The stuff of legends, bats have been the center of hundreds of stories, from ancient folklore to modern-day horror films. While they may be beneficial to have in the wild, bats are dangerous to have inside your Savannah home for numerous reasons. Read on to learn why they are harmful to humans, and how to safely remove them from your home for good.
Bats Aren't Bad In The Wild
It’s really a shame that bats get such a bad rap, and even more a shame that they can be harmful to humans. Bats are actually very important to our ecosystem here in Savannah. If all bats were to disappear, you would notice it quickly — this is because bats are crucial to keeping insect populations down, mosquitoes in particular. Sit on your porch in the evenings, just after sunset, and watch these mysterious creatures swoop and dive, catching flying nuisance insects right out of the air, making it a much more pleasurable experience to sit outside.
The Problem With Bats In Your Home
Despite the numerous reasons bats are wonderful to have in the wild, they are dangerous to have inside your home. Below are some of the reasons why:
- Smell: Bat droppings, called guano, can cause a lot of problems for homeowners. Guano leaves behind a foul, musty odor that is incredibly unpleasant, especially if there has been more time for these droppings to build up.
- Stains: Guano can also stain your ceilings and walls, costing you thousands of dollars in damage repairs.
- Contaminated water: While this depends on the layout of your home, bat droppings could also potentially contaminate your water if exposed to your water sources.
- Insulation damage: Guano can also damage your insulation and seep into the structure of your attic, causing costly damage.
Diseases Bats Can Carry
Despite not being the most destructive of pests that are found in the local area, bats that make their way into your home can cause severe health problems for you and your family. Below are some of the diseases they could pass onto you:
- Rabies: Perhaps the most infamous disease carried by bats, bats are very likely to spread rabies to you, a family member, or a pet. Symptoms start as a fever, headache, and other flu-like symptoms, but can progress to cerebral dysfunction, anxiety, confusion, and agitation. If not treated immediately, death will occur.
- Histoplasmosis: Like rabies, this can be spread to your pets as well if they are exposed. Histoplasmosis is a fungal disease, and symptoms include a fever, cough, chills, and headache.
- Salmonellosis: A devastating gastrointestinal illness, salmonellosis causes severe diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps.
- Yersiniosis: Due to the extreme severe stomach pain that yersiniosis causes, it is often mistaken for appendicitis.
Don't Try To Remove Them On Your Own
A quick online search will produce dozens of lists on how to remove bats on your own. However, these DIY methods rarely work, and they can also be extremely dangerous. Because bats themselves are carriers of disease, it is unsafe to try to remove them on your own without the proper equipment. Even if you could avoid getting scratched or bitten by a bat, the real danger comes from exposure to their droppings, or guano. As particles of their feces get kicked up into the air, you have a greater chance of inhaling them, and any of the many diseases they can spread will be transmitted to you.
If bats have invaded your home, the best thing to do is call a professional. Here at Prestige Pest Control, we have been handling bat infestations since 1986. Our expert technicians are trained to safely maneuver around these creatures, while also being armed with the tools to safely and effectively remove bats from your Savannah home once and for all. We prioritize the experience of our customers and focus on providing safe and hassle-free services. If bats have found their way into your home, give us a call today!