Poisoning Bats: The Basics

6 years ago
by Heather Whitney
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When you think of bats you either assume they are the blood-sucking variety, vampires or the Batman has decided to swing by for a visit. What people often get is the cute little black or brown bats that just want to live in your attic or where ever they feel welcomed.

While these creatures are very useful in keeping away mosquitoes and other pesky bugs they come with their own set of problems. Namely their guano and the amount of noise they make at night. Bat guano is toxic and can contain a variety of parasites and bacteria that will leave anyone running for the hills. Their squeaks, screeches, and wing flapping can also make anyone go crazy.

So how can you give the unwelcome bat colony the boot from your home? Does poison really work or are there better ways to deal with these noisy nocturnal neighbors? While getting rid of bats may seem like an impossible task, it actually just takes a little time and patience.

If you don’t feel like you can get rid of the bats in time to get your beauty sleep you can always call the local pest control for help. But if you are willing to give it a go, you can use this simple guide on bat poison basics, natural bat repellent methods, and other important information to help you give those bats a new home away from yours.

Bats: The Nighttime Flying Rats That Hang Around Your Attic

They squeak, they crawl, and they never show their face until dusk or dawn. Bats really are the flying rats of the night or the wonderful spooky mammals that dance in the moonlight – depending on who you talk to of course. While bats can be adorable they won’t seem so adorable once you have a colony of them just hanging around in your attic.

Bats by nature are nocturnal creatures but it doesn’t mean their daytime activities are any quieter. These little guys still love to move around during the day as long as it is within the confines of a nice cave-like place. That means dark, moist, minimal light, an ample amount of space to just hang.

While the cute little bats may seem friendly, you will need to be cautious with them since they can carry a wide variety of diseases, rabies, and histoplasmosis being the major ones. This is why it is often advised to call a professional to remove the bat colony in your home or yard.

Why Bats Accidentally Choose to Live in Homes and Other Structures

bats in home

Bats often choose human structures simply because they are either convenient or because their original home was destroyed. Deforestation and constant human construction have led to many bats needing a new place to roost.

Bats will go for any place that can provide a safe, dark environment for their young.

Attics, chimneys, sheds, barns, unused rooms, old furniture, unused garages, old cars, basements, underneath decks, and so on are all places a bat will most likely hide in.

Is it Humane to Kill a Bat with Bat Poison?

no poison

No, it is not humane to kill a bat with bat poison. You are wiping out an entire colony of a protected animal species.

Not only that you are putting your own life, your family’s life, and even your pet’s life at risk when you use any poisons in your home.

Bats play an important role in the many ecosystems, so killing them is actually doing nature a real disservice.

While they do come with health hazards they are easy to remove and prevent. So don’t be afraid to exercise a little empathy for the bat colony in your home and just use a humane method of bat removal instead.

Why Poisoning Bats is an Ineffective Bat Deterrent

Bat poisons are something that can leave many pest control experts scratching their heads should you ever ask for a recommendation. The reason is bat poisons are really bad at keeping bats away and there are no certified bat poisons sold on the market – with good reason.

You see, bats aren’t like crows, they won’t stay away at the sight of a dead friend. Bats see other dead bats as a norm in their day-to-day lives so they will still roost in your attic regardless of casualties. Basically, all you end up with is a bat problem, holes in your home, and a massive biohazard that will require professionals to handle.

Using poison on bats will lead to many complications for both you, your family, and those pesky bats in the attic. One, it will make your home smell worse than a pile of roadkill in the summer. Two, many bat species are currently endangered or threatened which means you will have some explaining to do if any authorities find out. Three, now you have a mess of dead bats, bat guano, bat urine, and bat poison to clean up which puts your health at risk.

But the worst reason of all to kill bats with poison is, you can be both heavily fined and you may go to jail for killing a bat colony with bat poison!

The Importance of Learning Your Local Bat Laws and Regulations

Bat poison is illegal folks, not just for animal cruelty reasons but also because it is simply bad for the environment as well. Any company that uses this method is conducting a bad business practice too. When it comes to dealing with a bat colony you are best off consulting your local fish and wildlife organization.

Learning your local laws and regulations can help you deal with your bat problem correctly and legally. Since bats are a protected species of animal you will need to consult professionals to help get rid of them. There are many human pest control organizations that easily recommend or assist in removing, relocating, and preventing bats from entering your home.

Using Other Bat Prevention Tactics Over Bat Poison

Now that you have learned about the legalities and immorality of using bat poison, you can move to better tactics for bat removal and prevention. There are multiple ways in which you can safely get rid of the bats without harming them directly.

A few prevention methods to try are:

  • Checking around your home for any signs of cracks or holes that are at least 3/4th an inch in size. Once you have found most of the holes, seal them all as long as there are no bats yet. If there are bats, use a bat net, seal up most of the holes and leave one hole open for an entry/exit for the bats as you drive them out.
  • Make sure you do all the necessary roof and home repairs to keep any wild animals out of your home.
  • If you are unsure about having a bat problem, have a certified professional check your home for any potential risks of bats roosting.
  • Set up a few natural bat repellent methods in advance since this will make any place undesirable for the bats.
  • Install bat boxes away from your home to give bats a safe alternative to your home.

Ways to Naturally Get Rid of Bats for Good without Using Bat Poison

There are plenty of better ways to deter bats without having to resort to committing a crime with bat poison. Just pick a few out of this list and use them in your home. They will all help you get rid of or prevent a bat infestation in your home.

1.) Call the Batman (Certified pest control expert)

A pest control professional will know how to effectively get rid of any bats. They will also be able to install bat boxes, place bat netting and provide animal control advice for bat infestation prevention.

2.) Spray some phenol around the roosting area

White phenol is a strong chemical that produces an odor that bats dislike. Spray it around the area where you have found bats. Make sure to really drench the area in the solution. You will need to repeat this a few more times until there are no more bats.

3.) Give those bats a taste of cinnamon

cinnamon

Bats definitely do not like strong smells. Cinnamon just so happens to be one of the strong-smelling spices that bats hate. This is great for giving the bat colony a warm invitation to leave immediately.

4.) Use eucalyptus and mint oils

Eucalyptus and mint can be found in both oils and gels. Both are effective irritants against bats. So much so that to the point that they will leave. Gels are great for slathering around entry holes when you don’t have the time to immediately seal them. Oils are great for spraying around their roosting sites.

5.) Hang up some shiny Christmas decorations

When you aren’t decking the halls and trees, you can simply give your old shiny Christmas ornaments another chance to be useful. Hang your sparkling bells and shiny baubles where ever you have bats. This easy trick combines the shiny reflective surfaces that bats hate and obstacles for the bats to fly into. This will irritate them enough to keep them away for good.

6.) Decorate the area with mirrors and aluminum foil

It would seem those sweet little nocturnal squeakers of the night dislike mirror and other reflective objects. The reflective surface of mirrors is a real irritant to many bats. You can use any old mirrors and aluminum foil in any place you find bats.

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