How To Identify And Get Rid Of A Bat Infestation On Your Omaha Property

We live in a world with sounds our grandparents did not hear. Throughout the day, we hear one beep alerting us to incoming text messages, another signal for incoming emails, a sound for neighborhood alerts, and the list continues. Our computers and cell phones emit sounds that were not part of the fabric of life until just the last decade. Sounds are necessary because they alert us that something needs attention. 

Some sounds indicate there is a problem. For example, bats might be in your attic if you hear noises at dusk or as the sun rises. In this article, we will reveal other indications that bats are in your home, and when you hear, smell, and see these signs, you need pest control in Omaha from CP Bat Mitigation. 

The driving force for our family-owned and operated business began when our founder worked in the roofing industry. As a young man, he noticed homeowners and businesses were experiencing problems with bat infestations. He recognized that bats living in the same structures as people can be dangerous, but he also saw the need to treat bats humanely and carefully. CP Bat Mitigation is the result of over three decades of bat control in the central Midwest by our founder. Today, a highly trained team of technicians continues the legacy of humane and safe bat mitigation with our founder.

Why do bats exist?

Are bats in the world for the sole purpose of scaring people, or do they play a part in the ecosystem? While you may not realize it, bats around your home serve a purpose and provide a needed service.

Most bats in the United States are insectivores (i.e., they eat insects). As they fly through the night, bats scoop moths, beetles, mosquitoes, gnats, crickets, and other insects into their wings and later eat them. In some cases, insects are caught directly in their mouths. Some bats hunt cockroaches and grasshoppers on the land. The Mexican free-tailed bat, a bat in the area, eats up to one-third of its body weight a night in insects. 

Because bats eat flying and crawling insects, they help control pest populations and protect people and animals from mosquitoes and other disease-carrying insects. For that reason and others, killing bats upsets the ecosystem balance allowing the insect population to increase, which creates a nuisance for people. However, the fact that bats help control the insect population does not mean you should cozy up with them and allow them to shelter in your Omaha house.

Although the connection between bats and rabies is somewhat overblown, bats can carry the deadly disease. Because of their naturally erratic flying behavior, many assume bats have rabies; however, less than 10% of the bat population carries rabies. If a bat does have rabies, it will not live for a long time before the disease kills its host. The chance that bats in your attic have rabies is minuscule; nonetheless, you should avoid physical contact by using a bat control specialist from CP Bat Mitigation. 

Guano produced by bats is another concern. When bat waste dries, it flakes and crumbles and creates airborne particles. As the air circulates from your attic into the living areas below, these particles may be inhaled and can cause histoplasmosis. Occupants may not immediately experience symptoms, but the fungal infection often produces fever, chest pain, muscle and joint pain, and a dry cough. If untreated, histoplasmosis can worsen and create serious problems. Wear a respirator for protection if you investigate your attic to determine the cause of the noises.