Bats

Bat Identification

What are bats?

When spending time outside right at dusk, either walking your dog, swimming in your pool, or relaxing on the deck, it is common to be disturbed by swooping bats. A bat has fur covering its body and head that is usually black, brown, gray, or red. Their large ears enable exceptional hearing used to hunt insects and other prey.

Nothing is more startling than having a flying furry creature streak past you. Bats are the only mammal that can truly fly. Instead of arms like most mammals, bats are lucky enough to have wings. A leathery skin covers a hand-like bone structure. Bats have a claw-like structure or “thumb” at the end of their wings.

Are bats dangerous?

Bats in Pleasanton , Tracy , Roseville , CA and Surrounding Areas spread diseases and parasites. In their fur, they carry disease-ridden mites, fleas, and bat bugs. Where bats roost, their feces builds up on the ground below. In their feces is a fungus called Histoplasma capsulatum, which causes serious health problems, including lung disease.

Why do I have a bat problem?

Bats are nocturnal. They hunt at night and rest during the day. They are active right at dusk, as this is the time of day when a lot of insects that they hunt are also very active. Bats tend to be most problematic on properties that have or are located near water, such as ponds, lakes, marshes, pools, fountains, bird baths, because water attracts one of the favorite insects to feast on: mosquitoes!

Bats often move into our homes to find a quiet place to rest during the day. Entry points for bats include chimneys, gaps along the roofline, damaged roof shingles, vents, and open windows or doors. If you think you have a problem with bats in your home, it is important to watch your house at dusk to see if you can determine where the bats are entering or exiting.

Where will I find bats?

Bats live together in small to very large groups called colonies, so usually, if you see one bat, there are others nearby. Bats live outside in caves, spaces between rocks, tree cavities, roof eaves, or spaces under bridges. These unique mammals like to roost in rafters found in warehouses, barns, and any other large indoor area. If bats find their way inside our homes to roost, they will move to dark, secluded areas like attics, chimneys, crawlspaces, and wall voids.

How do I get rid of bats?

If you are ready to get rid of bats from your property, reach out to the local pest control experts at Patriot Pest Management. Our customized services performed by our knowledgeable and friendly experts eliminate pests and stop them from coming back.

At Patriot Pest Management, we won’t hesitate to go the extra mile to ensure that our customers are happy and their properties are free of pests. For exceptional home pest control or commercial pest control services in the Greater Bay Area and surrounding counties of California, contact Patriot Pest Management today!

How can I prevent bats in the future?

Below are some easy-to-follow tips that will help you to keep bats from taking over your home and yard:

Seal any holes you find along the roofline of your home and place caps on chimneys.
Repair gaps that develop in the exterior walls of your home to stop bats from moving behind walls.
Make sure that vents leading into attic spaces have a secure mesh cover over them.
Eliminate areas of standing water from your property that attract the insects that bats like to eat.
If you own a pool, make sure it is maintained properly to prevent mosquitoes from using it as a breeding ground.
Use bat houses along the perimeter of your property to give them a place to nest other than your home or garage.