While bats are not a pest people commonly think about when it comes to home-invading critters, they can live in a large population in your yard and even make their way inside your home, putting yourself and your family at risk. There are twenty-five bat species found in California, with the most common being big brown bats and Mexican free-tailed bats.

Big Brown Bats

  • Between 4 to 5 inches long
  • 14-inch wingspan
  • Small black ears
  • Glossy light to dark brown fur
  • Paler fur on the underside

Mexican Free-Tailed Bat

  • 3 to 4-3/8th inches
  • 12½ inch wingspan
  • Dark brown to grayish fur
  • Paler fur on the underside
  • Hairless tail
  • Wrinkled upper lip

Other species include California Myotis, pallid bats, and western pipistrelle bats. Bats can be found in trees, caves, and under bridges. The bats' diet consists mainly of wasps, ants, flies, beetles, leafhoppers, and other flying insects. Because of their diet, bats are good for the environment as they keep other pest populations controlled. Another reason bats are an important part of the ecosystem is that they are excellent pollinators.

Although bats are good for the environment, they are not good to have on your property. Keep reading to learn why this is the case and how you can prevent them from making your home into theirs.

What Makes Bats Dangerous?

While bats are beneficial to the environment, they can be dangerous to people, especially if high populations live on residential properties. This is because they are vectors of many dangerous diseases, including rabies. And although healthy bats aren't aggressive, they can still bite, which can cause infection.

While bat bites are rare, you still have to worry about their droppings, known as guano. If a human inhales fungus spores from bat guano, it can cause histoplasmosis, a disease of the lungs. It is safe to say bats should not be handled by anyone other than experts. But how can you keep this pest from living on your property?

What Attracts Bats?

Like other pests, bats are attracted to properties if food, water, and shelter are readily available. You can use these factors in your favor to prevent bats from making a home on your property. Try these tips:

  • Addressing pest issues that serve as their prey is an essential part of preventing bats. Not only should you address these issues in your yard, but inside your home as well.
  • Addressing moisture issues is also an important step in prevention. You can do this by making sure gutters are clear and removing other standing water on your property.
  • Removing entry points into your home is the best way to keep them out. To do this, you can use chimney caps, vent covers and fix any holes or gaps along the roofline.
  • Keeping outbuildings and your yard clutter-free should also be part of your pest prevention routine. 

What Can I Do About Bats?

Once bats have established themselves on your property, they are nearly impossible and dangerous to try to remove on your own. This is why you should contact the pros as HomeShield Pest Control to rid your Sacramento region property of bats.

We are committed to keeping California communities safe and guarded against the dangerous pests that can infest. Providing guaranteed pest control treatments as well as attic clean-up service and a free estimate, you can be on your way to a pest-free home.

Want to know more about how we can help you with bats and other pests on your Sacramento region property? Give us a call today at HomeShield Pest Control!