When there’s a problem at your house, you probably think you can fix it yourself. And sometimes, you can! It’s that inherent need to conquer any challenge that arises because it’s our home.

Whether it’s fixing a busted pipe under the sink or re-tiling the floor in your bathroom, the DIY mode goes into effect. It can also be fun and less expensive than calling a professional to do it.

The same goes for uninvited guests like rodents or bats. Those scratching noises you hear up in the attic or under the floorboards are not just annoying, but they can lead to other problems down the line.

It’s not only about protecting your foundation (both literally and figuratively) but preventing any future problems from arising.

Bats in Omaha, in particular, can present issues both inside and outside, and it’s important to learn a bit about them before taking on the challenge of removing them.

Here are a few tips to try before calling professionals.

Here’s How To Prevent Bats From Roosting In Your House

1. Sealants

Bats can get in anywhere. Vents, chimneys, loose tiles, you name it. Their goal: is to find any hole or crack to squeeze through. And the space can be as small as ? of an inch, as bats are not discerning when it comes to choosing a warm place to stay. You should check every inch, but bats will mainly look for areas at least 8 feet off the ground.

To prevent them from getting in, experts will use sealants to block out any possible entry. Polyurethane is an effective sealer that will keep bats out permanently. Polyurethane is a common sealant used for roofing, foundation, and other forms of construction. The substance can adhere to metal, wood, and stone.

You may have overlooked an area, however.

So what do you do once the bats have already arrived?

2. Repellants

The goal with any repellant is to make the animal uncomfortable enough to want to leave. In the case of bats: audio and light repellants are options.

Audio: Bats use echolocation (a fancy word for sound waves) to navigate within their environment. An audio repellant, which consists of high-pitch sound emitters, confuses the animals, forcing them to leave.

Light: Bats thrive in the dark. A light repellant would make it harder for them to not only function but rest.

But according to wildlife-removal.com, repellents are not an effective form of bat removal. The goal is to extract one or a possible colony of bats permanently and prevent them from ever coming back. There also has to be a more humane way of removing them, right?

3. Netting

Another preventable bat exclusion method is netting. Now I know what you’re thinking: Wouldn’t a giant net on my house or building look really ugly?

Not with a specially made plastic bat control net, it won’t.

These environmentally-friendly nets are nearly invisible once installed, and they adapt to all seasons. Once attached, the net acts as a preventative shield against bats. The holes in the net are typically ¼ x ¼, so the animals can’t get in.

Netting takes less time than sealant, and different shapes and sizes can be produced depending on the structure.

Bats are most active during the summer and early fall. When this happens, they will look for a place to call home. Hopefully, it’s not your home.

4. How To Get Rid Of Bats Outside Your House

Bats and spiders have similar reputations. They are both ugly creatures and wildly unpopular. But one common trait is that they both eat other creepy crawlers for you.

In the case of bats, they are known to eat pests like mosquitos. In fact, a bat’s most common source of food is insects. While that can be a benefit, it can also lead to bats thinking, “I like this spot. I think I’ll stick around.”

To prevent them from getting too comfortable, here are some areas to focus on outside of your home:

Trees: Is there a dead tree near your house? If so, bats will attempt to move in, so cut it down as soon as possible.

Water: Giving bats a consistent source of water is a recipe for disaster. So be on the lookout for standing water, such as bird baths or rain catchers, and remove them promptly. Plus, getting rid of standing water also means fewer mosquitoes.

Shutters: That area on the porch and under the shutters is a popular spot for bats. A consistent lighting source will bother bats enough to drive them off. But it will also increase the possibility of more bugs.

If the bats have managed to enter your home and are now living inside your walls (yikes!), you need to know when to have them removed–but don’t overreact. If you remove them at the wrong time, this can lead to other problems.

The maternity season for bats is between May 1st and August 31st. This is a crucial time for momma bats to nurse their young. If removed during this time, the babies will be unable to survive on their own. Fewer bats mean more insects to roam free.

How about winter? This is when bats hibernate. Removing them then will result in fewer sources of food which will then lead to a bigger insect problem.

The point is, you need someone who knows what they’re doing.

5. Call Us For Bat Removal Help

Leave bats to the experts. CP Bat Mitigation has more than ten years of experience in the field, and we can safely and effectively remove your bats.

Call for a free consultation at your home. You can also visit our website. We’ll assess and diagnose the bat situation, and with all of our work, we offer a guarantee. After completing the process, we will return to your property a month later to ensure our services were effective. If any additional measures are needed, we’ll take care of it–no additional cost.

Bats can be an annoying problem, and it’s tempting to take on the challenge yourself. The ultimate goal is to remove them and ensure they never return. To do this, you need to know how to prevent them from roosting in and around your house. So the next time you have a problem with bats, consult the experts.