Understanding the Presence of Bats in Your Barn
Before attempting to get rid of bats in a barn, it’s important to understand why they might have chosen your barn as their roosting site. Bats are looking for a stable environment to live, breed, and raise their young. Bats typically look for places that are dark, quiet, have high ceilings, and are accessible by small entry points. Barns often provide these optimal conditions.
Step-by-Step Plan to Remove Bats
Here’s a humane and step-by-step approach to encourage bats to leave your barn without harming them or breaking any local wildlife protection laws:
Step 1: Identify Entry Points
Conduct a thorough inspection to locate the entry points bats are using to get into the barn. Look for bat droppings (guano) beneath eaves or on the walls as an indicator of entry points. Remember that bats can enter through very small spaces.
Step 2: Install Bat Exclusion Devices
Once you’ve found the entry points, install bat exclusion devices. These devices allow bats to exit the barn but prevent them from returning. Exclusion methods must be conducted when young bats are able to fly and not during maternal seasons to avoid trapping flightless young inside.
Step 3: Seal Other Potential Entries
While exclusion devices are in place, seal up all other potential entry points with materials that bats cannot chew through, like metal mesh, caulk, or high-density foam. Leave the main entry points open with the exclusion devices attached.
Step 4: Observe the Bats Leaving
Monitor the barn at dusk to observe bats exiting. This will help you determine if bats are still managing to get in or if the exclusion devices are working properly.
Step 5: Remove the Exclusion Devices
After a few evenings with no signs of bat activity, remove the exclusion devices and immediately seal the primary entry points permanently.
Step 6: Clean Up Bat Guano
Clean up any bat guano and sanitize the area. Bat guano can be hazardous to humans as it may contain spores that cause diseases such as histoplasmosis.
Step 7: Install Bat Houses
Consider installing bat houses near the barn to provide an alternative habitat for the bats. Placing bat houses can help in diverting them from your barn while still benefiting from their insect control abilities.
Legal Considerations and Timing
Before you begin, check the legal status of bats in your region. In many areas, bats are a protected species, and it is illegal to harm or kill them. Additionally, timing the exclusion is critical as most laws forbid disturbing bats during maternity seasons when they are rearing their young.
Prevention After Removal
After successfully excluding bats, take preventive measures to ensure they don’t return. Maintain the barn by ensuring that all cracks and openings remain sealed, and regularly check for signs of potential entry points to avoid future infestations.
Expert Assistance
If the bat infestation is large or if you’re uncomfortable handling the situation yourself, consider hiring a wildlife control professional. They can identify entry points accurately, handle the exclusion process with appropriate timing, and ensure compliance with local regulations and humane practices.
Conclusion
Getting rid of bats in a barn requires patience, persistence, and humane treatment of the animals. By following these steps and providing alternative roosting options like bat houses, you can manage the situation effectively while respecting the beneficial role bats play in the ecosystem.