Bats are inactive during the winter. Like many other mammals, they hibernate while it is cold, waiting for spring and its abundance of food. If you suspect that there are bats in your attic, know that they are not dangerous. These are small, shy animals that should cause you no harm. Contact a local wildlife removal company like Bat Control and protect yourself with the rabies vaccine. A licensed technician can remove the bats humanely in the spring. Call Bat Control for an inspection.
Bats in Ontario hibernate somewhere between October and April, when food is scarce. As insectivores, they choose to preserve their energy during the colder months. Bats huddle together in caves, empty mines, old barns, and tree hollows, sharing warmth and waiting for spring. Once it is warm out, they begin to emerge and feed on flying insects, such as mosquitoes, wasps, moths, and flies. Females become pregnant in the spring and give birth to their pups in June. These fascinating animals eat thousands of bugs per night and fertilize the soil with their guano, playing an important role in the ecosystem.
What if Bats Hibernate in Your Attic?
Bats have been known to hibernate in attics, spending their winters where they can be safe and warm. Attics, like caves and tree hollows, are dark and above ground. To bats, they are an ideal place to roost. Bats get into attics by squeezing their way through roof vents, holes along the edges of the roof, and gaps between the soffits and the outer walls of the home. The trouble with having bats in the attic is that they cannot be removed until spring. Bats are a protected species in Canada and therefore cannot be disturbed when they are in such a vulnerable state.
Contact a local bat removal service for an inspection and removal plan. A technician can find how the bats got inside and let you know when it will be safe to remove them. He or she will attach a one-way door to the bats’ entrance, which will let them out safely while blocking their return. To ensure that they won’t come back, a technician can also bat-proof the rest of your roof, sealing off every vulnerability. By March or April, the bats will fly out and find another place to live. Once out, you can clean up the attic to remove all the guano they left behind.
Call Bat Control for Bat-Proofing and Removal
Bats are misunderstood animals that are vulnerable to disease and loss of habitat. It’s important that we understand their behaviours and give them the spaces they need. If you are concerned about the bats in your area, contact a local wildlife removal company for professional exclusion. A technician can cap your roof vents and repair your roof so that nothing comes hibernating in your attic. Once you have bat-proofed your home, consider adding a bat house to your property. The bats can live there instead and save your yard from mosquitoes.