What do I need to do if I think that we have bats?
Contact us and we will set an appointment with you. We will come to your home and do a free inspection. If we do find evidence of bats we will go over the options with you. The inspection and discussion usually takes about a half hour.
How do you get rid of the bats?
Each home is different so the process is always unique to your situation. We will go over the exclusion process with you at the time of the inspection.
What is Decontamination?
Decontamination is the process of removing the animal feces (usually guano) and the feces and urine soaked insulation in attic spaces.
What is involved with the Insulation Installation?
We use a blown-in insulation machine to put new fiberglass insulation in your attic once the decontamination process is complete.
What are the dangers of having bats in our house?
The two most common dangers are Histoplasmosis & Rabies.
What is Histoplasmosis?
Histoplasmosis is an infectious disease caught by inhaling the spores of the Histoplasmosis capsulation fungus. While it is not contagious, the disease can affect a wide variety of the population who may not even be aware they are at risk.
Should I be concerned about getting Histoplasmosis?
Anyone can get Histoplasmosis. There are, however, certain people whose occupations make the risk of exposure greater than others. Included in that group are chimney cleaners, construction workers, gardeners, HVAC installers or repair people, roofers, and, of course spelunkers (cave explorers). In reality, however, anyone who comes across the fungus can get Histoplasmosis. –Common symptoms include Chest pain, Chills, Cough, Fever, Joint pain, Muscle aches, Rash (usually small sores on the lower legs), & Shortness of breath.
But I’ve never touched or been bitten by a bat.
So how could I get Histoplasmosis?
It’s easier than you might think. Bats become infected with Histoplasmosis, and their feces contain the Histoplasmosis fungus. This fungus grows in the soil where the droppings land, or in the droppings found in an attic occupied by bats.
The fungus then continues to grow, just waiting for you or me to come along to clean out the old barn, the attic, or other place where the spores now lie. Or sometimes, we disturb the dirt (cleaning up the garden, sweeping out the empty building, or doing other seemingly harmless dirty work), causing the spores to become airborne. When we breathe that air, we then become infected with the Histoplasmosis fungus and the real trouble begins. The infection may last 1 to 6 months. It can become chronic but is rarely fatal.
What is Rabies?
Rabies is a preventable viral disease of mammals most often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal. The vast majority of rabies cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) each year occur in wild animals like raccoons, skunks, bats, and foxes. The rabies virus infects the central nervous system, ultimately causing disease in the brain and death.
What if someone is bitten by a bat?
When a person is exposed to rabies, timely administration of a vaccine known as post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) can prevent infection. Once a person becomes infected and symptoms begin to occur, rabies is almost always fatal. Each year in the United States, up to 30,000 persons receive PEP due to potential exposure to a rabid animal, including bats.
If possible, safely capture and contain the bat. Then get the animal checked for the rabies virus and you may be able to avoid having to get the PEP vaccine.