Remember how Dracula turns into a bat in some of the old movies? That was how media have always portrayed bats since time immemorial. A scary, blood-sucking creature that is on the side of evil most of the time, if it is not the villain itself. Save for Batman, of course. And because of that, bats have always been on our lists of phobias, along with spiders, cockroaches, among others.
The cost of bat removal can be a pain especially when dealing with large colony but considering the peace of mind of knowing your family is safe is a great consolation. The truth is, no matter how bad we paint them in our minds, that is not always the case.
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Yes, they pose threats to human health in general because of rabies; their feces called guano which contains fungi called Histoplasma capsulatum, the cause of histoplasmosis; and they tend to carry parasites like any other mammals.
But like most living creatures, they play an important part in the eco-system. They can devour up to around 2000 to 3000 insects in a day like mosquitoes and other harmful insects. Removing them in the balance of nature can cause serious problem to humans. That is why various environmental agencies around the world are protecting them.
Because of the hazards they bring, they are not supposed to co-exist in the same dwellings with humans. The problem arises when these critters invade your home due to the destruction of their natural habitat, or the trees have become scarce.
Due to these threats, we need to find ways to make them go away in an animal-friendly manner. We cannot be as cruel as to exterminate them like any others pests. Since some laws are protecting endangered species around America, all we could do is drive them away. Therefore, exclusion is the only option we have.
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Cost to Do It Yourself
Unlike rats, trapping them is ineffective and can be illegal in some states. In fact, in Pennsylvania; the home of 8 bat species out of the 40 in America and 1000 around the world, it is illegal to kill bats inside a building.
The idea is to be able to eliminate them from your home and not hurt them in any way. Since this is the only way, the cost of bat removal may not be expensive if you do it yourself.
One way to do it is to create a one-way exit point by covering other possible entrances in a way that they can leave safely and not be able to return. Cover the last hole after all of the bats have gone out.
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Another way is using this so called bat cone. It is a device wherein the bat can get out of the structure but never get back in. Some people can make one on their own. But if you have no such talent, you can just buy.
Average Cost of Bat Exclusion
Bat exterminator rate like most businesses, mainly depends on the severity of the problem. The average service fee for a single bat with a single entry point exclusion cost as little as $90 up to $300. Small colonies of up to 50 bats can cost from $300 to $1500 and large colonies of more than 50 cost around $1500 up to $8000.
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Factors to Consider if You Need to Hire a Bat Exclusion Specialist
Trying to do the process yourself poses a threat to your health if you do not have the skill to do it. Therefore, hiring a professional is usually the best option.
Before hiring a professional to do the job, consider the factors to look out for when to call for help.
- Number of Bats
One to three bats is manageable. You can do the process stated above. But if you feel a cringe just thinking about it, it is time to let someone do the dirty job.
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Before the actual process, you can invite a bat exclusion specialist to survey your property to estimate the number of bats and the extent of the damage it has caused. This service is usually free if you end up doing business with them and the scope of the job is enormous that they could afford to waive the survey cost. Otherwise, it can cost $110 to $175. This fee covers the estimation of work needed plus the transportation cost and therefore varies.
- Clean-up of Bat Droppings
After the bats have been securely eliminated, cleaning up the bat droppings or guano can be quite a job and can pose a risk to your health. Again, if you won’t feel good doing it, just let the pro do the work for you altogether. They are properly equipped with safety gears to avoid direct contact with them.
There usually is a warranty that comes with the bat exclusion contract. A re-inspection is done after 30 days to ensure that the job was successful and prevention that another occurrence will happen.
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- Restoration or Repair of the Damage
Unlike rats and other pests, bats do not mutilate a property by gnawing or chewing a structure. Most of the time, bats living in your attic, chimneys, and louvers can only create damage on your property over time because of the feces and molds that fungus can grow on and can be harmful to humans when not treated well. Again, hire someone from the bat exclusion service company if your safety will be compromised.
Additional Costs
How much does bat removal cost go beyond the act of just getting rid of the problem? It also comes with responsibility.
The purpose of the exclusion is to stay humane and not hurt bats in any way. And this may extend to creating a bat house or a roosting place for them in the vicinity of your home. In that way, you do not take away from them the comfort of their dwellings by abruptly removing them in a place they got used to for some time. Bat boxes can be bought in a variety of designs and shapes at around $22 up to $212.
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