Bats are pretty amazing little creatures, while often identified with scary movies and the like, they actually provide a lot of benefits for their environment, they serve as pollinators, they help move seeds around, they eat pesky insects, and they have an incredible sense of echolocation and bio sonar, which continues to amaze scientists.

However, that last skill of bats can be where they run into problems for humans. Bats’ sense of direction and echolocation allows them to find and squeeze into some of the tiniest crevices and holes you can imagine. In other words, it’s no surprise that bats can find their way into your attic, crawl space or home even when you think it’s plugged tight. In the summer and fall months, when bats tend to roost and nest in their bat colonies, they can be a problem for homeowners and the like. Let’s look at a few ways you can tell if you have bats in and around Raleigh, and what you could and should do about it.

How to know if you have bats

Bats (especially brown species) are known to make noise upon leaving their shelters (or your house), so if you’ve heard high-pitched squeaking around your home you very well may have a bat problem. Bats also tend to carry a musky odor, and often leave droppings multiple times a day — so you also may be tipped off by the smell. Bat droppings are called guano, and are identifiable from their shiny, speckled appearance — which tends to be different from other rodents.

What are some common bats in Raleigh and NC?

• The Big Brown Bat (Eptesicusfuscus) is one of the largest of the bat species found in North Carolina and has a wingspan of 13-16 inches. Its fur is long and oily with the colors ranging from light to dark brown.
• The Brazilian Free-Tailed Bat (Tadaridabrasiliensis) is characterized by its free-tails which are roughly half the length of their bodies. Their fur is brown in color and they have a wingspan of approximately 11-14 in.
• The Little Brown Myotis (Myotislucifugus) is often called the Little Brown Bat, and is known for their glossy (or shiny) brown fur which can range in shade. Their wingspan ranges from 8-11 in.

Are bats Dangerous?

Bats usually will stay clear of humans, and a rarely known to provoke an attack, but they can still be quite dangerous from carrying disease, attracting other pests, and also spreading rabies. Bats droppings can grow fungus and spores which can cause Histoplasmosis in severe situations. Bats’ teeth are so small you may not notice if you’ve been bitten, but developing any signs of rabies or other infections could be a sign if you’ve come into close contact with bats. It’s always safest to call a professional like Critter Control of the Triangle.

Bat Removal

Critter Control’s experienced technicians and staff are Certified Wildlife Specialists with the training and equipment to eliminate bats from your property, and help prevent them from ever returning. Our staff can clean droppings, clear damage from urine and other problems, and not only humanely remove the bats, but prevent them from causing the same problems. Bats can be a problem in Raleigh, Durham, Apex, Morrisville, Cary and all over the Triangle, and calling Critter Control at (919) 382-0651 can get the cleaning and eviction process started ASAP. Call us now!