Bats are surprisingly common pests in the Carolinas. While they are mostly timid and peaceful creatures, they can carry severe diseases and become unwelcome guests in attics, sheds, and other structures.
If you detect bats in your home or business, it’s essential to take immediate pest control measures by seeking the help of wildlife control experts. To protect your property from bats, you need to understand their behavior, take preventive steps, and find effective treatment options should an infestation occur.
What Bats are Common in My Area and How Can I Identify Them?
Bats are identifiable by their furry bodies and delicate wings. Bats are the only mammal in the world that can fly and usually make their homes in caves and hollow trees. Over 1,000 different bat species have been identified throughout the world.
The 9 most common bat species in North and South Carolina include:
- Big Brown Bat (Eptescius fuscus): medium to large bat, measuring about 12 to 14 centimeters (4.7 to 5.5 inches) in body length and weighing between 12 to 20 grams (0.4 to 0.7 ounces). It has glossy brown fur that can vary from light to dark shades, broad rounded wings, and large ears, giving it a robust appearance.
- Eastern Red Bat (Lasiurusborealis): is a medium-sized bat, typically measuring about 9 to 12 centimeters (3.5 to 4.7 inches) in body length and weighing around 7 to 14 grams (0.25 to 0.5 ounces). It has striking reddish-orange fur, long pointed wings, and large ears, contributing to its slender and agile appearance.
- Eastern Pipistrelle (Pipistrellussub flavussub flavus):small bat, measuring about 8 to 10 centimeters (3.1 to 3.9 inches) in body length and weighing around 5 to 10 grams (0.2 to 0.35 ounces). It has soft, light brown fur, short wings, and pointed ears, giving it a compact and agile appearance.
- Little Brown Bat (Myotisluci fugus):typically measuring about 8 to 10 centimeters (3.1 to 3.9 inches) in body length and weighing around 7 to 14 grams (0.25 to 0.5 ounces). It has soft, glossy brown fur, long wings, and pointed ears, contributing to its slender and agile look.
- Hoary Bat (Lasiuruscinereus):large bat, measuring about 12 to 15 centimeters (4.7 to 5.9 inches) in body length and weighing between 15 to 30 grams (0.5 to 1.1 ounces). It has thick fur that is a mix of gray and white, giving it a frosted appearance, along with broad wings and pointed ears that enhance its agility in flight.
- Silver-Haired Bat (Lasionycterisnoctivagans):medium-sized bat, measuring about 9 to 11 centimeters (3.5 to 4.3 inches) in body length and weighing around 7 to 14 grams (0.25 to 0.5 ounces). It features dark brown fur with silvery tips, giving it a distinctive shimmering look, along with long wings and rounded ears that aid in its agile flight.
- Tri-Colored Bat (Perimyotissub flavus):is a small bat, about 8 to 10 centimeters (3.1 to 3.9 inches) long and weighing 5 to 10 grams (0.2 to 0.35 ounces). It has distinctive three-banded fur—dark at the base, light in the middle, and darker at the tips—along with short wings and pointed ears.
- Northern Long-Eared Bat (Myotisseptentionalis):medium-sized bat, about 8 to 10 centimeters (3.1 to 3.9 inches) long and weighing 6 to 10 grams (0.2 to 0.35 ounces). It has long ears and soft brown fur, enhancing its agility in flight.
- Southern Bat (Myotisaustroriparius): small bat, measuring about 8 to 10 centimeters (3.1 to 3.9 inches) in body length and weighing around 6 to 10 grams (0.2 to 0.35 ounces). It features dark brown fur and relatively large ears, which help enhance its echolocation abilities.
How Do I Get Bats?
Bats naturally inhabit caves and hollow trees. However, urban development has reduced these natural habitats, causing bats to seek shelter in unoccupied structures, such as sheds, garages, and attics. Maternal colonies often prefer attics for their warmer temperatures. Bats can enter through surprisingly small openings, from unscreened vents to cracks in the siding or gaps under eaves. Once a colony establishes a roost, they are likely to return every year.
The only effective way to prevent bats from entering your home or business is to seal all potential entry points. Regular seasonal maintenance can help identify these vulnerabilities. For specific recommendations, consult with wildlife control experts at Clark’s Termite & Pest Control.
What Are the Effects of Bats in and Around My Home or Business?
Bats nesting in your property can create several issues. Bat droppings (guano) and nests can lead to allergies, unsightly stains, and unpleasant odors. The most serious concern is that bats can carry diseases. Bat guano may contain airborne fungus spores that can cause histoplasmosis, a respiratory disease that can lead to severe symptoms. Bats may also harbor mites, fleas, and ticks.
Although bats rarely bite humans, they can be carriers of rabies. If a bat is found in a living space where children or vulnerable individuals are present, it’s important to seek medical advice and testing for rabies.
How Long Do Bats Live?
Bats can live anywhere from 20 to 40 years in the wild, meaning that once they nest in a location, they are likely to return for decades unless effectively deterred.
How Do I Prevent Bats?
To prevent bats from entering your home or business, conduct regular inspections for entry points, such as:
- Gaps between walls and holes for utility lines
- Under eaves and along roofs
- Chimney flues
- Cracks and holes in damaged siding, fascia, or soffits
Due to the protective status of many bat species in North Carolina and South Carolina, it is essential to handle bat control with care. Clark’s Termite & Pest Control utilizes humane techniques to manage bat populations effectively. If bats are already present, exclusion is the best method for removal. Our technicians can install one-way doors that allow bats to exit but prevent their re-entry. This method typically eliminates the bat population within days.
Bat Exclusion Seasons
In the Carolinas, bats are excluded in the early spring (March-April) or in the fall (August-October). This is pup-rearing season, where female bats are raising their young who are learning how to fly.
Can Bats Spread COVID-19?
People cannot contract the COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2 virus from bats.
Protecting Your Home or Business From Bats With Clark’s Termite & Pest Control
Clark’s Termite & Pest Control offers expert treatment designed to effectively control and prevent pests from invading your home or business in North Carolina and South Carolina. Our Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques focus on identifying the root of the problem and addressing bat infestations at the source. We select and apply pest control materials in a manner that minimizes risks to human health, pets, and the environment.
Call Clark’s today for your FREE and NO OBLIGATION estimate at 1-866-781-4991 or Schedule Online today!
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