If only I had known where they were entering from in the first place!
--Frustrated Homeowner
Most pests that invade the home survive off of their amazing ability to sense and exploit an opportunity.
When your home is the opportunity--whether for food, shelter or whatever--a space invasion takes place. I will share some of the most common entry points accessed by the most common of pests. Lets start this week with...
Bats:
Multiple species of bats cover all of North America, and northern California is certainly no exception. These little guys are really neat... and beneficial. Bats rarely ever attack a human (see story from Martinez), consume insects and give back in the form of guano. However, they are no exception when it comes to taking opportunity to invade your space.
Multiple species of bats cover all of North America, and northern California is certainly no exception. These little guys are really neat... and beneficial. Bats rarely ever attack a human (see story from Martinez), consume insects and give back in the form of guano. However, they are no exception when it comes to taking opportunity to invade your space.
Once in your house, the bats can become harmful in many ways. First, the guano that is prized by others can be very damaging to your house. The accumulated weight alone can collapse ceilings. When handled improperly it can burn skin and it also attracts lots of parasites and insects. Second, related to the first, is the risk of rabies (East Bay man dies from rabies after being bitten by a bat) from sick bats and histoplasmosis from the guano (see this blog from a Texas A&M blog). Lastly, the situation is repeated over and over again of bats that enter the living quarters of a house and in their frantic attempts to escape harm themselves and others. At right is a picture of an access point for bats. This picture is taken under the eve of the roof... three stories up! Note, the hole is just a gap left from construction and is about one inch (1") high and an inch and three quarters (1.75") wide. Holes used as access points for bats like this one usually have grease rub marks as this on does. Also, there are frequently high concentrations of bat droppings nearby.
Other common bat access points are holes in wood siding caused by expansion or deterioration--even a knot popping loose. Broken attic vents and screens are perfect for a bat to squeeze in and take up residence.
These are just a few, but should give the average homeowner an idea of what to look for... remember, prevention is key and can prevent some serious problems down the road. Need help finding potential access points or even to deal with a current invasion? Contact us today!
Other common bat access points are holes in wood siding caused by expansion or deterioration--even a knot popping loose. Broken attic vents and screens are perfect for a bat to squeeze in and take up residence.
These are just a few, but should give the average homeowner an idea of what to look for... remember, prevention is key and can prevent some serious problems down the road. Need help finding potential access points or even to deal with a current invasion? Contact us today!
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