleasing way.

• Install one-way exclusion devices on all active bat access points as required.

• Provide guano removal, cleanup and site sanitation in areas where bat roosts have been present.

• For an additional cost, we can remove contaminated insulation, etc. then clean and deodorize these areas.

• All exclusion services should be done in the early morning.

 

Reinspect:

• Conduct a re-inspection of the structure at least 7 days from the exclusion to ensure the structure is free of bats.

• If bats still remain, readjust exclusion devices as required and set up new re-inspection date.

• If all bats have been expelled, remove the exclusion devices previously installed.

• Seal all remaining holes/gaps with permanent screening in an aesthetically pleasing way.

 

Other Notes:

• If exclusion is begun too early in the season and traps bats inside a structure, this can lead to more problems, including:

  • B​ats dying and creating an odor problem.

  • Female bats, which have flightless young trapped inside, will fly around the outside to find another way to gain access to their young.

• Structures with wood shake, terracotta or slate roofs are often at greater risk as these types of roofs can offer numerous small openings for potential bat access.

• Bat exclusion measures should not be started until late July/early August, by which time the young bats have begun to leave the roost with the adults to forage outside for insects.

• Since the bats are not eliminated, it is important to seal all structural areas they can inhabit in a building. If this practice is not followed they will just move from one area of the structure to another.

• Bats do not create building entries – they take advantage of existing ones.

• Bats may only be roosting on porches or breezeways – not actually nesting, but stopping just long enough to leave droppings.

• The materials we use, depending on the size and adjacent materials of construction are galvanized steel flashing (primed and painted to match the surrounding areas), galvanized steel hardware cloth, animal exclusion foam, silicone caulk and other construction materials as needed.

• If access to any area is greater than 8 ft. it requires a 20-foot ladder and a 2-man crew (OSHA requirement).

• While providing treatment, examine for termites and other pests living outside to recommend other A-1 services.

 

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6 STEPS OF SERVICE (continued)

 

Continuing to follow the 6 Steps of Service:

• Let the customer know what was found and what was done. If the customer is not available, leave a “Door Hanger” with written notes specifying what was found, what was done, and any recommendations deemed necessary.

• Inform the customer what to expect over the next few days, weeks, months, etc. Set clear expectations for upcoming visits.

  • It can sometimes be quite difficult to stop flying animals from resting or roosting.

• Ask the customer: “Do you have any other Pest Control needs I can take care of today?”

• If the customer does NOT already have a Home Shield service, ask them, “May I tell you about our routine service for continuous pest protection for your family?”

• Ask the customer, “If you feel that I provided you with good service today, I’d like to invite you to give us a positive online review – we’ll make it very easy for you.”

 

 

WARRANTY – 1 Year (for the nest(s) or area(s) that were previously worked)

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