Discovering bats in your attic, chimney, or wall spaces is a situation that calls for prompt and careful action. Bats are federally protected in many cases, making removal a process that requires expertise, not just a can of spray or a baited trap. If you are dealing with a bat colony in your Broken Arrow home, here is what you should know and why professional bat removal is the only safe and legal option.
Why Bats Choose Homes In Broken Arrow
Bats roost in warm, dark, undisturbed spaces, making residential attics ideal roosting sites. A mature female colony in your attic can contain dozens to hundreds of individual bats, all of which leave and return every evening at dusk to feed. Bats enter through surprisingly small gaps: openings as small as 3/8 of an inch around roofline vents, ridge caps, fascia boards, and chimney joints are all potential entry points for common bat species found in northeastern Oklahoma.
The Health And Structural Risks Of A Bat Infestation
A bat colony in your home is more than a nuisance. The primary concerns include:
Guano accumulation is the most immediate issue. Bat droppings pile up quickly in an active roost and can cause significant staining and structural damage to insulation and framing. More critically, accumulated guano can harbor Histoplasma capsulatum, a fungal pathogen that causes histoplasmosis, a respiratory illness that can be serious in immunocompromised individuals.
Rabies is a second concern, though less common than many people fear. Bats found on the ground or behaving unusually should never be handled without protective equipment. Any potential exposure should be promptly evaluated by a medical professional.
Why You Cannot Simply Trap or Poison Bats
In Oklahoma, several bat species are protected under state and federal regulations. It is illegal to kill bats in most circumstances. The correct approach is exclusion — sealing all entry points except the primary exit points, installing one-way exclusion devices that allow bats to leave but not re-enter, and completing the full seal once all bats have exited. This process must also be timed appropriately to avoid trapping young bats that cannot yet fly, typically avoiding mid-May through mid-August.
Montgomery Exterminating: Professional Bat Removal In Broken Arrow
Bat removal requires expertise, proper equipment, and an understanding of both the local bat species and applicable regulations. Montgomery Exterminating handles bat exclusion throughout the Broken Arrow and greater Tulsa area using humane, legal methods that protect your home and the colony. If you have bats, do not wait! Contact us today for a professional assessment.
