Bellingham's Best Bat Removal

What Kind of Damage Do Bats Cause in an Attic?

Anytime that a wild animal enters your home, there is the potential for damage. The longer they are inside your attic or another space, the longer they have to cause issues. But each animal has a slightly different array of damage that they can cause. Knowing the most common types of damage gives you a better idea of what to look for as you inspect your attic after evicting the bats and before making repairs. What type of damage can bats cause in your attic?

Spreading Disease

Although it is not physical damage to your property, the fact that bats can spread disease is one of the most important reasons you don't want them to be in your attic or home. Among the possible diseases they can carry are rabies and histoplasmosis, a serious lung disease.

Guano and Disease

Some of the diseases that bats can transmit to humans are only transmittable via contact. Some, however, can spread via their guano (feces). This is particularly problematic as it means that even after you evict the bats from your attic, they can get you sick if you are not careful.

Parasites

In addition to disease, bats may carry parasites into your home. Some of those potential parasites include ticks, mites, fleas, and bat bugs. These can decide you make a great host or may decide to turn your pet into a home.

Structural Damage

Moving onto the physical damage that bats may cause in your attic, the first point of consideration is structural damage. They may make holes in your walls or worsen existing ones as they fly in and out of the attic.

Their urine may soften structural supports or other key parts of your attic. Keep in mind that bats are social and typically live in colonies. As such, you will usually have to deal with more than one, which is more than enough to produce sufficient urine to damage structures.

Staining Structures

Bats typically have greasy fur. Unfortunately for homeowners, this grease gets on any surface they rub against and leads to stains. It is incredibly common for bat entry points to have grease stains around them because of this.

Encouraging Mold

That urine can do more than weaken the structures in your attic. It can also lead to mold or mildew. Mold is very bad for your health, frequently leading to respiratory problems.

Bad Smells

In addition to all of the physical damage that bats can cause in your attic, they are also likely to leave a foul odor behind. Anyone who has ever smelled bat guano agrees that it is not something they want to be exposed to again.

That scent may also attract other bats to your attic in the future. Remember, the larger the bat colony, the more damage it will cause.

Contamination Requiring Replacement and Repairs

As mentioned, one of the biggest risks with bats is the spread of disease. To make matters worse, bats can easily contaminant various areas of your attic. If guano or urine gets on something, you will need to replace it.

This means that you may find yourself having to replace insulation, supports, flooring, structural beams, or nearly anything else in your attic. You may also have to toss items you have stored up there, even if they are precious memories you wanted to preserve.

Good News: They Won't Scratch or Chew on Things

The good news is that while bats can cause all of the above damage in your attic, they are incredibly unlikely to chew or scratch items. This means that other than the above risks, your wires, wooden structures, and anything stored in the attic is safe. However, all of the above issues can be more than enough to require replacing most of those things.

How to Minimize Bat Damage to Your Attic

Luckily, you can minimize the amount of damage that bats can do to your attic by being proactive. Make sure that your home is in good condition so bats cannot get into your attic at all. If you do hear rustling noises or notice bats flying out at dusk, have a professional remove them as soon as possible. The less time they spend in your attic, the less damage they can cause.