Minnesota Bat Control & Removal
Bats are among Minnesota’s most interesting and unique mammals and probably one of the most misunderstood. The presence of a bat in a house probably causes more alarm than does any other wildlife species. They are the subject of myths, misunderstandings, and folklore that make them among the most feared animals in Minnesota. These myths cause some people to unnecessarily fear these mammals.
There are seven different species of bats in Minnesota. Four of them (Little Brown Myotis, Northern Myotis, Big Brown Bat, and Eastern Pipistrelle) form colonies or groups and can infest your homes or other buildings.
The other three are pretty much solitary bats, feeding and living in forested areas and generally do not bother humans and their homes.
All of Minnesota bats feed on insects such as beetles, moths, flies, and mosquitoes, etc. Bats mate in fall and winter, giving birth to young in April through July. Young bats grow very vast and can fly within three weeks.
Bats are beneficial and gentle creatures but occasionally they become a nuisance and get “too close for comfort”. If this occurs, DON’T PANIC! All the negative stories and tales you’ve heard about bats are greatly exaggerated.
One myth about bats is that they all carry rabies. However, the amount of bats found to carry rabies is less than one percent. In order to contract the disease from a bat, a person would have to get bitten by one. Typically this would require a person to pick it up or handle it in some fashion. Therefore, whenever handling a bat, ALWAYS protect yourself by wearing leather gloves. A bat on the ground is an indication that it is sick and you should not touch it.
While chasing insects, bats often fly erratically. This has led some people to mistakenly believe they are being “attacked” by the bat. Actually, bats are proficient flyers and can easily catch insects while avoiding people. Healthy bats do not randomly attack people and bats do not make nests in people’s hair.
The most common bat/human interactions involve a single bat that has found its way into a house or a colony of bats that has taken up residence in an attic, chimney or other structure.
Making a structure “bat proof” is the best long-term, cost-effective, and biologically acceptable way to control bats. Remember, the objective in controlling bats is to rid a building of the colony permanently. Exclusion is the only method that can guarantee this goal.
The best time of the year to bat-proof a building is either in late fall after the bats depart for hibernation, or in late winter/early spring before the bats arrive. If, for some reason, it can only be done during the summer, the preferred time is mid-August or later.
Exclusion is a time consuming process. Trapping a Bat humanely is important to prevent injury to the Bat. Getting rid of Bats is a process that should be carried out with proper planning and procedures.
It is very important that proper inspection techniques and exclusion methods be utilized. If not, you could end up with numerous adult and/or young bats being closed in your walls, eves, or attic, causing a large sanitation problem from bat droppings. Bats are still wild animals, subject to fleas, mites, lice and rabies, all of which don’t mix well in a family with kids and a couple dogs.
If your house is currently under attack by bats it is wise to call a Minnesota Wild Animal Management Expert that has experience in handling bat removals safely and in a timely manner. Hiring a professional company guarantees the safety of you and your loved ones, along with prevention services to keep bats out for good.
Handling Sick, Injured or Dead Wildlife
Please note – we do not advocate the handling of sick, injured, or dead animals without proper training. Individuals, who do this, do it at their own risk and should be aware of the dangers. You could be injured and or exposed to a zoonotic disease, a disease of wildlife that can be transmitted to humans.
If bats have already died in your air vents or anywhere else on your living or working space, we offer dead animal removal services and can also help clear odors caused by decomposing bats. Removing dead bats is crucial because bat carcasses will attract fly larvae and maggots and cause a nasty odor, sometimes for up to a year.
