3 Reasons Bats Are The Number One Pest Requiring Professional Removal
Depending on how you feel about rodents, bats can be surprisingly cute. These critters are typically relatively harmless, at least when it comes to intentional assaults on humans. However, their behavior can be frightening, and they often come into contact with humans purely by accident while hunting insects or engaging in other generally non-aggressive behavior.
However, their intentions are far from the only story. While bats may not typically attack humans, they are nonetheless a severe threat. If you suspect a bat infestation in your home, here are three reasons why contacting a professional removal service should be one of your top priorities.
1. Bats Carry Rabies
Rabid animals are a severe threat to humans, but bats pose some particularly unique hazards. These rodents not only often carry rabies, but they may be asymptomatic carriers. In other words, bats can carry the disease without exhibiting any of the usual signs you may associate with rabid animals. Even worse, their bites can be so small that they may go unnoticed.
While rabies is treatable with a vaccine, it's essential to do so immediately after contact as there's no cure or treatment once the disease reaches its symptomatic phase. Since a bat infestation in your home can expose you to rabies without your knowledge, removing the bats as quickly as possible is crucial to eliminate this serious threat.
2. Bats Can Carry Other Diseases
While rabies is the primary threat when dealing with bats, it's far from the only one. Bats have unusually strong immune systems. This defense against disease makes them fascinating animals, but only from a distance. Since their immune systems can deal so effectively with diseases, they're often a reservoir for viruses that may cause severe disease in humans.
By leaving bats in your home, you may expose yourself to various pathogens, especially from dried bat guano (droppings). These threats may exist even if the bats aren't in your living spaces since dried guano can enter HVAC ducts and spread throughout your home. In addition to being unpleasant, this situation may expose you to many diseases.
3. Bats Can Cause Damage
Like other rodents, bats aren't above chewing on wires, tearing out insulation, or otherwise wreaking havoc in the spaces they occupy. The more bats you have in your home, the more likely they'll cause this damage. While diseases are the greatest threat posed by bats, it's important not to overlook the physical harm they can cause to your home.
Once you know you have bats in your house, you should contact a professional pest control service for removal. Because of the potential risks associated with close contact, these are pests that you shouldn't attempt to remove without help.