Although bats are extremely beneficial and help maintain balance in
our delicate ecosystem, there are times when bats become a problem or
nuisance to home or business owners.
REASONS FOR CONFLICT:
- Human expansion has resulted in loss of habitat, forcing bats to
look for alternative roosts in which to live and raise their
young. Roof voids, attics, vacant buildings and barns all provide
bats with warm, safe places to live.
- Bat colonies living in human structures may sometimes be noisy
or create unpleasant odours.
- Fruit farmers may experience damage to their crops by fruit bats
- Some people just don't want them in their houses, even though
they may have been there for years before being discovered. Make
sure that your fears are not unwarranted! (See Bat
Phobia & Bat Facts)
CONFLICT WITH BATS IN
BUILDINGS
An understanding of the habits of these beneficial animals can help
solve problems that sometimes develop when bats roost in buildings.
Bats living in buildings do not cause
structural damage nor do they chew on wires or wood!
HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT
THERE ARE BATS IN YOUR ROOF?
- Bats can sometimes be detected by the presence of black or brown
stains from body oils or droppings around cracks or crevices formed
by ill-fitting building materials.
- Bat droppings may also appear on walls, under porches or decks, or
on floors beneath dilapidated ceilings.
- Bat droppings are dark and do not contain any white material.
Although they may resemble small hard rodent pellets, bat droppings
are soft and easily crushed, revealing shiny insect parts.
- The bats flying and foraging in your garden during the evening,
are not likely living in your roof as well. You actually have
to witness them exiting from under your roof at dusk, to be sure
Be careful never to blame bats for
squeaking, scratching and thumping sounds heard in roofs and attics -
they may be other pests such as rats, mice or mynah birds. Rustling and
twittering sounds coming from an old chimney may be caused by chimney
swifts.
Why
not exterminate?
Hiring an exterminator or "doing it yourself" may
seem like the simple, very direct solution. Consider these thoughts
before attempting any exterminating:
- It is inhumane when better options exist.
- It will ultimately fail because the roost is still available for
other bats.
- Chemicals that can kill bats are also just as hazardous to humans
& pets.
- There are no chemicals licensed for use on bats in the South
Africa, thus making it an illegal practice. Any company
proposing to do so should have their practices questioned.
- Some services will offer to catch and release bats far away, but
bats have been proven to return from up to 600 kilometres away; a
few weeks later they will be back.
- Sealing the structure while providing an alternate roost (a
bat house) is the permanent solution
For More advice regarding bat problems, follow these links:
