BATS
ALERT: Bats and Whitenose Syndrome
Direct Quote – “The Department is anticipating the Federal designation of the Little Brown Bat as an endangered species and thereby protected under both the Federal and Provincial Species at Risk Acts in the coming months. AT THE TIME IT BECOMES OFFICIAL – any bat exclusion work will require a special permit from the Wildlife Division allowing any such type of work to proceed.” This does not mean that you cannot exclude bats from your home or that you have to wait until late fall to do so. As long as non-lethal methods are used and no young bats are trapped inside, bats can be removed. I have had a working policy with the Department of Natural Resources that I do not exclude any bats from the 15th of June until the 1st of August to give young bats the chance to be old enough to exit the home on their own. I have operated under this policy for 20 plus years and at no time have I found dead baby bats in the attic after they have been excluded. It is very important that the individual doing the work to exclude bats holds a nuisance wildlife operators license (as an individual and not under a company license – as no such license exists ). Otherwise once listed as an endangered species, a non-licensed individual will be in violation of the Federal Endangered Species Act as well as the Provincial Endangered Species Act and open to Federal prosecution which carries with it severe penalties. Look for updated information as to when they are listed.
Bats are the only mammals that can truly fly and their nocturnal habits have led to many phobias regarding them. There are two groups of bats: colonial and solitary. The little brown bat is a colonial bat (congregate in colonies) and is the most common bat found in Nova Scotia.
The little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus) gathers together in colonies whether it be in winter (hibernation sites) or in the spring-fall months, usually in the attics or eaves of homes. It is during the latter colonization that the bats come in to conflict with humans, as these colonies are nursery colonies and can contain hundreds of bats. Each female bat has one offspring and studies show that it is almost a 50/50 split between male and female offspring. Females return year after year.
Natural hibernation sites have been disappearing thus making governments around the world, listing bats as a completely protected species, as they are natures #1 mosquito and flying insect control agents. This means that it is illegal to kill bats in Nova Scotia. One bat is capable of eating 3 times its body weight, in mosquitoes in one night.
Bats, unlike common myths, are not blind, but they do navigate by inaudible sounds, similar to sonar. This allows bats to fly without hitting into objects. When a bat is flying, and swooping around people, some people assume that they are being attacked. Truth be known, the bat’s erratic behavior can be contributed to your behavior. Most people are themselves bobbing and weaving causing the bat to do the same, trying to located “the object” that was there and is now gone. Another reason can also be that the bat is feeding on the insects around you.
Bats come into contact with humans when maternal colonies take over the attics and eaves of homes and buildings. Numbering in the hundreds, the scratching and squeaking can keep people awake. Bats can enter these areas where holes are present. These holes can be as small as a quarter of an inch and can be located around dormers, chimneys or holes in the soffits and facia.
Other than the noise, bats can cause health concerns to humans. Bat guano (droppings) under the right conditions can pose serious health concerns (histoplasmosis) to those in the affected home; especially infants, elderly and people with respiratory illness. The strong smell of ammonia from their urine can cause headaches. Serious health concerns from the accumulation of droppings or urine occur through the direct contact-in other words, one must physically disturb the area. The accumulation can also attract mites and other parasites.
Another health concern regarding bats, is rabies. Bats have tested positive for rabies in Nova Scotia, however, the incidences of rabid bats are still very low. Not to be treated lightly, there is no need for panic.
At Advanced Wildlife Control, I evict bats without the use of chemicals. I allow bats to exit the building without using anything to force them. Once the bats are gone, sealing off their entry points can occur. I also provide cleaning services, if so desired, and if necessary.
Repellents can be successful at excluding bats, but they can cause more headaches. Repellents (such as moth balls) can be tried, but it could result in the driving the bats down into less accessible places(ie: in between walls). Repellent use must meet strict criteria in order to be effective.
Do not allow companies to scare you into spending thousands of dollars in removing bats. Some play on people’s fears in regards to health concerns. Although, these concerns should be paid attention to, they usually do not warrant paying what some are charging to remove bats. I evict bats, sometimes saving people thousands of dollars compared to what they have been quoted by other companies.
Call Mike at 497-2582 to solve your bat problem.
On average our rates are the lowest in the province for volume of work performed.
Insurance companies MAY OR MAY NOT cover the cost. Be careful of those who tell you that they absolutely will.
According to Department of Natural Resources record keeping, Advanced Wildlife Control does more Bat removals than any other company in N.S. - a testament to our professionalism and reasonable prices.
By contacting Advanced Wildlife Control, you are getting a truly N.S. owned and operated business, not a franchise company from somewhere in Canada and/or the U.S. Franchises can mean higher costs for you. The N.S. Wildlife Act requires individuals working as a nuisance wildlife operator to be licensed. I am fully licensed pursuant to the N.S. Wildlife Act. To ensure you are dealing with a licensed operator, you should ask the operator to produce their license.