Bats are winged mammals that are in the order Chiroptera. They are very beneficial animals despite many needs for bat control. This usually is due to bat feces or bat guano accumulation from bat infestations. Bats in the attic can not be removed during bat maternity season. A single bat can consume 1000 insects an hour so humane critter control should always be done if controlling bats is your goal. A bat trap is never recommended as it is illegal to hire bat exterminator services, which are usually offered by pest control companies. Bats can not be killed. At Triangle Wildlife Removal we do not kill or exterminate bats. They are active at night during the spring, summer and fall. Around central North Carolina such as Raleigh, Chapel Hill and Durham, they will be active in the winter on mild or warm evenings but will quickly retreat to hibernation during extreme cold. Many people put up bat houses in order to keep bats near their properties in hopes to avoid animal removal. The most common species in the Triangle area are big brown bats, little brown bats and Brazilian free-tailed bats. Bats aren’t like rodents. They don’t really nest which means they will not tear at insulation, shred wires or chew through wood and pipe. While this may come as a relief it’s important not to underestimate the damage they can do. The biggest problem that comes with bats is the guano. Once it dries it can release toxic fungal spores into the air. The piles of urine and feces can contaminate insulation, rot wood and ruin ceilings. When it comes to bats this is where the damage comes from. One of the most common diseases you have to worry about with bats is histoplasmosis as well as rabies. Histoplasmosis is a disease that is caused by breathing in a fungus (Histoplasma Capsulatum). The spores for this fungus can be found in drying and dried bat dung (guano). The infection starts in the lungs and generally hits people who have a weak immune system such as the elderly, already ill or young children. Once your bats are out the mess they left behind will need to be removed. This is a process that is not only filthy, it can be downright dangerous. If you have the option this is a good time to call in a professional. If not then make sure to wear protective clothing and a very well-made mask. As said before, guano can carry histoplasmosis spores which are very dangerous to your health when breathed in. It’s good to keep the guano damp so less of the spores drift into the air. A light mist of an enzyme-based microbial solvent will help keep the fungal spores from going airborne.