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Do you want to know How to Get Bats Out of Chimney? If so, you likely have bats residing solely in your chimney rather than in other parts of your home or attic. This situation is slightly simpler as the bats are restricted to a single, compact area. However, before we delve into strategies for bat removal, there are two crucial points to remember!
ENSURE THE DAMPER IS CLOSED – This prevents bats from entering your home and beginning to fly around once you start your bat exclusion process.
Do you know How Much Does It Cost for Bat Removal?
How to Get Bats Out of Chimney?
Avoid Igniting a Fire – If you are considering lighting up a fire, reconsider. Opening the damper to initiate a fire would invite bats into your home. A strange phenomenon occurs when a fire is started: a flock of bats often descend and fly out from the bottom instead of the top. Moreover, numerous bats could perish in the process, which is both illegal and cruel. Bats have the ability to squeeze through minute spaces, meaning you may end up with bats in your attic or within your walls should you ignite a fire.
The guidelines for extracting bats from chimneys align with those for expelling them from houses or any other structures. The key steps involve locating the exit point and fitting a one-way exclusion device over it. It’s not as simple as allowing the bats to depart at night and then securing a chimney cap because not all bats leave simultaneously. The exclusion devices should be designed to let the bats exit but prevent them from returning.
Fortunately, identifying the exit point is relatively simple: it’s the large opening at the top of the chimney! Or is it? In many instances, I’ve found that bats enter through gaps where the chimney adjoins the roof or through deteriorated and open sections. Bats don’t always prefer a large, vertical hole; they are more inclined towards small horizontal gaps. Therefore, conducting a thorough bat inspection to ascertain their entry and exit points can be beneficial. Observing their nocturnal activities can provide valuable insights.
If bats are exiting through the top of the flue, it’s essential to ensure there’s a gap above the exclusion netting, allowing them to ascend, circle, and exit from the netting’s bottom. This setup can be challenging to achieve correctly, so hiring a professional bat removal company is highly recommended if a bat colony resides in your chimney.
One last point to remember is that if there’s a bat colony in your chimney, it’s likely a maternity colony of female bats. They give birth in May, and the young bat pups can’t fly until mid-August (this timing may vary slightly depending on the species and region). Therefore, it’s crucial not to attempt bat removal during the summer months, or the maternity season. Either perform the exclusion before this period or wait until the young ones can fly in August. If you attempt to exclude during the summer, the baby bats could get trapped inside, leading to numerous issues. Without their mother’s care, they tend to crawl everywhere, increasing the chances of them entering your house.
Here’s what to Do When You Have Bats in the Chimney
First and foremost, keep your calm. Becoming overwhelmed by panic will only heighten stress levels for both you and the animal, hindering the task at hand. We understand that maintaining composure is easier said than done when dealing with wild animals in your home, particularly if you harbor a fear or phobia of these winged creatures. Nonetheless, the most effective approach to this predicament is a level-headed one.
There are two primary methods for removing bats from your chimney – from the top or from the bottom. Of course, this doesn’t involve resorting to destructive measures like breaking down walls. We strongly advise against such drastic actions unless absolutely necessary.
Step One: Find out how they got in
A bat only requires a tiny opening of just 3/8 of an inch wide to gain entry, but unlike other nuisance wildlife, they won’t chew on materials to enlarge the holes. Fortunately, this works in your favor to some extent. Common areas targeted by bats include the upper sections of the roof and siding, areas around vents or where pipes enter or exit the building, roof and wall intersections and corners, broken windows, damaged window screens or windowpanes, and holes in the siding.
Step Two: Get them out.
Avoid Igniting a Fire – This could result in burning the bats alive. If they are trapped, they may not be able to escape quickly enough to avoid being burnt or suffocated by the dense smoke.
Refrain from Using Repellents – Sound and light deterrents seldom work effectively. However, in some cases, they can be used alongside other methods to expedite the removal process. For instance, using light and sound to encourage bats to vacate a space more quickly before sealing it off to prevent re-entry.
Steer Clear of Poisons or Fumigants – There are no legal products registered for use against bats, and using such substances is illegal in most states.
Avoid Traps – Relying on traps will not resolve a bat infestation. A bat colony can comprise ten, twenty, or even a hundred bats. Attempting to trap them would be akin to trying to empty the Pacific Ocean with a cereal bowl. You might catch one, but there will always be others remaining, and they could reproduce to replenish their numbers. Moreover, without properly sealing the building or space, there’s nothing to prevent the bats from returning.
At this point, it may seem like your options are running out. In truth, that’s pretty much the case. There’s only one proven method for eliminating bats from a chimney or any part of a building: using exclusion devices and sealing the area.
Step Three: Seal the Building
No matter the method you employ to oust bats from a specific area, it’s crucial to properly seal the space to prevent their return. Unlike rats, bats do not chew, giving you more material options to work with. For instance, if you were dealing with rats, they are notorious for gnawing through almost anything in their path.
Materials like expanding foam, wire wool, hardware cloth, and many others can be used as sealants. The key is to ensure that the bats are unable to re-enter the space.
Step Four: Clean up & Maintenance
The task isn’t complete until you’ve not only successfully and safely removed the bats from the chimney but also eliminated any traces of their presence. Leftover biological matter can lure other bats and animals. Neglecting to remove dead bats can result in their decomposing bodies attracting flies, maggots, rats, and mice. This will also cause a foul odor throughout the area. Additionally, bat droppings, also known as guano, can pose serious health risks to the building’s inhabitants. For instance, Histoplasmosis, a disease commonly carried by bats, can be transmitted through their urine and feces.
Reasons for Bats in the Chimney
Bats are drawn to nesting sites that offer warmth and shelter. Chimneys are particularly appealing to them as they hold heat well, which is crucial for these flying mammals when they need to maintain their body temperature during the night. Besides shielding them from predators, chimneys also provide bats with easy entry into a cozy habitat.
To ascertain if bats have taken up residence in your chimney, pay close attention to any loud, chirping sounds. Look out for droppings, as well as small white pellet-like substances. If these signs are not present, you can also observe the area outside your home at night to see if any other creatures are present.
How to Prevent Bats From Getting Into Your Chimney
The best way to reduce the likelihood of bats entering your chimney is to make specific changes.
- Exclusion tubes: An effective solution for keeping bats at bay is the installation of exclusion tubes. These tubes, made of metal or plastic, have small openings and can be placed at the top and bottom of your chimney. By doing so, they create a barrier that makes it challenging for bats to enter.
- Regular maintenance: Opting for regular maintenance by a professional chimney sweep is crucial. This ensures that there is no leftover food in your chimney that might attract bats. With professional assistance, you can proactively address any potential issues and maintain a bat-free environment.
What to Do With Bats in Your Chimney
If you suspect bats in your chimney, you have two options: attempting DIY removal or seeking professional assistance.
- DIY Removal – We strongly advise against attempting bat removal on your own due to the potential health risks associated with certain bat species. However, you can consider using exclusion tubes while ensuring your family members stay away during the process.
- Professional Assistance – Engaging a reputable chimney maintenance and repair company to inspect for bats is a prudent choice. Some companies specialize in bat removal and can offer the necessary expertise and support.
Unfortunately, yes. Bats are capable of squeezing through small openings and gaps, so even if you have a chimney cap, it might not be enough to keep them out.
Some common signs of bat presence include rustling or scratching noises coming from your chimney, bat droppings around the fireplace area, and a strong musty odor.
In general, bats are not aggressive creatures and will only bite in self-defense. However, they can carry diseases such as rabies, which can be harmful to humans and pets. It is best to exercise caution and avoid direct contact with bats.
Bats are drawn to chimneys because they provide a warm and sheltered environment similar to their natural habitats, such as caves or hollow trees. Additionally, chimneys offer easy access for them to enter and exit
