Owning a countryside house in Texas has plenty of benefits, like the ability to enjoy breathtaking landscapes with rolling hills, vast plains, and endless ranchlands. However, the immense sense of tranquility and privacy associated with countryside living can easily be disrupted by a variety of wildlife seeking shelter in various parts of people’s property.
One of the biggest wildlife challenges encountered by homeowners in the Lone Star State is bats, who might find cozy spaces like attics, chimneys, or sheds ideal for nesting, especially during certain seasons. If you cannot cope with the unwelcome guests in your home by yourself, Critter Stop is here to assist. This company serves the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex area residents, providing humane and lasting wildlife removal solutions for comfortable, critter-free living.
Attics: Protecting Your Overhead Space
It is always the attic that attracts bats the most. Dry, warm, and uninhabited, it makes an ideal shelter for them. Here are some strategies to prevent bat infestations and secure a pest-free living environment for yourself and your family:
- Inspect the attic for gaps and openings, which bats can use to slip in. Pay the most attention to areas around vents, chimneys, and eaves. When you find potential access points, close them with caulk, weatherstrip materials, or simple cloth.
- Light up your attic to discourage bats who prefer dark spots. If you worry about huge bills for electricity, installing motion-activated lights will help.
- Repair damaged roofing quickly and set up mesh screens over vents to prevent bats while not getting in the way of proper ventilation.
Regular inspection and early intervention can help keep your attic a bat-free zone.
Chimneys: Securing a Bat-Free Hearth
Dark and enclosed chimneys provide a warm and sheltered space that resembles bats’ natural nesting sites like tree cavities. The little pests come here seeking protection from the elements and predators.
Here are easy ways to keep bats out of your chimney:
- Install a chimney cap that will serve as your first line of defense, preventing bats and other wildlife, like squirrels, birds, and even raccoons, from entering your home through the chimney.
- Perform regular chimney sweeps to improve ventilation and also remove any nesting material that bats might want to use.
- Trim nearby vegetation and cut overhanging branches, which bats sometimes use as their base points to access chimneys.
By performing regular maintenance to keep the chimney clean and utilizing various chemical cleaners containing strong-smelling ingredients, you can remove bats’ scent with which they mark their new territory and make it more difficult for these critters to find their way back into your home.
Sheds: Shielding Your Outdoor Area
Outdoor sheds are another place on your property that bats would love to call their home. These buildings give bats everything they need to feel safe and comfortable – secluded spaces, protection from bad weather, and the presence of food sources nearby. To keep the winged visitors away from your garden shed, try the following:
- Keep the doors and windows shut when you aren’t using your shed. Also, consider screening the windows as an extra layer of protection.
- As with the attic, it is crucial to block any entry points that bats use to get in. Use strong and long-lasting materials to close up small and large holes and openings.
- Remove clutter inside the shed and organize items properly to eliminate any potential hiding places for bats. Store items in sealed containers that these critters cannot access.
- Use ultrasonic devices that release high-pitched sounds, which bats hate. This makes them leave and not return.
Although the above methods can help deter individual bats, it is not a guaranteed solution and will likely fall short when dealing with an active and massive infestation. The most optimal strategy in such cases is to seek professional assistance from wildlife removal experts like the people at Critter Stop.
Managing Bat Infestations: Choosing Compassionate Expertise
Over the past decades, bats have grown accustomed to living alongside people, so the presence of a few unsuspecting humans nearby going about their daily activities is no longer enough to scare off these critters. If the bat infestation in your house is quickly growing out of proportion and you can’t deal with it yourself, it is important to get professional help from safe wildlife removal services like Critter Stop. They will manage the situation with much skill, knowledge, and compassion.
