Facts About Bats
Bats are the only truly flying mammas. They commonly enter buildings through openings in the roof edge, eaves, attic or roof vent, dormers, or chimney flues. They can squeeze through any gap of approximately ½ X 1 ½ inches.

General Biology and Behavior
Bats use echolocation (a type of natural "radar" using high-pitched clicking sounds) to avoid obstacles and to locate and capture insects. They live in colonies and mate in the fall and winter. No nests are built. Each female gives birth to 1 or 2 babies from May through July. Colonies may include a dozen to a few hundred individual bats.

Heath Issues
Rabies. Rabies is the most important public health hazard associated with bats. It is a viral infection of mammals (including humans) that is usually transmitted via the bite of an infected animal. Rabies does not respond to antibiotics and is nearly always fatal once symptoms occur. Most human exposures are the result of accidental or careless handling of grounded bats. Infection with rabies has been confirmed in all 40 North American species of bats. Random sampling of bats (healthy and ill) indicates an overall infection rate of less than 1%, according to Greenhall and Frantz, who also reported that in the last 20 years, there have been more human rabies cases of bat origin in the U.S. than of any other wildlife group. Every bat bit or contact must be considered a potential exposure to rabies.

Histoplasmosis. Histoplasmosis is a common lung disease caused by a microscopic fungus that grows and develops in bat droppings. The disease can be acquired by the casual inhalation of wind-blown spores and from visits to bat roosts in attics. Bats are considered as the only important animal source of infection for humans. People who clean out or work in areas where bats have roosted are at particular risk. All Star Pest Management technicians use special protection clothing and respirators to remove bat droppings.

Bat Management
Recently, bat populations have been declining. Many bats die when their summer maternity roosts and winter hibernation sites are disturbed. For this reason, the department of Natural Resources, which regulates wildlife removal laws, prohibits the use of any chemicals against bats. Also, all exclusions and sealing of entrance holes must take place from September 1 to March 1.

All Star Pest Management uses a state-of-the-art method that permits bats to leave after dark but prevents their reentry. Eventually, all entry points are sealed permanently and additional caulking, flashing, and screening are performed.

Information compiled from the National Pest Management Association, Inc. (NPMA)