Tag Archives: Professional bat removal

Dealing with Bat Infestations in Hospitals: Risks and Solutions

Bat infestations in hospitals are a serious issue. These nocturnal creatures can bring health risks due to their droppings and the potential for disease. Our team at Animal Capture Wildlife Control is here to help manage these risks.

The Health Risks

Bats in hospitals pose significant health risks due to diseases they can carry. Their droppings can lead to respiratory problems like histoplasmosis, and there’s also a risk of rabies transmission. In addition, bats in a hospital environment can lead to contamination of sterile areas, which is a major concern for patient safety. It’s also important to note that bats can introduce other parasites like mites and ticks, which can further complicate the health risks in a hospital setting.

The accumulation of bat guano (bat droppings) can create a fertile environment for the growth of other harmful fungi and bacteria, exacerbating health risks. Bats can also cause structural damage to hospital facilities through their nesting and roosting habits, potentially leading to costly repairs. Not to mention their presence can cause significant distress and fear among patients and staff, affecting the overall hospital environment and patient experience.

Diseases Carried by Bats

Bats are known carriers of several diseases, and some can pose serious health risks to humans, especially in a hospital setting. Here’s a list of common diseases associated with bats:

  • Rabies Virus: Perhaps the most well-known disease associated with bats, rabies can be transmitted to humans through bites or scratches from infected bats.
  • Histoplasmosis: Caused by a fungus that grows in soil enriched with bat guano, people can get histoplasmosis by breathing in the microscopic fungal spores from the air.
  • Cryptococcosis: Another fungal disease, which primarily affects the lungs but can also spread to the brain, this fungus found in the environment is often associated with bat droppings.
  • Marburg Virus: A rare but severe hemorrhagic fever similar to Ebola, it can be transmitted to people from fruit bats.
  • Ebola Virus: Some species of bats are considered natural hosts of the Ebola virus. While direct transmission to humans is rare, bats are believed to play a role in the virus’s lifecycle.
  • Nipah and Hendra Viruses: These viruses can cause serious disease in humans and animals. The natural host for both viruses is fruit bats.
  • Lyssaviruses: Apart from rabies, other lyssaviruses transmitted by bats can cause similar diseases in humans and animals.

It is important to note that while bats can carry these diseases, not all bats are infected, and the risk of transmission to humans is generally low. However, in a hospital setting, where there are individuals with compromised immune systems, even a low risk can be significant. This underscores the importance of professional bat management and removal services in such environments.

How to Spot an Infestation

Signs of bat infestations include visible droppings, unusual noises, and bats entering the building. These creatures often enter through small openings, so it’s essential to regularly inspect the building. Finding bat guano in less trafficked areas like attics or basements can be a telltale sign. Bats are nocturnal, so an increase in nighttime activity around the hospital, such as bats flying near lights or windows, can indicate their presence.

Our Approach to Bat Removal

We use safe, humane methods for removing bats and cleaning contaminated areas. Our team is trained to handle bats carefully, ensuring their safe relocation. Post-removal, our team conducts a thorough sanitization process to eliminate any health risks associated with bat droppings or urine.

Preventing Future Problems

After removing bats, we work to prevent future infestations by sealing off potential entry points. Educating staff on the signs of bat activity can help in early detection and prevention. Regular follow-up inspections are also a part of our service to ensure that the premises remain bat-free. We also provide guidelines on how to maintain a bat-proof environment, which includes advice on landscaping and exterior lighting, as these can attract bats.

Get in Touch for Expert Help

Jeremy from Animal Capture Wildlife working on a bat removal job

If you’re facing a bat problem in your hospital or want to take preventive measures, contact Animal Capture Wildlife Control. We offer expert services in managing bat infestations safely and effectively. Our experience in dealing with wildlife in sensitive environments like hospitals makes us the right choice for your needs. Don’t wait for the problem to escalate; reach out to us for a comprehensive solution to keep your hospital safe and bat-free.

Why Bat Infestations Should Be Handled by a Professional

Bats do a lot of good for the environment, pollinating plants and eating nuisance insects like mosquitoes. Yet when they choose to roost in homes and other human structures, bats can also quickly become both a nuisance and a danger. When bats have infested a property, a professional is always the best person to call.

Why Bats Choose Human Structures

Bats roost in colonies that are usually located in caves or tree hollows. They sometimes will choose other areas that offer the food, warmth, darkness, and shelter they need to survive.

Therefore, places like attics are very attractive to bats, especially when that attic is located in a well-lit area that attracts insects. Because they really are creatures of habit, bats will return to the same roost for several years.

Many homeowners with bat infestations ask whether it’s better to just leave the bats where they are. The answer is yes and no—it’s dependent on timing. For example, mother bats nurse their flightless young in the summer months, so removal shouldn’t occur until the babies are able to fly.

Installing bat houses around your property will keep bats away from structures and allow you to enjoy their pollination and insect-eliminating benefits.

Risks Associated with Bat Infestations

There is more than one risk that bats pose when they invade human structures.

Disease

Bat droppings

Bats can and do carry infectious diseases like Leptospirosis and rabies, which pose a health risk to humans and pets. Their dried feces, or guano, can contain histoplasmosis, which is a fungus that causes respiratory illness in humans if the spores are inhaled.

In fact, microbiologist studies of Mexican free-tailed bats (also called “guano bats” for the high volume of excrement they produce) revealed the presence of billions of bacteria in just one ounce of their bat droppings.

Structural Damage

Should guano be left in dark and humid conditions to accumulate, its weight can be enough to cause an entire ceiling to collapse. Guano in your insulation can render it ineffective, raising your cooling and heating costs significantly.

Bats can cause damage to soffits, fascia, and other roof parts when they squeeze their bodies into chosen entry points located in and around these areas and then continue to fly in and out of a structure. They can also damage wiring and vents.

Why Hiring a Professional Is the Best Choice

As we mentioned before, bats are a vital part of the ecosystem, keeping insect populations in check and pollinating trees and plants. Almost half of California’s bats have been classified as species of special concern. As well, bats are a protected species, meaning that it is illegal to trap and kill them.

If a homeowner doesn’t know what they’re doing, they could kill a bat or their young. Even if this is unintentional, it is a serious offense. They can also place themselves at great risk of contracting a serious illness from bat excrement if they’re not wearing the proper equipment when cleaning guano out of a space where bats have roosted.

Along with this, a homeowner may mistakenly think that the only way to get rid of bats is to catch and release them. For all these reasons and more, calling a professional bat removal service is the best thing to do.

What Bat Removal Professionals Offer

A professional bat control specialist can definitely remove a bat infestation, but their knowledge goes beyond mere removal. A professional bat removal company understands bat biology and behavior.

For example, they know bats may have several access points they can use to gain entry into a structure. They also understand because bat species are protected, eliminating a bat problem properly requires measures that preserve these vital animals.

Animal Capture Wildlife Control Possesses 25+ Years of Bat Removal Experience

Animal Capture Wildlife Control logo

Animal Capture Wildlife Control is an established company licensed by California’s Department of Fish and Wildlife to handle the removal of bats and several other wildlife species, including skunks, snakes, opossums, and raccoons. Our services offer efficient and effective bat removal that preserves the species.

We will never endorse or engage in the extermination of bats. Instead, we identify all entry points, and then we install bat exclusion devices. These devices provide a way for bats to fly out, but prevent them from re-entering. Following their exit, we seal all access points.

All of our professionals are equipped with the best training and safety gear. They understand and comply with all local laws and regulations regarding safe and humane bat removal.

Have you observed bats flying into or out of your property, or heard strange noises in your chimney or attic? These are two classic signs of bat infestation. Animal Capture Wildlife Control specializes in the removal of bats in Los Angeles and beyond; visit us today.