A close encounter with a bat can give anyone quite the fright. Unfortunately, bats are known to fly into homes in the Raleigh-Durham area through open windows and down chimneys. They also commonly roost inside of attics if they discover an opportunity to do so. While bats are not willfully destructive or aggressive, they can cause damage with their guano and may bite if startled. This is a problem because bats are often carriers of rabies, which can be spread through a bite.
If a bat enters your home, your first instinct may be to kill it as you would any pest. However, bats are a legally protected species in North Carolina due to their beneficial role in the ecosystem and the fact that several bat species found in the state are endangered or at risk. This means that killing a bat in your Triangle area home is illegal without a proper permit, and these permits are rarely granted for the aforementioned reasons.
If a bat flies in through an open window, your best option is simply to shoo it out or, failing that, capture it and release it outside. Make sure never to touch the bat directly, as bats are prone to bite to defend themselves. Wear gloves and try to minimize any physical contact with the bat.
If bats are living in your attic, your best option is to contact a bat removal company in the Raleigh-Durham area. Wildlife removal technicians can safely and humanely evict bats from your home, then seal their entry points to prevent them from returning. However, it should be noted that bat removal is illegal in North Carolina from May 1 to July 31, since bat pups are being raised during this time.
Contact Southern Wildlife and Land Management today if you need professional bat removal and exclusion services in the greater Raleigh-Durham-Cary area!
NCSU Alumni